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John W. Hunter HouseJohn W. Hunter House · Photo: Andrew Jameson · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Birmingham

Birmingham spent more per resident in 2022 than 86% of similar cities

Birmingham’s city government spent $77.9 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $3,587 per resident.

Town website
Next public meeting

Advisory Parking Committee

7:30 am · City Commission Room 205, 151 Martin Street

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$77.9M
year to June 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$3,587
In 2022: $3,118, more than 86% of 44 similar cities
Long-term debt
$12.9M
end of FY2024, reported
City staff, 2025
195
full-time · 107 part-time · March payroll $1.6M
Typical tax bill
$10,000+
a year

What stands out about how Birmingham is run

Read from the city’s budget, meetings and official records.

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $3,118 per resident, more than 86% of 44 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer20% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2024).A shared school districtShares Birmingham City School District with 5 other towns.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Birmingham’s own agenda portal, checked daily. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check before you go.

Recent meetings

  • Oct26
    City CommissionMonday · 7:00 pm · DPS Conference Room, 851 S. EtonOctober 26, 2026 Joint Planning Board & City Commission MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct26
    Environmental Sustainability CommitteeMonday · 5:30 pm · City Commission Room 202-203, 151 Martin StreetAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct20
    City CommissionTuesday · 8:45 am · City Commission Room 205, 151 Martin StreetOctober 20, 2026 Public Accuracy Test for the November 3, 2026 ElectionAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct19
    City CommissionMonday · 7:00 pm · Room 205, 151 Martin StOctober 19, 2026 Regular City Commission MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct13
    Board of Zoning AppealsTuesday · 7:30 pm · City Commission Room 205, 151 Martin StreetAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
Go in person

Most meetings are open to the public, and many have a public comment period at the start.

Agenda portal ↗
Your share of the 2024 budget

About $3,587 per resident a year, or $9.83 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 20%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 44%Fees & charges 32%Interest, fines & other 12%From the state 6%Other taxes & licenses 3%From other local governments 1%From the federal government 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $19.9 million; interest on debt $204,000; payments to other governments $14.7 million. With these, the whole budget was $112.6 million.
Compared with similar places

$3,118 per resident in 2022: more than 86% of them

Birmingham’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($3,118 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–$2,447. Birmingham spent more than 86% of them.

Middle half of the group, $1,414–$2,447Median $1,874Birmingham

Includes sewer and trash ($15 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 →

The group
44

Michigan cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Birmingham itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 17% since 2022

Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Birmingham reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$66.4 million
2023$73 million
2024$77.9 million

Per resident: 2022: $3,118 · 2023: $3,355 · 2024: $3,587.

City staff
195

full-time in March 2025, up from 180 in 2022.

Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.

Property tax

Typical bills top $10,000 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Birmingham$10,000+
Bloomfield Township$7,902
Troy$5,267
Michigan$2,904
$10,000+
typical bill a year
$698,300
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Tax bills are one input to Birmingham’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Birmingham →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Birmingham

Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.

See bhamgov.org for Birmingham’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Birmingham yet.bhamgov.org ↗
Who works for Birmingham

One full-time city employee for every 111 residents

On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (21,715).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025

Parks & libraries42 + 65 pt
Police46 + 22 pt
Fire37
Administration & buildings23 + 12 pt
Roads & transportation14 + 2 pt
Housing & development8
Water & other utilities5
Sewer & trash4
Other16 + 6 pt
195
full-time
107
part-time
$1.6M
payroll for March 2025
$19.5M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$88,500
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
35
sworn police officers
35
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Birmingham had 8.4 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 36 of the 44 Michigan cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 6.3: Birmingham had more than 78% of them. Same group and year as the budget comparison.

The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.

The school district

Birmingham City School District

Birmingham’s K–12 school district, shared with Beverly Hills, Franklin, Southfield Township, Bingham Farms, Bloomfield Township. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Birmingham →
$21,253
per pupil · MI $16,528
7,394
students
$266.9 million
long-term debt

Of the $21,253 per pupil, $12,754 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 58%State 41%Federal 1%

Michigan districts overall: 34% local, 57% state, 9% federal.

School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.

Elections · 2024 general election

How Birmingham voted in 2024

Official results for Birmingham’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.

President14,801 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat56.4%8,344 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican42.2%6,252 votes

Others: 1.4% (205 votes).

Most votes in Birmingham: Kamala D Harris

Oakland County: Harris 54.3%, Trump 43.7% · Michigan: Trump 49.7%, Harris 48.3%

Turnout
95%

of Birmingham’s 15,553 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Michigan: 74%.

Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).

U.S. Senate14,690 votes
Elissa SlotkinElissa SlotkinDemocrat55.8%
Mike RogersMike RogersRepublican42.7%
Others1.5%

Most votes in Birmingham: Elissa Slotkin

Oakland County: Slotkin 54.8%, Rogers 42.7% · Michigan: Slotkin 48.6%, Rogers 48.3%

U.S. House · Michigan’s 11th District447,925 votes
Haley StevensDemocrat58.2%
Nick SombergRepublican39.6%
Others2.2%

Most votes in the district: Haley Stevens

Whole-district result

President, 2024: Birmingham, its county and the state

HarrisTrumpOthersVotes
Birmingham56.4%42.2%1.4%14,801
Oakland County54.3%43.7%1.9%772,145
Michigan48.3%49.7%2.0%5,664,186
DemocratRepublicanLibertarianIndependent / other

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.

Who represents Birmingham

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Birmingham.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: bhamgov.org ↗
  2. 2
    Michigan HouseBirmingham is split between 3 districts
    Natalie PriceSamantha SteckloffSharon MacDonell
  3. 3
    Michigan SenateState senator
    Mallory McMorrow
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Gretchen Whitmer
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Haley M. Stevens
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Michigan
    Gary C. PetersElissa Slotkin
Find your state legislators by address ↗

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

Next door

How Birmingham compares with the towns next door

Birmingham spent $3,118 per resident in 2022; the 2 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $1,108 to $1,834. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Bloomfield Township: $1,834 per resident (2022)Troy: $1,108 per resident (2022)Bloomfield TownshipTroyBirmingham
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Troy$1,108$5,267
Bloomfield Township$1,834$7,902
Birmingham$3,118$10,000+

Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).

Reach Birmingham’s government

The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.

The Handbook →
Official websitebhamgov.org ↗

Questions about Birmingham’s government

How much does Birmingham spend per resident?

About $3,587 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $3,118 was more than 86% of 44 Michigan cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

Who runs Birmingham’s government?

See bhamgov.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Birmingham yet.

How did Birmingham vote in 2024?

For president, Kamala D Harris 56.4%, Donald J Trump 42.2% (14,801 votes, official results). Oakland County: Harris 54.3%, Trump 43.7%. Michigan: Trump 49.7%, Harris 48.3%.

How many people work for Birmingham?

195 full-time and 107 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $1.6M (about $19.5M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Birmingham in the state legislature?

Birmingham is split among 3 State House districts, so your address decides. The Michigan Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District 8 (Mallory McMorrow). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Birmingham?

The next posted meeting is Advisory Parking Committee on Wednesday, November 4, at 7:30 am in City Commission Room 205, 151 Martin Street, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Birmingham’s government

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →
Ask neighbors

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 →