Road Work
Road Millage Renewal (2025-2034)
In November 2023, voters approved the ballot proposal to renew the road millage for another ten years (2025-2034), and restore the full millage rate of 2.5-mill with a primary focus on major roads. In addition to major road improvements, funding will be set aside each year to continue maintenance work on local roads and sidewalks.
A preliminary schedule for major road improvements is mapped at the following link. The schedule was outlined based partly on geography, attempting to keep roadwork spaced apart to avoid significant congestion in one area. The city also used PASER ratings to help determine the priority of streets.
Click the map thumbnail to the right and view our interactive map of the preliminary schedule for the road millage renewal (subject to change)
Local Road Millage (2015-2024)
In 2014, Royal Oak voters approved a 10-year, 2.5-mill tax increase to upgrade local streets. The millage raised approximately $5 million annually to improve approximately 214 miles of local streets in the city. Millage funds are not used for road improvements on major roads.
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Unimproved Streets
Unimproved streets (i.e. gravel, chip seal, seal coat, etc.) are not scheduled for paving as part of the road millage, except by special assessment to the adjacent property owners. The City Commission has adopted a policy to pay for 50% of the full frontage rate of special assessment paving approved during the millage period. In addition, the city will also cover 75% of the full frontage rate for the first 150 feet of side-lot frontage on an unimproved street. Learn more about special assessment paving.
Act 51 - Major Road Project Funding
Major road improvements are primarily funded using Act 51 monies, which are collected by the State of Michigan from vehicle registration fees and tax on gasoline and diesel fuel. Act 51 monies fund many annual maintenance programs including road construction and rehabilitation, snow plowing and salting, sweeping and cleaning, and storm sewer maintenance. Property taxes are not used to improve or repair major roads in Royal Oak.
The city has been fortunate to obtain regular federal grant awards to repair or improve major roadways such as Main Street, S. Washington Avenue and Campbell Road. Typically, one major road project is scheduled each year, provided the funds are available. With the recently approved road millage renewal, the city will be able to focus on more major roads to expedite repairs with the additional funding.