Town Hall · Detroit

Detroit, MI town hall & government

Detroit spent $3.1 billion in the year to June 30, 2024, about $4,942 per resident.

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

Local leadership

Who runs Detroit

From public records (Open States and Wikidata), which can lag behind an election. If a name is out of date, tell us: when two neighbors agree, it's hidden until the records catch up.

Town budget

Where Detroit's money goes

Spent
$3.1 billion
fiscal year to June 30, 2024
Per resident
$4,942
typical Michigan cities: $2,810
Long-term debt
$2.7 billion
$4,363 per resident
Police
$374 million12%
Sewer & trash
$370 million12%
Roads & transportation
$342.2 million11%
Administration & buildings
$264 million9%
Water & other utilities
$226.9 million7%
Fire
$153.9 million5%
Parks & libraries
$140.7 million5%
Housing & development
$127.9 million4%
Interest on debt
$117.2 million4%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$64 million2%
Health & welfare
$59.9 million2%
Other
$825.6 million27%

Where the money comes from

  • From the federal government 23%
  • Fees & charges 17%
  • From the state 13%
  • Income taxes 12%
  • Property taxes 11%
  • Sales taxes 10%
  • Interest, fines & other 6%
  • Utility sales 5%
  • From other local governments 2%
  • Other taxes & licenses 1%
Town workforce

Who works for Detroit

Full-time staff
10,632
92 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$75,700
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
2,620
and 986 full-time firefighters
Police
3,398 full-time46 part
Parks & libraries
1,284 full-time44 part
Roads & transportation
1,018 full-time
Fire
1,008 full-time
Water & other utilities
695 full-time
Administration & buildings
656 full-time2 part
Housing & development
402 full-time
Health & welfare
242 full-time
Sewer & trash
242 full-time
Courts, inspections & corrections
140 full-time
Other
1,547 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

Detroit Public Schools Community District

Detroit's K–12 school district. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$21,406
Michigan: $16,528
Students
48,271
in the whole district
Long-term debt
None
at year end

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

  • Local 32%
  • State 53%
  • Federal 16%

Of the $21,406 per pupil, $10,514 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 Detroit pay

Typical tax bill
$1,402
a year · Michigan typical $2,904
Effective rate
1.67%
of home value · Michigan 1.25%
Typical home value
$83,900
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 Detroit's government

🏛️ Official websitedetroitmi.gov ↗

Town hall & decisions in Detroit →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Detroit

Detroit is represented in Congress by Senators Gary C. Peters and Elissa Slotkin and Representatives Shri Thanedar and Rashida Tlaib. Gretchen Whitmer is governor.

All of Detroit'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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Detroit

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