Town Hall · Benton Harbor

Benton Harbor, MI town hall & government

Benton Harbor spent $47.6 million in the year to June 30, 2024, about $5,324 per resident.

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

Town budget

Where Benton Harbor's money goes

Spent
$47.6 million
fiscal year to June 30, 2024
Per resident
$5,324
typical Michigan cities: $2,810
Long-term debt
$20.6 million
$2,309 per resident
Water & other utilities
$11.4 million24%
Roads & transportation
$6.3 million13%
Sewer & trash
$5.3 million11%
Housing & development
$4 million8%
Administration & buildings
$2.4 million5%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$278,0001%
Interest on debt
$224,000<1%
Parks & libraries
$134,000<1%
Paid to other governments
$75,000<1%
Other
$17.5 million37%

Where the money comes from

  • From the federal government 49%
  • From the state 23%
  • Fees & charges 14%
  • Property taxes 6%
  • Interest, fines & other 4%
  • Income taxes 3%
  • Other taxes & licenses 1%
  • From other local governments 1%
Town workforce

Who works for Benton Harbor

Full-time staff
69
20 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$63,700
a year, before benefits
Full-time firefighters
2
on the town payroll
Sewer & trash
20 full-time
Police
15 full-time
Housing & development
11 full-time4 part
Administration & buildings
9 full-time3 part
Fire
2 full-time10 part
Roads & transportation
5 full-time3 part
Water & other utilities
5 full-time
Other
2 full-time

Staff on the town's payroll in March 2025. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate.

Schools · school year 2023–24

Benton Harbor Area Schools

Benton Harbor's K–12 school district, shared with Benton 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 Harbor: St. Joseph Public Schools ($13,601 per pupil).

Property tax

What homeowners in Benton Harbor pay

Typical tax bill
$911
a year · Michigan typical $2,904
Effective rate
1.19%
of home value · Michigan 1.25%
Typical home value
$76,500
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 Harbor's government

🏛️ Official websitebhcity.us ↗

Town hall & decisions in Benton Harbor →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Benton Harbor

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

All of Benton Harbor'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.

You’re browsing

Benton Harbor

Michigan · MI
View town boundary →
Township / city / CDP overlaps possible.
Loading boundary…

Benton Harbor is your selected town. The feed includes posts assigned to this town, not a distance radius or ZIP code.

Neighborhoods narrow the feed further, while townwide announcements, events, and issues remain visible.

Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/18 · 2025-01-01