Town Hall · Forest

Forest, MI town hall & government

Forest spent $1.2 million in the year to March 31, 2022, about $268 per resident.

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

Town budget

Where Forest's money goes

Spent
$1.2 million
fiscal year to March 31, 2022
Per resident
$268
typical Michigan towns: $355
Long-term debt
$256,000
$58 per resident
Fire
$315,00026%
Administration & buildings
$309,00026%
Sewer & trash
$220,00018%
Roads & transportation
$152,00013%
Police
$14,0001%
Interest on debt
$12,0001%
Parks & libraries
$4,000<1%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$3,000<1%
Other
$163,00014%

Where the money comes from

  • Property taxes 52%
  • From the state 33%
  • Interest, fines & other 13%
  • Fees & charges 2%
  • Other taxes & licenses <1%
Town workforce

Who works for Forest

Full-time staff
3
27 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$28,600
a year, before benefits
Fire
0 full-time21 part
Administration & buildings
3 full-time4 part
Other
0 full-time2 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

Lakeville Community Schools

Forest's K–12 school district, shared with Columbiaville, Otisville, Otter Lake, Marathon and Richfield. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$13,961
Michigan: $16,528
Students
1,041
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$6.4 million
at year end

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

  • Local 20%
  • State 70%
  • Federal 10%

Of the $13,961 per pupil, $7,977 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 Forest: Millington Community Schools ($13,142 per pupil).

Property tax

What homeowners in Forest pay

Typical tax bill
$2,369
a year · Michigan typical $2,904
Effective rate
1.18%
of home value · Michigan 1.25%
Typical home value
$200,900
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 Forest's government

Town hall & decisions in Forest →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Forest

Forest is represented in Congress by Senators Gary C. Peters and Elissa Slotkin and Representative Kristen McDonald Rivet. Gretchen Whitmer is governor.

All of Forest'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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Forest

Michigan · MI · Genesee County
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