Northville homeowners are on track to start paying a new transit tax after Wayne County voters overwhelmingly backed a public transportation millage on Tuesday, Aug. 4.

With 719 of 720 precincts reporting by 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 5, the millage held 67% support, with more than 230,000 yes votes compared to about 113,000 no votes, according to WXYZ. Results remain unofficial.

For Northville residents, the bottom line: the owner of a home with a taxable value of $100,000 (roughly $200,000 market value) would pay about $96 a year in new taxes. That works out to roughly $8 a month.

Northville is one of 17 Wayne County communities that had previously opted out of the SMART transit system. A 2025 state law signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ended the ability of communities to opt out, putting the millage before all 43 Wayne County cities and townships for the first time. The 26 communities already in the SMART system see no rate increase.

The 0.9831-mill tax runs for 10 years, starting with the 2026 tax year and ending in 2035. It replaces an expiring millage and is estimated to collect $57,616,329 in its first year, according to the Detroit News.

SMART CEO Tiffany Gunter declared victory after 1 a.m. on Aug. 5. "This millage means real dollars for real service: roughly $57 million a year, generated by a one-mill investment that will finally bring every community in Wayne County into one connected transit system," Gunter said.

The agency plans to add eight new routes, five route extensions and on-demand service over approximately three years, according to the Free Press, though specific Northville routes have not been announced.

Wayne County Executive Warren Evans, who championed the measure, told WXYZ in July that the cost "averages about $8 a month for a house value of $200,000."

Oakland County school millage too close to call

Across the county line, the Oakland County school enhancement millage remained undecided as of 5:50 a.m. on Aug. 5. With 91% of precincts reporting, 51% of voters said no and 49% said yes, a margin of fewer than 7,000 votes. The lead shifted multiple times overnight.

That 1.5-mill proposal would affect Novi homeowners directly. If approved, it would cost the owner of a home with a taxable value of $300,000 an estimated $450 a year and generate roughly $125 million annually for 28 Oakland County school districts, including Novi Community Schools. Each district would receive an additional $781 per student, according to the Detroit News.

As we reported on election day, nearly one in five Oakland County voters had already cast early ballots before polls opened.

All results remain unofficial. Residents can track final certified totals through the Wayne County Clerk's Office at waynecountymi.gov and the Oakland County Clerk's Office at oakgov.com/clerkrod.