Town Hall · Big Prairie

Big Prairie, MI town hall & government

Big Prairie spent $561,000 in the year to March 31, 2022, about $208 per resident.

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

Town budget

Where Big Prairie's money goes

Spent
$561,000
fiscal year to March 31, 2022
Per resident
$208
typical Michigan towns: $355
Long-term debt
None
none outstanding at year end
Administration & buildings
$233,00042%
Fire
$163,00029%
Roads & transportation
$70,00012%
Parks & libraries
$31,0006%
Other
$64,00011%

Where the money comes from

  • Property taxes 41%
  • From the state 37%
  • Interest, fines & other 16%
  • Fees & charges 4%
  • Other taxes & licenses 1%
Town workforce

Who works for Big Prairie

Full-time staff
0
43 part-time too
Administration & buildings
0 full-time20 part
Fire
0 full-time11 part
Health & welfare
0 full-time11 part
Parks & libraries
0 full-time1 part

Staff on the town's payroll in March 2022. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate.

Schools · school year 2023–24

White Cloud Public Schools

Big Prairie's K–12 school district, shared with White Cloud, Wilcox, Everett, Goodwell, Lincoln and Monroe. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$13,748
Michigan: $16,528
Students
912
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$548,000
at year end

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

  • Local 30%
  • State 55%
  • Federal 14%

Of the $13,748 per pupil, $8,110 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 Big Prairie: Newaygo Public School District ($15,232 per pupil) · Morley Stanwood Community Schools ($16,537 per pupil).

Property tax

What homeowners in Big Prairie pay

Typical tax bill
$1,400
a year · Michigan typical $2,904
Effective rate
0.98%
of home value · Michigan 1.25%
Typical home value
$143,500
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. In a town this small the survey estimate has a wide margin.

Local

Contact Big Prairie's government

Town hall & decisions in Big Prairie →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Big Prairie

Big Prairie is represented in Congress by Senators Gary C. Peters and Elissa Slotkin and Representative John R. Moolenaar. Gretchen Whitmer is governor.

All of Big Prairie'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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Big Prairie

Michigan · MI · Newaygo County
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