Macomb County voters decide SMART bus, veterans’ services and Detroit Zoo millages on Nov. 3

WARREN, Mich. — Macomb County ballots carry three countywide millage questions this fall, covering public transit, veterans’ services and the Detroit Zoo.

SMART transit. The largest would replace the county’s expiring 0.95-mill public transportation levy, approved for 2022 through 2026, with a new 0.94-mill tax for five years, 2027 through 2031. The ballot language estimates it would raise about $39.2 million in the first year for public transportation serving older adults, people with disabilities and the general public.

The money goes to the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation and to participating Macomb townships, cities and villages, including Warren, Sterling Heights and St. Clair Shores. Each community would receive 12.5% of the tax collected within its borders for local transportation services, the language says.

SMART says the millage keeps fixed-route buses, Flex on-demand service and paratransit running in Macomb County, including FAST Gratiot, its limited-stop express between downtown Detroit and 23 Mile Road, which SMART says carries more than 70,000 riders a month. The agency says county millage dollars also pay for free rides for K-12, college and university students with valid ID, a program that began in May, and for bus stop and shelter improvements.

Veterans. The second question would renew the county’s veterans’ millage at 0.0690 mill for four years, 2027 through 2030, restoring 0.0017 mill lost to rollbacks. It would raise about $2,877,813 in its first year for financial aid and services for Macomb veterans and for the county Department of Veterans Affairs and Veterans Affairs Commission. The ballot language says a home with a market value of $100,000, or about $50,000 in taxable value, would pay $3.45 a year.

Detroit Zoo. The third would renew and restore the Macomb County Zoological Authority millage at 0.10 mill for 10 years, 2028 through 2037, unchanged from the rate voters approved in 2008 and 2016. It is estimated to raise $3,845,426 in its first year. Wayne County voters have a matching zoo renewal.

Schools and cities. Some Macomb voters will also see local questions, including a Chippewa Valley Schools bond of up to $288 million that the district says would not raise its debt millage, an Eastpointe Community Schools bond of up to $99 million to consolidate the middle school into the high school, a New Baltimore municipal facilities bond and two Sterling Heights charter amendments.

Monday, Oct. 19, was the last day to register to vote online or by mail. After that, residents can still register in person at their city or township clerk’s office with proof of residency, through 8 p.m. on Election Day. Statewide early in-person voting runs Oct. 24 through Nov. 1, and polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Voters can check their registration and see their sample ballot at Michigan.gov/Vote.

Updated Oct. 20, 2026: The Oct. 19 deadline to register to vote online or by mail has passed, so the voting details now say so. Residents can still register in person at their city or township clerk’s office with proof of residency through 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Sources:
WDIV-TV ClickOnDetroit, “What proposals will Macomb County voters see on the November ballot? Here’s the list,” Oct. 15, 2026 (ballot language and revenue estimates for the transportation, veterans and zoo millages; 12.5% local share; local proposals), https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2026/10/15/what-proposals-will-macomb-county-voters-see-on-the-november-ballot-heres-the-list/
SMART, “Macomb County Millage Renewal,” Oct. 15, 2026 (services funded, FAST Gratiot ridership, free student rides, stop improvements), https://www.smartbus.org/About/News/2026-macomb-millage-renewal
Macomb County, “Public Transportation Millage” and “Macomb County Veterans’ Millage,” https://bocmacomb.org/millages/public-transportation-millage/
Michigan Department of State, “Absentee voting” and election calendar (registration, early voting and absentee deadlines), https://www.michigan.gov/sos/elections/voting/absentee-voting
Photo: Kyah117, “New Flyer XD60 - SMART (Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation) Detroit.jpg,” Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), cropped, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:New_Flyer_XD60_-_SMART_(Suburban_Mobility_Authority_for_Regional_Transportation)_Detroit.jpg

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Tags: Warren · Election 2026 · Macomb County · SMART · Millage · Roads and Transportation