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Zoological authority approves ballot language to renew and restore 0.1-mill zoo millage for November 2026 ballot
Summary
The Zoological Authority approved resolution and ballot language to renew a 0.1-mill zoological millage and restore value lost to the Headley rollback, placing the measure on the November 2026 ballot. Presenters from the Detroit Zoological Society cited revenue impacts, polling and expanded outreach tied to a new Discovery Trails opening; members approved language with a caveat allowing the assessor to update taxable-value numbers.
The Zoological Authority voted to approve resolution and ballot language to renew a 0.1-mill zoological millage — including restoration language to make up for value lost under the Headley rollback — and to place the question on the November 2026 ballot.
The proposal, presented by Dr. Haley Murphy, CEO and executive director of the Detroit Zoological Society, and Dr. Amanda Halen, chief of staff for the Society, seeks to renew the tax at 0.1 mills and explicitly restore the amount the Headley rollback has eroded since voters originally approved the rate. "We are seeking renewal again at just 0.1 mills," Murphy said, adding the ballot language ties the renewal to the current rolled-back taxable value and restores the difference to 0.1.
The presenters told authority members the tri-county millage contributed $16.88 million in 2025 to the zoo’s budget, and that Wayne County accounted for $5.4 million of that total. They reported total zoo revenue of roughly $54.4 million in 2025, with earned revenue about 50%, public support 36% and philanthropy 13%. Murphy said Wayne County residents represented 18% of attendance and 21% of membership in 2025.
Authority members and the assessor discussed technical ballot details. County assessor Scott Vandermog advised the body to move forward using confirmed 2025 taxable-value numbers in the resolution and allow staff or an administrative update to incorporate 2026 values later if appropriate, rather than inserting speculative figures now. Vandermog said assessment rolls and equalization work are recent and some communities filed late, so using verified 2025 numbers reduces legal and factual risk.
Members pressed presenters on timing and wording. The Society said it prefers a November placement — rather than August — to coordinate across three counties, leverage summer outreach tied to the Fred and Berber Discovery Trails opening and to respond to polling showing favorability. The presenters acknowledged the ballot language expanded this year because it must explain the restoration rationale: "The Headley roll back really caused a lot of disruption," Halen said, explaining why the draft includes renew-and-restore text rather than a plain renewal at the rolled-back rate.
Counsel (Felicia Johnson) confirmed that substantial changes to wording need not automatically convert the measure into a new millage: the draft uses "renew and restore" language to reflect legal advice and to protect against challenge. Members also asked staff to check county and state ballot-word limits and, if necessary, to seek pre-approval from the clerk to shorten language for printing.
Before the final vote members added an explicit caveat: the assessor should be allowed to insert the most current taxable-value numbers (via administrative update) and staff should return to shorten language if the clerk requires it for printing. The motion to approve the resolution and ballot language, including that caveat, passed. The chair announced the motion carried.
Next steps noted by members included transmitting shortened/clerically compliant language if required, providing electronic outreach materials (flyers and event dates) to commissioners, and running a baseline poll in early summer to validate voter support. The Authority also scheduled an audit-presentation meeting for June 22 at 10:00 a.m.
