On May 6, the AATA millage vote passed with little problem. The proposed millage was approved by the majority of voters in every precinct in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti and all but two in Ypsilanti Township. According to eWashtenawCounty.org, the final vote count was 13,949 to 5,783, about a 70% tilt in favor of the millage.

The new tax will cost the owner of a $200,000 home an additional $70 a year of property taxes for five years. The tax will provide an extra $4.4 million every year for the AATA, which will help fund a 44% expansion on all local transit services, and an expansion into some new areas including Saline.

This new tax will have many visible benefits for AATA service when the AATA begins introducing the increased services in August, just in time for the 2014-2015 school year. Some of these new perks include expanded night and weekend operation hours, more buses on new and expanded routes, and more frequent buses. Additionally, the tax will fund better and renovated bus stops and a renovated park-and-ride lot.

Most changes will be implemented over the next few years, beginning in August with later and more frequent bus operations. Major changes, such as completely redesigned routes on Ann Arbor’s west side, are set to begin in May of 2016. The AATA also projects purchasing 20 new buses and hiring 60 new drivers. The new buses could take up to two years to order.

The proposed millage was met with both strong opposition and support, with each side  displaying a great deal of signage and other forms of advertisement. The opposition argued that the AATA could improve their services by cutting staff members and various other costs while also operating more efficiently.

Despite such a strong opposing campaign, this millage passed with flying colors. The tax is seen as a noticeable increase in already notoriously high property taxes by some, and as a small and manageable hike in taxes by others. Regardless, it is now seen as a new tax by all Ann Arbor Area residents.