Detroit Zoo millage renewal seeks $18.8 million in annual revenue

Property owners in Oakland, Macomb, and Wayne counties face a vote next week on a 10-year millage renewal for the Detroit Zoo.

The Detroit Zoological Society, which operates the zoo and the Belle Isle Nature Center, has drawn roughly 1.3 million visitors per year over the last 25 years. The institution currently houses more than 2,000 animals across 200 species and is scheduled to mark its centennial in 2028.

Voters last approved this specific 0.1 mill rate in 2008 and renewed it in 2016. The current proposal seeks to extend that same tax levy from 2028 through 2037. The Detroit Zoological Society describes the millage as a vital and stable funding source that covers approximately one-third of its annual operating revenue.

Jeff Sell, the society's director of communications, stated that the funds support animal care, educational programming, and facility maintenance. The revenue also finances senior programs, children's field trips, day camps, after-school activities, and hands-on learning experiences.

The 0.1 mill rate translates to 10 cents per $1,000 of taxable value. For a home with a taxable value near $200,000, the annual cost is approximately $10. This figure matches what residents in the three counties are already paying.

If approved, the ballot language indicates the Zoo Authority will collect $8,831,012 from Oakland County, $6,145,462 from Wayne County, and $3,845,426 from Macomb County in the first year. These amounts total $18,821,900 in projected annual revenue.

Each county decides the measure independently. A majority vote in any single county determines the fate of that specific county's millage, regardless of the results in the other two jurisdictions. All collected funds are subject to independent audits that are made available to the public.

Voters can find detailed information about the proposal at renewyourzoo.org. The measure appears on the general election ballot alongside other local tax and bond questions.

The zoo is preparing for its 100th anniversary in 2028, the first year the renewed millage would take effect if voters approve the measure.