Michigan House OKs bills to prevent tax capture
Michigan House approves bills to prevent communities from redirecting zoo, DIA tax funds
LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- The Republican-led Michigan House has approved legislation designed to prevent communities from holding back millage money voters approved for the Detroit Zoo and Detroit Institute of Arts.
The House passed the package of seven bills Tuesday. The bills would prohibit tax increment financing authorities from capturing funds from the zoo and museum taxes.
Tax increment financing is set up to withhold or capture some tax revenue. The money often is used for local projects.
Voters in Oakland, Wayne and Macomb counties passed the zoo tax in 2008. The museum millage was approved in November. Supporters say when voters approved millage money, they intended for all of the funds to go toward supporting the zoo and museum.
The bills now head to the Senate.
