Oakland County Looks to Pass DIA Millage, Macomb County Still Too Close to Call

With 39 percent of precincts reporting, Oakland County looks as though it will pass the Arts Authority Millage, commonly known as the DIA Millage.

Since Oakland County started reporting its results, some 60 percent of voters have been in favor of the millage, with 65.1 percent of voters currently in support.

Patch believes it is too early to call the results in Macomb County, as the difference between passage or failure of the millage is just 1 percent at the present time. With roughly 89.5 percent of precincts reporting in Macomb County, 50.2 percent of voters are in favor of the millage.

At this time, Wayne County results are still pending.

At 0.2 mills, a taxpayer owning a $200,000 home, with a taxable value of $100,000, would be expected to pay approximately $20 a year if this millage passes.

While these values will vary county to county, the millage is expected to generate at least $9.8 million from Oakland, $4.9 million from Macomb and $8.3 million in Wayne in its first year.

In return for this financial support, residents from the supporting counties, including school groups, will receive free admission to the museum for the next decade.

These public funds, around $23 million per year if all three counties pass the proposal, will be used to cover the museum’s operating expenses and not to increase the museum’s endowment.

Per the Art Institute Service Agreement the DIA has entered into with each of the counties’ arts authorities – whose members are appointed by the respective counties’ commissioners and county executives – the tax can be withheld if the DIA is believed to have breached its contract.

The money raised can only be spent in compliance with the contract between the arts authorities and the DIA – none of it can go into the City of Detroit’s treasury. An annual audit will ensure the money is being spent appropriately.