Photo: brewbooks · CC BY-SA 2.0How is Big Rapids run?
Big Rapids’ city government spent $22.4 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2023, about $2,500 per resident. Water and other utilities ($765,000) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Big Rapids is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
About $2,500 per resident a year, or $6.85 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 20%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
$1,904 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities
Big Rapids’ day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,904 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 44 Michigan cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,874, and the middle half spent $1,414–$2,467. Big Rapids spent more than 52% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($4.4 million), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Michigan cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Big Rapids itself left out).
Day-to-day spending is up 13% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Big Rapids reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $1,904 · 2023: $2,500. Per resident it went from $1,904 to $2,500 (up 31%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 10,408 to 8,976.
full-time in March 2025, down from 102 in 2022.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $2,466 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.58% of the home’s value, vs 1.25% across Michigan.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Big Rapids’ 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.
Tax bills are one input to Big Rapids’ Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Big Rapids →
Who’s in charge in Big Rapids
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Big Rapids’ meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on ci.big-rapids.mi.us ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 89 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2023 finance file (8,976).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Big Rapids Public Schools
Big Rapids’ K–12 school district, shared with Big Rapids Township, Norwich Township, Colfax Township, Grant Township, Green Township. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $13,916 per pupil, $8,303 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.
Michigan districts overall: 34% local, 57% state, 9% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Big Rapids voted in 2024
Official results for Big Rapids’ own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat52.6%1,627 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican44.8%1,385 votesOthers: 2.6% (80 votes).
Most votes in Big Rapids: Kamala D Harris
Mecosta County: Trump 64.2%, Harris 34.2% · Michigan: Trump 49.7%, Harris 48.3%
of Big Rapids’ 7,410 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Michigan: 74%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Elissa SlotkinDemocrat52.0%
Mike RogersRepublican43.5%Most votes in Big Rapids: Elissa Slotkin
Mecosta County: Rogers 63.0%, Slotkin 33.7% · Michigan: Slotkin 48.6%, Rogers 48.3%
Most votes in the district: John R Moolenaar
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Big Rapids, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Rapids | 52.6% | 44.8% | 2.6% | 3,092 |
| Mecosta County | 34.2% | 64.2% | 1.6% | 22,489 |
| Michigan | 48.3% | 49.7% | 2.0% | 5,664,186 |
Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.
Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017; Elissa Slotkin: U.S. House portrait (congress-legislators project); Mike Rogers: U.S. House portrait (congress-legislators project). All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Big Rapids.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: ci.big-rapids.mi.us ↗
- 2Michigan HouseState representatives
- 3Michigan SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Michigan
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
Reach Big Rapids’ government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Big Rapids’ government
How much does Big Rapids spend per resident?
About $2,500 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2023, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,904 was more than 52% of 44 Michigan cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Big Rapids?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,466 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.58% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.25% across Michigan. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ci.big-rapids.mi.us.
Who runs Big Rapids’ government?
See ci.big-rapids.mi.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Big Rapids yet.
How did Big Rapids vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 52.6%, Donald J Trump 44.8% (3,092 votes, official results). Mecosta County: Trump 64.2%, Harris 34.2%. Michigan: Trump 49.7%, Harris 48.3%.
How many people work for Big Rapids?
101 full-time and 78 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $673,691 (about $8.1M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Big Rapids in the state legislature?
State Senate District 34 (Roger Hauck) and State House District 100 (Tom Kunse). The House district also covers 62 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Big Rapids’ government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →