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Town Hall · Lawrence

How Lawrence is run

Lawrence spent $1.6 million in the year to February 28, 2022, about $1,609 per resident. (A Census Bureau estimate.)

Town website
Photo: rossograph
City budget
$1.6 million
spent, year to February 28, 2022
Per resident
$1,609
Below typical Michigan cities ($2,035)
Long-term debt
$1.1 million
$1,089 per resident
City staff
0
full-time · 10 part-time
Typical tax bill
$1,836
a year · MI $2,904

What stands out about how Lawrence is run

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

★ What stands out · Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,836 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.37% of the home’s value, vs 1.25% across Michigan.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Michigan$2,904
Lawrence$1,836
$1,836
typical bill a year
1.37%
effective rate
$133,900
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Your share of the budget

About $1,609 per resident a year, or $4.41 a day

The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 46% of spending.

Where the money comes from
From the state 29%Property taxes 23%Utility sales 23%Fees & charges 18%Interest, fines & other 7%Other taxes & licenses <1%
An estimate

Lawrence didn’t report all of its 2022 figures to the Census Bureau, so most of these numbers are the Bureau’s estimates.

The school district

Lawrence Public School District

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

Schools in Lawrence →
$16,308
per pupil · MI $16,528
415
students
$6.1 million
long-term debt

Of the $16,308 per pupil, $9,320 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 32%State 53%Federal 16%

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 Lawrence

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

Who works for Lawrence

0 full-time staff

On the payroll in March 2022 (a Census Bureau estimate).

By department full-time, plus part-time

Administration & buildings0 + 9 pt
Other0 + 1 pt
0
full-time
10
part-time

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

Who represents Lawrence

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Lawrence.

Politics & elections →
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Michigan HouseState representatives
  3. 3
    Michigan SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Michigan

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

Reach Lawrence’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 →
Official websitelawrencemi.com ↗

Questions about how Lawrence is run?

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →
Weigh in
Does Lawrence 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 (for Lawrence, mostly the Bureau’s estimates). School district: Census school finance survey. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 5-year estimates. Representatives: Open States, the Census and congress-legislators.

Post to Lawrence

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Add to the handbook

Sign in to add to Lawrence’s handbook. Every fact you add earns karma once neighbors confirm it.