Wayne County transit millage on the Aug. 4 ballot: what changes for Detroit-area riders

Wayne County voters will decide on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026 whether to renew and expand a countywide public transportation funding millage through the Wayne County Transit Authority (WCTA). The ballot language is written to support public transportation services in Wayne County, including SMART-focused bus service and connections riders rely on.

What’s on the ballot (YES/NO) and when you vote

The Wayne County Public Transportation Millage appears on Michigan’s primary ballot for Wayne County registered voters. The question asks whether the proposal should be adopted:

• Yes: Adopt the millage
• No: Do not adopt the millage

The key numbers: 0.9831 mills for 10 years (2026 to 2035)

In the official ballot wording, voters are deciding on the maximum property-tax rate and the time period:

• Rate: 0.9831 mills (0.98 cents per $1,000 of taxable value)
• Duration: 10 years, beginning with the 2026 tax year levy and ending with the 2035 tax year levy

What the millage funds

The ballot proposal describes funding for public transportation services in Wayne County, including:

• Operating, maintaining, improving, and expanding transit services
• Creating and expanding new fixed routes for bus service connecting local communities
• Expanding transportation services for seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and the general public to access healthcare, education, and other daily needs

If approved and levied, the ballot language estimates that $57,616,329 will be collected in the first year, with revenue distributed to Wayne County, SMART, the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT), and other community and regional transit providers.

Renewal vs. expansion: what that usually means for riders

WCTA describes the measure as both a renewal and an expansion—depending on where you live in Wayne County.

If you live in a suburban community that already has SMART bus service: WCTA says this is a renewal and you will not see an increase in your tax rate.

If you live in a community that does not currently have SMART bus service: the “expand” side is about adding and improving service—through operating, expanding, and (where proposed) creating new fixed routes and improving transportation access.

For Detroit residents, WCTA notes that the city receives some SMART bus service, while Detroit residents do not currently pay a transit millage.

If the measure fails: what WCTA warns could be lost

WCTA warns that if renewing and expanding transit across Wayne County does not pass, communities that already have SMART service would lose those services, with the exception of DDOT or other local services.

The practical takeaway: the ballot decision isn’t just “more money” versus “no money”—it’s a countywide choice about whether the services funded under this millage continue and expand.

How to find your exact sample ballot and ballot language

Ballot wording can vary by jurisdiction, so check your own sample ballot before you vote.

• Redford Township election notice: sample ballots can be viewed on the township’s clerk’s office page and also at mi.gov/vote.
• Axios Detroit voting guide: Detroit voters are directed to detroitvotes.org for early voting and sample ballots; outside Detroit, Axios directs voters to the Michigan Voter Information Center to confirm registration, polling-place details, and sample ballots.

Bottom line for Detroit-area riders

On Aug. 4, Wayne County voters decide whether to adopt a 0.9831-mill public transportation millage for 10 years (2026–2035). WCTA says the measure renews SMART-linked service where it already exists and expands service options where SMART bus service isn’t currently provided. If it fails, WCTA says communities with existing SMART service would lose that service support.

Sources

• Wayne County Transit Authority (WCTA) — Wayne County government page (ballot education materials)
• Charter Township of Redford — Notice of Election (Aug. 4, 2026) with WCTA millage proposal text
• Michigan Chronicle — explainer on the Aug. 4 Wayne County public transportation funding question
• Axios Detroit — Michigan primary election guide (includes transit ballot context)

Look for updates to this story

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