Town Hall · Benton

Benton, MI town hall & government

Benton spent $15.7 million in the year to December 31, 2023, about $1,107 per resident.

Where the money goes, where it comes from, property taxes, and how to reach Benton's government.

Town budget

Where Benton's money goes

Spent
$15.7 million
fiscal year to December 31, 2023
Per resident
$1,107
typical Michigan towns: $929
Long-term debt
$20.7 million
$1,460 per resident
Sewer & trash
$5.6 million36%
Police
$3.5 million22%
Administration & buildings
$2.7 million17%
Fire
$2.1 million13%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$459,0003%
Water & other utilities
$411,0003%
Roads & transportation
$153,0001%
Interest on debt
$54,000<1%
Parks & libraries
$52,000<1%
Other
$605,0004%

Where the money comes from

  • Fees & charges 58%
  • Property taxes 28%
  • From the state 10%
  • Interest, fines & other 3%
  • Other taxes & licenses 2%
Town workforce · Census estimate

Who works for Benton

Full-time staff
76
24 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$88,100
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
26
and 18 full-time firefighters
Police
31 full-time1 part
Fire
18 full-time21 part
Administration & buildings
11 full-time1 part
Sewer & trash
7 full-time
Water & other utilities
5 full-time
Other
4 full-time1 part

Staff on the town's payroll in March 2025. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate. Benton didn't report its staffing to the Census Bureau, so these are the Bureau's estimates.

Schools · school year 2023–24

Benton Harbor Area Schools

Benton's K–12 school district, shared with Benton Harbor and Sodus. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$25,288
Michigan: $16,528
Students
1,314
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$123,000
at year end

Where the district's money comes from Michigan districts overall: 34% local, 57% state, 9% federal

  • Local 27%
  • State 22%
  • Federal 52%

Of the $25,288 per pupil, $10,943 goes to classroom instruction (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to support services such as buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren't in the per-pupil figure.

Also serving Benton: Coloma Community Schools ($15,528 per pupil).

Property tax

What homeowners in Benton pay

Typical tax bill
$1,937
a year · Michigan typical $2,904
Effective rate
1.30%
of home value · Michigan 1.25%
Typical home value
$148,700
owner-occupied

The median yearly bill homeowners report, covering every local property tax on the home (town, schools, county). The effective rate is that bill divided by the median home value, so it's a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Local

Contact Benton's government

Town hall & decisions in Benton →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Benton

Benton is represented in Congress by Senators Gary C. Peters and Elissa Slotkin and Representative Bill Huizenga. Gretchen Whitmer is governor.

All of Benton's representatives, with contacts →

Budget: U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Finance (every city and town government's revenue, spending and debt, grouped into plain categories). Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 5-year estimates.

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Benton

Michigan · MI · Berrien County
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