For about $10 a year, the Detroit Zoo millage returns to the Nov. 3 ballot

For about the price of lunch at the concession stand, metro Detroit gets to keep its zoo. On Tuesday, November 3, voters in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties decide whether to renew the small property tax behind the Detroit Zoo.

It's a renewal, not a new tax. Renewing the Detroit Zoo Millage will not increase property taxes. For a homeowner whose home is worth $200,000, the average cost will remain $10 a year.

Here's how it works. The Zoological Authority Millage on the Nov. 3 ballot is for 10 years at 0.1 mill property tax (10 cents per $1,000 of taxable value). In Oakland County, voters are asked whether they approve the renewal and restoration of the levy of 0.10 mill on all taxable property in Oakland County for a period of ten (10) years, from 2028 through 2037. It is estimated that $8,831,012 will be collected in the first year there.

The money goes toward maintenance and operations at the 125-acre park. That park is home to over 2,000 animals and 200 species. The millage also pays for educational programming, from field trips to after-school programs. It funds the Belle Isle Nature Center, a five-acre facility focused on native Michigan wildlife and bird viewing with interactive indoor spaces. There's special programming for seniors and veterans too.

That's a lot of zoo for a dime per $1,000 of value. The Detroit Zoo has welcomed an average of more than 1.3 million guests annually for the past 25 years. The zoo also counts more than $190 million combined net economic impact in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties each year. It's designated as one of Michigan's top visitor attractions.

Residents get something back at the gate, too. Residents from Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties receive a $10 discount on memberships, and on Senior Day, seniors from all three counties can attend the zoo for free.

The vote is Tuesday, November 3. The zoo question will be on ballots across Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.