2026 Street, Bridge, and Sidewalk Millages

On Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, voters will have the opportunity to renew Ann Arbor’s street, bridge and sidewalk millage. Since 1984, Ann Arbor residents have approved a street millage, which is the crucial method for funding and maintaining Ann Arbor's transportation infrastructure, which includes:

  • 200 miles of residential streets​
  • 100 miles of major roads
  • 442miles of sidewalk​
  • 13 bridges
  • 79 miles of bike lanes
  • 281major street crosswalks

Since 2022, the street and sidewalk millage has paid to:

  • Resurface or reconstruct and average of 18 miles of road annually
  • Replace 6.25 miles of sidewalk
  • Repair 18,400 sidewalk slabs
  • Add or improve bike lanes and shared use paths

The question, as it will appear on the November ballot:

ANN ARBOR CITY CHARTER AMENDMENT

TAX FOR STREET, BRIDGE, AND SIDEWALK REPAIR

AND REPLACEMENT

Shall the Charter be amended to authorize a new tax up to 2.125 mills for street and bridge repair and for sidewalk repair and construction for 2027 through 2032 to replace the previously authorized tax up to 2.125 mills for street and bridge repair and for sidewalk repair and construction for 2022 through 2026, which will raise in the first year of levy the estimated revenue of $19,236,316? In accordance with State law, a portion of the millage may be subject to capture by the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority and the Washtenaw County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority.

Yes                    No

 

 

ANN ARBOR CITY CHARTER AMENDMENT

TAX FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW SIDEWALKS

Shall the Charter be amended to authorize a tax up to 0.20 mills for the construction of new sidewalks for 2027 through 2032, to replace the previously authorized tax up to 0.20 mills for the construction of new sidewalks for 2021 through 2026, which will raise in the first year of levy the estimated revenue of $1,809,900?  In accordance with State law, a portion of the millage may be subject to capture by the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority and the Washtenaw County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority.

Yes                  No

Commonly asked questions

For over 40 years, the Street and Bridge Resurfacing and Reconstruction Millage - augmented with matching funds from federal and state grants - has been the principal funding source for resurfacing and reconstructing Ann Arbor's neighborhood and "major" streets and bridges. Because of the frequent changes in temperature, roads in Southeast Michigan experience severe freeze/thaw cycles which greatly impact their life span. Many of our roads need a new asp​halt surface after 15 to 20 years and need complete reconstruction after 30 years. From 2022-2026, the total millage proceeds are approximately $72 million. During the same time, the millage helped the city obtain $13.4 million in state and federal money. ​

​​Prior to the 1980s, Ann Arbor had no dedicated funds for street reconstruction. The overall condition of the roads was very poor. As a means to improve the quality of our road transportation system, citizens approved the first Street Reconstruction Millage in 1984. Following this, in 1988, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006,2011, 2016, and 2021 the voters of Ann Arbor approved the collection of a millage for transportation infrastructure. 

From 2022 to 2026, the street and sidewalk millage generated nearly $72 million in revenue that was used to improve and maintain the city’s approximately 200 miles of residential streets, 100 miles of major streets, 13 bridges and 442 miles of sidewalk within the City of Ann Arbor. Funds were also used for the city's match to be eligible to receive Federal Aid funds for major street reconstruction and bridge rehabilitation projects.

This November voters will be asked to adopt a 2.125-mill tax for funding street, bridge, and sidewalks for six years (2027-2032), which will raise the first year of the levy an estimated revenue of $19.2 million. Because of Michigan tax laws, the annual levy amount paid will vary by household depending on its Taxable value. For example, the 2027 levy amount for a property with a Taxable value of $150,000 is $317.  

The 2027 Street, Bridge, and Sidewalk millage may be used for the following, including without limitation:

  • Resurfacing or reconstruction of existing paved city streets and bridges, including on-street bicycle lanes and other non-motorized facilities;
  • Construction, reconstruction, or enhancement of pedestrian crosswalks;
  • Reconstruction and construction of accessible street crossings and corner ramps;
  • Capital Preventative Maintenance (CPM) measures for existing paved streets and bridges;
  • Repair and/or replacement of sidewalks within the public right-of-way adjacent to properties against which the city levies property taxes; and
  • Repair and/or replacement of sidewalks within the public right-of-way adjacent to properties against which the City levies property taxes

To the extent the millage is used for the repair of individual sidewalks slabs, it will be used only for sidewalks adjacent to properties outside the Downtown Development District ("DDD") against which the city levies property taxes and adjacent to single- and two-family houses within the DDD against which the city levies property taxes.​

Michigan receives federal transportation funds that are allocated among local communities for major street projects. A prerequisite to receive funding is the local community must supply local funds to match any federal funding received. Typically, the construction contract costs on any qualified project are split approximately 20 percent local share and 80 percent federal share. All expenses for a design of a project are paid by local agencies. Without a local supply of matching funds, a community is not eligible to receive this type of federal aid.  ​

Principles of the City's Pavement Asset Management Plan guide the selection process for street construction and resurfacing. Limiting factors include available funding and the need for other infrastructure/utility improvements. For more detailed information, and video describing how it’s done, please visit our street selection website.

Oftentimes, a residential and/or urban reconstruction includes the replacement of many underground utilities (sanitary, storm, water main, water main services, edge drain, and electrical conduit), all of which need to be installed in separate trenches while working around existing utilities and the associated service leads. Also, contractors may be required to maintain access to side streets and driveways during the installation of utilities and later with the placement of curb, sidewalk, drive approaches, and road surface much of the work must be done in several phases. Also, late-evening work is often limited due to noise ordinance restrictions and the daytime hours for material pits. Urban environments often have little room for stockpiling material (e.g., sand and stone), so the construction operations are subject to the ongoing daytime removal and delivery of materials.​

Since 2011, voters have approved an additional 1/8 mill for purposes of performing sidewalk repairs. Prior to this (and the associated changes to City Code), property owners were responsible for making repairs to sidewalks adjacent to their property. Feedback indicated a strong preference to have the city be responsible for performing sidewalk repairs. Since 2016, this has been presented to voters as one ballot proposal for the Street, Bridge, and Sidewalk Millage, which encompasses the city's "Complete Streets" philosophy to accommodate people of all and abilities travel needs.

To the extent the new millage is used for the repair of individual sidewalks slabs, it will be used only for sidewalks adjacent to properties outside the Downtown Development District ("DDD") against which the city levies property taxes and adjacent to single- and two-family houses within the DDD against which the city levies property taxes.​