DIA Millage Renewal Passes in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties

The proposal to renew the Detroit Institute of Arts millage has passed in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties. The .2 mill tax originally passed in 2012 and was set to expire in 2022.

“We’re really changing people’s lives and becoming a tool for the community and doing exactly what the DIA should be doing which is being a place for everyone.” – Salvador Salort-Pons, Detroit Institute of Arts

Salvador Salort-Pons is the director of the DIA. He says the election results confirm that tri-county residents support the museum.

“Our work is validated by them, we are relevant to them, they care about us and they want the museum to continue to do the work that we have been doing in the last eight years,” said Salort-Pons.

What Students, Seniors Who Benefit Think Of the Millage Renewal.

The millage will typically cost $10 a year for a family with a home worth $100,000 and a taxable value worth half that ($50,000). DIA officials say the renewal will allow them to continue providing complimentary transportation to senior and student groups and free admission to all residents in the tri-county area.

“We’re really changing people’s lives and becoming a tool for the community and doing exactly what the DIA should be doing which is being a place for everyone, a place that we represent all the communities in the tri-county and do things that are relevant for them,” said Salort-Pons.

Towards that end, the museum recently curated exhibits on the Detroit Tigers and Star Wars. 

The renewal will begin when the current tax expires in two years.