Town Hall · Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids, MI town hall & government

Grand Rapids spent $629.7 million in the year to June 30, 2024, about $3,198 per resident.

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

Local leadership

Who runs Grand Rapids

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 If a name is out of date, tell us: when two neighbors agree, it's hidden until the records catch up.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 Grand Rapids's money goes

Spent
$629.7 million
fiscal year to June 30, 2024
Per resident
$3,198
typical Michigan cities: $2,810
Long-term debt
$544.2 million
$2,764 per resident
Water & other utilities
$68.4 million11%
Police
$65.1 million10%
Sewer & trash
$65 million10%
Administration & buildings
$62.4 million10%
Housing & development
$52.5 million8%
Fire
$45.4 million7%
Parks & libraries
$36.1 million6%
Roads & transportation
$35.7 million6%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$26.1 million4%
Interest on debt
$11.4 million2%
Paid to other governments
$10.2 million2%
Health & welfare
$655,000<1%
Other
$150.8 million24%

Where the money comes from

  • Fees & charges 23%
  • Income taxes 22%
  • Property taxes 13%
  • From the federal government 12%
  • From the state 10%
  • Utility sales 9%
  • Interest, fines & other 7%
  • Other taxes & licenses 1%
  • From other local governments <1%
Town workforce

Who works for Grand Rapids

Full-time staff
1,566
229 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$89,600
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
297
and 226 full-time firefighters
Police
375 full-time40 part
Fire
235 full-time2 part
Administration & buildings
190 full-time7 part
Parks & libraries
107 full-time160 part
Sewer & trash
162 full-time1 part
Water & other utilities
124 full-time1 part
Courts, inspections & corrections
90 full-time9 part
Housing & development
88 full-time
Roads & transportation
31 full-time
Other
164 full-time9 part

Staff on the town's payroll in March 2025. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate.

Schools · school year 2023–24

Grand Rapids Public Schools

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

Spending per pupil
$19,531
Michigan: $16,528
Students
13,802
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$231.2 million
at year end

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

  • Local 34%
  • State 42%
  • Federal 24%

Of the $19,531 per pupil, $9,996 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 Grand Rapids: Kentwood Public Schools ($16,317 per pupil).

Property tax

What homeowners in Grand Rapids pay

Typical tax bill
$2,493
a year · Michigan typical $2,904
Effective rate
1.02%
of home value · Michigan 1.25%
Typical home value
$244,500
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.

Local

Contact Grand Rapids's government

🏛️ Official websitegrandrapidsmi.gov ↗

Town hall & decisions in Grand Rapids →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids is represented in Congress by Senators Gary C. Peters and Elissa Slotkin and Representative Hillary J. Scholten. Gretchen Whitmer is governor.

All of Grand 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.

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Grand Rapids

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