2026 Millage FAQ'S

Yes. The proposal would authorize a new countywide millage of 0.689 mills. Currently, DATA is funded through a patchwork of local millages: 0.6 mills in Escanaba and Gladstone, and 0.5 mills in seven participating townships (Bay de Noc, Bark River, Brampton, Ensign, Ford River, Masonville and Rapid River). Seven other Delta County townships (Wells, Garden, Nahma, Maple Ridge, Baldwin, Cornell and Fairbanks) currently have no DATA service because no local transit millage funding is in place there. If the countywide millage is authorized, it would replace the existing city and township transit millages with a single shared rate that funds service for all of Delta County. 

Shall the Delta Area Transit Authority, County of Delta, Michigan, be authorized to levy annually a new additional millage in an amount not to exceed .689 mill ($0.689 per each $1,000 of taxable value) against all taxable property within the Delta Area Transit Authority limits (the jurisdictional limits of Delta County) for a period of eight (8) years, 2026 through 2033, inclusive, for the purpose of providing funds for all public transportation authority purposes permitted by law, including but not limited to funding demand-response transportation and related services for senior citizens, individuals with disabilities, economically disadvantaged persons, veterans, and the general public; the expansion of service hours and days; and increased service availability and coverage throughout Delta County? The estimate of the revenue the Delta Area Transit Authority will collect if the millage is approved and levied by the Delta Area Transit Authority in the first year (2026) is approximately $1,100,000. By law, a portion of the revenue from the millage may be subject to capture by the Downtown Development Authorities of the City of Escanaba and the City of Gladstone. 

Downtown Development Authorities (DDAs) are established under Michigan law to encourage investment and improvements in designated downtown districts. Their purpose is to help maintain and improve downtown areas through projects such as road and sidewalk improvements, street lighting, parking lots, streetscaping, and other public infrastructure that supports local businesses and the community.

To help pay for these improvements, a DDA may capture a portion of the increase in property tax revenue generated within its designated downtown district through a process called Tax Increment Financing (TIF).

This does not apply only to the DATA transit millage. DDAs may also capture portions of other eligible local millages within their districts, including:

• Delta County Operating 
• Delta County Road Patrol 
• Delta County 911 Authority 
• Delta County Recycling 
• Community Action Agency 
• Bay College 
• Delta Area Transit Authority (DATA) 
• Other eligible taxing jurisdictions, as authorized by Michigan law 

There is no fixed percentage that a DDA captures. The amount depends on factors such as the growth in taxable property values within the DDA district and the DDA's approved Tax Increment Financing (TIF) plan. Because the amount can change over time, the ballot language states that a portion of the millage "may" be captured rather than listing a specific dollar amount or percentage.

DATA is not treated differently than other local millages. Like several other eligible local millages, the existing DATA millage has been subject to DDA tax capture where authorized by approved TIF plans for many years.

Based on current information, the Gladstone DDA captures approximately $10,000 annually from DATA's existing transit millage, and the Escanaba DDA captures approximately $5,000 annually, for a combined total of about $15,000 per year. These are approximate annual amounts based on current taxable values and may change over time.

It is also important to note that DDA tax capture applies only to properties located within the established downtown districts of Escanaba and Gladstone. It does not apply to properties throughout the rest of Delta County.

Michigan law requires ballot language to disclose when a proposed property tax millage may be subject to capture by a Downtown Development Authority (DDA). This requirement helps ensure voters are informed before casting their ballot.

The proposed countywide transit millage does not create a new DDA capture. The ballot language simply acknowledges that existing Michigan Tax Increment Financing (TIF) laws continue to apply within the established DDA districts.

The proposed countywide millage would replace the current patchwork of transit millages in the two cities and seven townships with one countywide millage.

This is a pass-or-fail proposal. If approved, transit service would be available throughout all of Delta County, with expanded service hours including early morning service and Friday and Saturday evening service.

If the proposal is not approved, DATA would lose both the proposed countywide millage funding and approximately 90% of its state and federal operating funding because the required local match would no longer be available. As a result, the two cities and seven townships currently receiving service would also lose DATA transit service.

A reduction of approximately 90% of DATA's operating budget would require significant reductions in staffing and service. Transit operations would likely be limited to a small number of specialized transportation services supported through contractual funding.

No. DATA does not offer free rides. All riders pay the fare each time they ride the bus.