Wayne County transit millage stays on Aug. 4 ballot after suit dismissal
A June 3 court dismissal keeps the Wayne County Public Transportation Millage on Michigan’s Aug. 4 ballot—here are the rate, term, and DDOT link.
A lawsuit meant to block a Wayne County public transportation property-tax measure from appearing on the Aug. 4, 2026 ballot was dismissed on June 3—so the Wayne County Public Transportation Millage remains on Michigan’s Aug. 4 primary ballot for Wayne County registered voters.
The ballot question would authorize the Wayne County Transit Authority (WCTA) to levy a maximum 0.9831 mills for 10 years, with revenue intended to support SMART and to expand public transportation connectivity that includes DDOT bus service.
Judge dismisses the challenge that sought to keep the millage off the ballot
According to WDET, Not SMART Wayne filed suit arguing WCTA did not meet disclosure and notice requirements before placing the millage on the August primary ballot. The judge dismissed the case for insufficient evidence.
WDET also reported that opponents said they would continue the fight through the campaign, while supporters said the ruling allowed the measure to move forward to Election Day.
What the ballot question would authorize
The official ballot-language resolution would authorize WCTA “to levy a millage” 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
The resolution also states the measure would replace an expiring SMART-support millage.
Key numbers Wayne voters will see
From the ballot-language resolution:
- Maximum rate: 0.9831 mills (0.98 cents per $1,000 of taxable value)
- Term: 10 years, beginning with the 2026 tax year levy and ending with the 2035 tax year levy
- Estimated first-year collections: $57,616,329.00
WCTA also frames the proposal with a homeowner estimate: for a $200,000 home, it says the average cost is about $8 per month. WCTA presents this as an estimate; actual impact depends on taxable value and other property-tax factors.
Where the money would go (including DDOT service)
The ballot-language resolution says that if the millage is approved and levied, revenue would be distributed to Wayne County, SMART, Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT), and other community and regional transit providers.
On its explainer page, WCTA says the millage would also expand DDOT bus service, connecting Detroit residents to jobs and schools in the suburbs.
WCTA further states that if you live in a suburban community that already has SMART bus service, this would be a renewal and you “WILL NOT see an increase” in your tax rate (as WCTA frames it). Whether a household falls into that message depends on the community served.
What Detroiters should watch as the campaign ramps up
With the court challenge dismissed, the focus shifts to what voters are deciding on Aug. 4. Detroit-area residents may want to pay close attention to:
- Cost messaging vs. service plans: how supporters and opponents describe the maximum rate and what expanded routes or connections would look like in practice
- Rollout and phasing: a City of Inkster public notice says that if approved, new and expanded service would be rolled out in phases based on community input
- Accountability promises: WCTA’s explainer page says funding from the millage would be subject to independent audits
In short: the maximum rate and 10-year term are set in the ballot language, but the most concrete campaign debates will likely center on how service expansion is described, phased, and monitored once voters make their choice.
Sources
- Wayne County Transit Authority (WCTA) overview page—Wayne County Public Transportation Millage on Aug. 4 ballot
- WDET Detroit Evening Report (June 3, 2026)—Lawsuit to block transit millage dismissed
- City of Inkster public notice—Wayne County Transit Millage Information (posted June 1, 2026)
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