Town Hall · Ellsworth

How Ellsworth is run

Ellsworth spent $454,000 in the year to February 28, 2022, about $1,308 per resident.

City budget

$454,000

spent, year to February 28, 2022

Per resident

$1,308

Below typical Michigan cities ($2,035)

Long-term debt

$739,000

$2,130 per resident

City staff

full-time · 14 part-time

Typical tax bill

$1,934

a year · MI $2,904

What stands out about how Ellsworth is run

Read from the town’s budget, meetings and records. The page puts what stands out first.

A lean budget$1,308 per resident a year, vs $2,035 for a typical Michigan city.Lower tax billsThe typical homeowner pays $1,934 a year in property tax, vs $2,904 across Michigan.Runs its own water & sewer20% of spending goes to water, sewer and trash, paid largely by users’ fees.A shared school districtShares Ellsworth Community Schools with 1 other town.

★ What stands out · Your share of the budget

About $1,308 per resident a year, or $3.58 a day

The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 33% of spending.

ELLSWORTHYour share · per resident · year to February 28, 2022

Administration & buildings$148,000 · 33%$427

Roads & transportation$103,000 · 23%$297

Sewer & trash$70,000 · 15%$202

Parks & libraries$44,000 · 10%$127

Water & other utilities$21,000 · 5%$61

Police$11,000 · 2%$32

Paid to other governments$11,000 · 2%$32

Interest on debt$3,000 · 1%$9

Other$43,000 · 9%$124

Total per resident$1,308

Whole budget $454,000 · 347 residents
Thank you for being a neighbor

Where the money comes from

From the state 31%Interest, fines & other 28%Property taxes 21%Utility sales 13%Fees & charges 5%From other local governments 2%

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,934 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.21% of the home’s value, vs 1.25% across Michigan.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Michigan$2,904

Ellsworth$1,934

$1,934

typical bill a year

1.21%

effective rate

$160,200

typical home value (Census)

Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Ellsworth’s rate.

Can I afford it? →

The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate. In a town this small the estimate has a wide margin.

The school district

Ellsworth Community Schools

Ellsworth’s K–12 school district, shared with Banks. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Ellsworth →

$18,104

per pupil · MI $16,528

230

students

$2.3 million

long-term debt

Of the $18,104 per pupil, $11,652 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.

The district: schools, scores and graduation →

Where the district’s money comes from

Local 50%State 43%Federal 7%

Michigan districts overall: 34% local, 57% state, 9% federal.

School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Ellsworth

Local officials aren’t in the public records we use for Ellsworth yet. Neighbors can add them.

Who works for Ellsworth

One full-time town employee for every 347 residents

On the payroll in March 2022.

By department full-time, plus part-time

Administration & buildings0 + 11 pt

Roads & transportation1 + 2 pt

Police0 + 1 pt

full-time

part-time

$70,800

average full-time pay, before benefits

Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it’s approximate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.

Who represents Ellsworth

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Ellsworth.

Politics & elections →

1
Your cityMayor & council

Local officials aren’t on record yet.
2
Michigan HouseState representatives

J.R. Roth
3
Michigan SenateState senator

John Damoose
4
GovernorStatewide

Gretchen Whitmer
5
U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress

Jack Bergman
6
U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Michigan

Gary C. Peters Elissa Slotkin

Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.

Reach Ellsworth’s government

Numbers and hours come from neighbors and the town’s own site (the Handbook). A new one goes live once two neighbors confirm it.

The Handbook →

Questions about how Ellsworth is run?

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →

Weigh in

Does Ellsworth get good value for its tax dollars?

Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.

Ask neighbors

Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. School district: Census school finance survey. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 5-year estimates. Representatives: Open States, the Census and congress-legislators.