Lawmakers are trying to clamp down on skimmers.
Chad Livengood of the Detroit News The Michigan House Tuesday approved legislation that would prevent Metro Detroit communities from skimming taxes money from voter-approved levies for the Detroit Zoo and the Detroit Institute of Arts. The bill must still pass the Senate.
Lawmakers are trying to stop Wayne County communities such as Dearborn and Taylor from capturing a portion of the zoo and arts museum millages through tax increment finance authorities that fund downtown development projects in the Detroit suburbs.
Tax authorities in 30 communities have captured at least $755,000 since voters approved the 0.1-mill zoo tax in 2008 intended for Detroit Zoo upkeep and operations. Some are trying to capture the 0.2-mill DIA tax voters in Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties approved last year.
