Town Hall · Big Rapids

Big Rapids, MI town hall & government

Big Rapids spent $28.2 million in the year to June 30, 2023, about $3,143 per resident.

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

Town budget

Where Big Rapids's money goes

Spent
$28.2 million
fiscal year to June 30, 2023
Per resident
$3,143
typical Michigan cities: $2,328
Long-term debt
$9.2 million
$1,028 per resident
Sewer & trash
$5.3 million19%
Roads & transportation
$5.2 million19%
Parks & libraries
$3.6 million13%
Administration & buildings
$3.4 million12%
Housing & development
$2.9 million10%
Police
$2.4 million9%
Fire
$1.4 million5%
Water & other utilities
$572,0002%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$266,0001%
Interest on debt
$216,0001%
Paid to other governments
$118,000<1%
Other
$2.8 million10%

Where the money comes from

  • Fees & charges 28%
  • Property taxes 19%
  • From the state 14%
  • Utility sales 13%
  • Income taxes 12%
  • From the federal government 9%
  • Interest, fines & other 2%
  • From other local governments 1%
  • Other taxes & licenses 1%
Town workforce

Who works for Big Rapids

Full-time staff
101
78 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$70,200
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
17
and 10 full-time firefighters
Roads & transportation
17 full-time23 part
Fire
10 full-time21 part
Administration & buildings
17 full-time5 part
Police
19 full-time
Housing & development
14 full-time4 part
Parks & libraries
3 full-time24 part
Sewer & trash
7 full-time1 part
Water & other utilities
7 full-time
Other
7 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

Big Rapids Public Schools

Big Rapids's K–12 school district, shared with Big Rapids, Norwich, Colfax, Grant and Green. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$13,916
Michigan: $16,528
Students
2,383
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$23.6 million
at year end

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

  • Local 23%
  • State 65%
  • Federal 12%

Of the $13,916 per pupil, $8,303 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.

Property tax

What homeowners in Big Rapids pay

Typical tax bill
$2,466
a year · Michigan typical $2,904
Effective rate
1.58%
of home value · Michigan 1.25%
Typical home value
$156,400
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 Big Rapids's government

🏛️ Official websiteci.big-rapids.mi.us ↗

Town hall & decisions in Big Rapids →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Big Rapids

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

All of Big Rapids'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

Big Rapids

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

Big Rapids 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