Macomb Residents Will Vote on Proposed DIA Millage in August
On Tuesday, Macomb County commissioners approved the creation of an arts authority to place the question of a DIA millage on the August primary ballot.
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Should Macomb County taxpayers support the Detroit Institute of Arts?
Voters, the decision is now yours.
Following more than an hour of public comment, county commissioners voted 8-5 Tuesday night to approve the creation of a Macomb County Art Institute Authority. This authority will be responsible for drafting a contract with the DIA and ensuring the question of a millage funding the DIA is placed on the August primary ballot.
It will then be up to voters to pass or reject this proposed 10-year, 0.2 mill property tax–estimated to cost homeowner's $10 for every $100,000 of their home’s market value.
John Hetzler
4:22 pm on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
What do you think about the proposed DIA millage?
Ernie
1:25 pm on Thursday, April 26, 2012
I think it's dirty underhanded politics to try and slip this by on voters at the August primary election. They know that most people do not vote in the primarys and this tax increase could slip by. Why didn't they put on the November ballot with the presidential election? Secondly, why are the tax payers always being forced to carry the financial burden for goverment managed "businesses" that are not able to support themselves even though they collect fees from customers that visit them? A privately owned business would be bankrupt if they could not operate a profible business model. I hear the head of the DIA makes $450,000 per year!!!!!
A Macomb County citizen
1:24 am on Friday, April 27, 2012
We cannot afford ANY INCREASE IN MILLAGES FOR POOLS OR DIA, costs of gasoline are rising, and incomes are still declining.....We had to cut our family budget a long time ago, and although I would hate to lose to DIA, I CANNOT afford to keep it open....They snuck the ZOO tax on us a few years ago, I still pay the same FULL admission price to go, and therefore CANNOT AFFORD TO take my 2 kids to the zo, I received no break for the increase in taxes.....SO sorry, I cannot support ANY INCREASES
Holly Kirsten
9:06 pm on Monday, April 30, 2012
The idea that zoos, museums, ect. should operate like businesses is not a valid one because they do not have the same goal. Businesses exist to make a profit. The zoo, museum, schools, ect. exist for the public good. Yes, they should operate as efficiently as possible, but while serving the community. If we allow our institutions to disappear, we truly will become the slaves of the elite-working all day and watching TV at night. Only those wealthy enough to afford a backyard pool will be able to teach their kids how to swim. Only those who can travel to other cities will learn about art or see live animals. Civilization is a group of humans who gather together for mutual benefit, and we are slowly destroying it.