What does a YES vote on Macomb County Public Transportation Millage mean?

Macomb County would levy a new 0.94 mill tax for 2027 through 2031, replacing the expiring 0.95 mill tax, for SMART and local public transportation for older adults, people with disabilities and the public, raising about $39,204,999 the first year.

What does a NO vote on Macomb County Public Transportation Millage mean?

Macomb County's public transportation millage would not be replaced and would expire after 2026.

It replaces an expiring 0.95-mill SMART millage with a 0.94-mill millage, a slightly lower rate.

How long would it last?

Five tax years, 2027 through 2031.

Do local communities get a share?

Yes. Each participating township, city or village receives 12.5% of the collections raised within its borders for public transportation services.

How many votes does Macomb County Public Transportation Millage need to pass?

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Should I vote yes or no on Macomb County Public Transportation Millage?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.

Macomb County Public Transportation Millage

Last updated Sat, Nov 7, 2:38 PM ET

Ballot measure · November 3, 2026

What it does: A 0.95 mill tax ($0.95 per $1,000 of taxable value) was previously approved by the voters for tax years 2022 through 2026 for the purpose of supporting the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) in providing a public transportation system serving older adults, persons with disabilities, and the general public of Macomb County. That millage is scheduled to expire after 2026. This proposal would authorize a new 0.94 mill tax to replace the previously approved and expiring millage. The new 0.94 mill tax for tax years 2027 through 2031, inclusive (five (5) years), is to provide funds for public transportation services serving older adults, persons with disabilities, and the general public of Macomb County. If approved, this millage rate would raise approximately $39,204,999 in the first year. Revenue from the millage shall be disbursed to SMART and to the following: the Townships of Armada, Bruce, Chesterfield, Clinton, Harrison, Lenox, Macomb, Ray, Richmond, Shelby, and Washington; the Cities of Center Line, Eastpointe, Fraser, Grosse Pointe Shores Village, Memphis, Mount Clemens, New Baltimore, Richmond, Roseville, Saint Clair Shores, Sterling Heights, Utica, and Warren; and the Villages of Armada, New Haven, and Romeo, and shall be used by those entities to accomplish the purposes of the millage. Each of the respective local units of government would receive 12.5% of the ad valorem tax collections raised by this millage from their respective jurisdictions to provide them funds for public transportation services serving older adults, persons with disabilities, and the general public. For the purpose of providing funds in support of public transportation serving older adults, persons with disabilities, and the general public, shall the limitation on the amount of taxes assessed on taxable property located within Macomb County, be established at .94 mills for tax years 2027 through 2031, inclusive (five (5) years)?
A YES vote means: Macomb County would levy a new 0.94 mill tax for 2027 through 2031, replacing the expiring 0.95 mill tax, for SMART and local public transportation for older adults, people with disabilities and the public, raising about $39,204,999 the first year.
A NO vote means: Macomb County's public transportation millage would not be replaced and would expire after 2026.
Needed to pass: A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.
Left–right lean: Not a left–right issue: a procedural or local question that liberals and conservatives don't typically split on (AI read of the official ballot summary).

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Explained

Today

Macomb County voters approved a 0.95-mill property tax ($0.95 per $1,000 of taxable value) for tax years 2022 through 2026 to support the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART), which provides public transportation for older adults, people with disabilities and the general public.
That millage expires after the 2026 tax year.

If it passes

A new 0.94-mill tax would replace the expiring 0.95 mill for tax years 2027 through 2031 (five years).
It would raise an estimated $39,204,999 in the first year, according to the County Clerk's proposal text.
Revenue goes to SMART and to the participating townships, cities and villages listed on the ballot; each local unit receives 12.5% of the collections from its own jurisdiction for public transportation services.

Example

At 0.94 mill, a property with a taxable value of $100,000 would pay $94 a year, $1 less than under the current 0.95 mill. Taxable value in Michigan is often lower than market value. (source)

Who would notice

Owners of taxable property in the participating Macomb County communities, and riders who use SMART buses and local senior and disability transportation services.

How it got here

The current five-year SMART millage expires after 2026, so the proposal asks voters to authorize a replacement millage for 2027-2031.

Written by SpectrumVote from 1 linked sources (1). Arguments are each side's own, not ours; the official text is what you vote on.

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Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Macomb County Public Transportation Millage mean?: Macomb County would levy a new 0.94 mill tax for 2027 through 2031, replacing the expiring 0.95 mill tax, for SMART and local public transportation for older adults, people with disabilities and the public, raising about $39,204,999 the first year.
What does a NO vote on Macomb County Public Transportation Millage mean?: Macomb County's public transportation millage would not be replaced and would expire after 2026.
Is this a new tax?: It replaces an expiring 0.95-mill SMART millage with a 0.94-mill millage, a slightly lower rate.
How long would it last?: Five tax years, 2027 through 2031.
Do local communities get a share?: Yes. Each participating township, city or village receives 12.5% of the collections raised within its borders for public transportation services.
How many votes does Macomb County Public Transportation Millage need to pass?: A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.
Should I vote yes or no on Macomb County Public Transportation Millage?: SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.
When is the vote?: The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.

Not sure how to decide? Read our nonpartisan guide to the Macomb County ballot.

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