Town Hall · Portage

Portage, MI town hall & government

Portage spent $1.3 million in the year to December 31, 2022, about $416 per resident.

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

Town budget

Where Portage's money goes

Spent
$1.3 million
fiscal year to December 31, 2022
Per resident
$416
typical Michigan towns: $355
Long-term debt
$1.2 million
$386 per resident
Sewer & trash
$415,00032%
Paid to other governments
$245,00019%
Administration & buildings
$231,00018%
Fire
$59,0005%
Water & other utilities
$30,0002%
Parks & libraries
$24,0002%
Interest on debt
$12,0001%
Roads & transportation
$7,0001%
Police
$3,000<1%
Other
$259,00020%

Where the money comes from

  • Fees & charges 24%
  • From the state 22%
  • Utility sales 20%
  • Property taxes 19%
  • Interest, fines & other 12%
  • From the federal government 4%
Town workforce

Who works for Portage

Full-time staff
8
25 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$80,800
a year, before benefits
Administration & buildings
8 full-time12 part
Fire
0 full-time13 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

Houghton-Portage Township Schools

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

Spending per pupil
$13,225
Michigan: $16,528
Students
1,478
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$21.3 million
at year end

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

  • Local 25%
  • State 69%
  • Federal 6%

Of the $13,225 per pupil, $8,639 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 Portage: Baraga Area Schools ($19,142 per pupil).

Property tax

What homeowners in Portage pay

Typical tax bill
$2,033
a year · Michigan typical $2,904
Effective rate
0.99%
of home value · Michigan 1.25%
Typical home value
$204,700
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 Portage's government

Town hall & decisions in Portage →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Portage

Portage is represented in Congress by Senators Gary C. Peters and Elissa Slotkin and Representative Jack Bergman. Gretchen Whitmer is governor.

All of Portage'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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Portage

Michigan · MI · Houghton County
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