What's on the ballot in City of Riverview, Wayne County

In 2008 and 2016, pursuant to Public Act 49 of 2008, Wayne County voters renewed a 10-year property tax millage to fund zoological services through the Wayne County Zoological Authority, supporting animal care for more than 2,000 animals and 200 species, educational and senior programs, and facility maintenance at the Detroit Zoo. To continue providing these services, the Authority seeks to renew and restore the millage to the original voter-approved rate of 0.10 mill (10 cents per $1,000 of taxable value). This proposal would renew the millage at 0.0982 mill and restore the remaining 0.0018 mill that was reduced due to required rollback, for a total authorized rate of 0.10 mill on taxable real and personal property for ten (10) years. If approved, the millage rate would be unchanged from those approved by voters in 2008 and 2016. Funds will be disbursed to the Authority and transferred to the Detroit Zoo as permitted by law. All funds are subject to annual independent audits. It is estimated that $6,145,462 will be collected in the first year. Ballot Question: Do you approve the renewal and restoration of the levy of 0.10 mill on all taxable property in Wayne County for a period of ten (10) years, from 2028 through 2037?

The Southeast Michigan Public Historical Museum Authority (“Authority”) is a joint authority established by Wayne and Oakland Counties (“Counties”) pursuant to Michigan Public Act 321 of the Public Acts of 2000, as amended, and was formed to support the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit Historical Museum, Dossin Great Lakes Museum, and other public historical museums located in Wayne and Oakland Counties (“Historical Museums”) that provide historical museum services for students, residents and visitors of the Counties. The law allows the Authority to seek authorization from the electors in each of the Counties to levy a tax of 0.2 mill (20 cents per $1,000 of taxable value) on taxable property to provide revenue for Historical Museums. It is estimated that if approved and levied on taxable property located within Wayne County, this new millage would generate approximately $12,219,200 in 2026. In addition to supporting the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit Historical Museum, and Dossin Great Lakes Museum, 15% of revenues received by the Authority from taxable property in Wayne County, after Authority administrative expenses, will be disbursed to the County of Wayne for the purposes of supporting Historical Museums in Wayne County. Shall a 0.2 mill tax on all taxable property located within Wayne County be imposed by the Authority for a period of ten (10) years, being years 2026 through 2035, inclusive, to provide historical museum services for the benefit of the residents of the Counties?

Shall the City of Riverview, County of Wayne, Michigan, borrow the principal sum of not to exceed Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds, in one or more series, payable in not to exceed ten (10) years from the date of issue of each series, for the purpose of paying the cost to acquire, construct, furnish and equip road improvements throughout the city, including water main replacements, including interests in land, necessary rights-of-way and appurtenances and attachments thereto? If approved, the estimated millage to be levied in 2027 is 2.5211 mills ($2.5211 per $1,000 of taxable value) and the estimated simple average annual millage rate required to retire the bonds is 2.5229 mills ($2.5229 per $1,000 of taxable value).

Shall the City of Riverview be authorized to publicly sell a portion of the City of Riverview’s Highlands Golf Course property, previously dedicated for recreational purposes, to the highest qualified bidder subject to City Council’s approval, for the development of a Community Park and approximately 400 Residential Housing Units? The property to be sold is located within the Riverview Highlands Golf Course and consists of not to exceed 80 acres of land (out of a total of approximately of 248.5 acres), adjacent to and west of the Forest Subdivision and north of King Road.

Shall Riverview Community School District, Wayne County, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Thirty Million Dollars ($30,000,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor, in one or more series, for the purpose of: erecting and remodeling school buildings, facilities and additions to school buildings and facilities; equipping, re-equipping, furnishing and refurnishing school buildings and facilities; purchasing school buses; acquiring and installing instructional technology; and preparing, developing, improving and equipping athletic fields, play fields, playgrounds, structures, facilities and sites? The following is for informational purposes only: The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2027 is 1.21 mills ($1.21 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a 0.00 mills net increase over the prior year’s levy. The maximum number of years the bonds of any series may be outstanding, exclusive of any refunding, is twenty-five (25) years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 2.72 mills ($2.72 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation). (Pursuant to State law, expenditure of bond proceeds must be audited and the proceeds cannot be used for repair or maintenance costs, teacher, administrator or employee salaries, or other operating expenses.)