Photo: rossograph · CC BY-SA 4.0How is Cascade Township run?
Cascade Township’s town government spent $12 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2023, about $608 per resident.
What stands out about how Cascade Township is run
Read from the town’s budget and official records.
Forest Hills Public Schools
Cascade Township’s K–12 school district, shared with Grand Rapids Township, Ada Township. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $14,583 per pupil, $9,162 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.
Caledonia Community Schools · $15,092 per pupil
Lowell Area Schools · $14,193 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
About $608 per resident a year, or $1.67 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: fire, at 27%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
$549 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar towns
Cascade Township’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($549 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 68 Michigan towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $541, and the middle half spent $325–$702. Cascade Township spent more than 54% of them.
Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Michigan towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Cascade Township itself left out).
Day-to-day spending is up 12% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Cascade Township 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: $549 · 2023: $608.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $5,028 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.06% 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 Cascade Township’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 Cascade Township’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Cascade Township →
Who’s in charge in Cascade Township
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Cascade Township’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on cascadetwp.com ↗.
One full-time town employee for every 579 residents
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2023 finance file (19,701).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
How Cascade Township voted in 2024
Official results for Cascade Township’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat50.2%7,040 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican48.2%6,755 votesOthers: 1.6% (222 votes).
Most votes in Cascade Township: Kamala D Harris
Kent County: Harris 51.8%, Trump 46.4% · Michigan: Trump 49.7%, Harris 48.3%
Mike RogersRepublican49.5%
Elissa SlotkinDemocrat48.6%Most votes in Cascade Township: Mike Rogers
Kent County: Slotkin 50.9%, Rogers 46.3% · Michigan: Slotkin 48.6%, Rogers 48.3%
Most votes in the district: Hillary Scholten
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Cascade Township, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cascade Township | 50.2% | 48.2% | 1.6% | 14,017 |
| Kent County | 51.8% | 46.4% | 1.8% | 371,947 |
| 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 Cascade Township.
- 1Your townTown governmentOfficials: cascadetwp.com ↗
- 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.
How Cascade Township compares with the towns next door
Cascade Township spent $549 per resident in 2022; the 5 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $202 to $853. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Rapids Township | $202 | $4,173 |
| Lowell Township | $225 | $3,483 |
| Caledonia Township | $313 | $3,983 |
| Ada Township | $611 | $5,831 |
| Kentwood | $853 | $3,246 |
| Cascade Township | $549 | $5,028 |
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 Cascade Township’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Cascade Township’s government
How much does Cascade Township spend per resident?
About $608 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2023, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $549 was more than 54% of 68 Michigan towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Cascade Township?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $5,028 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.06% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.25% across Michigan. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cascadetwp.com.
Who runs Cascade Township’s government?
See cascadetwp.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Cascade Township yet.
How did Cascade Township vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 50.2%, Donald J Trump 48.2% (14,017 votes, official results). Kent County: Harris 51.8%, Trump 46.4%. Michigan: Trump 49.7%, Harris 48.3%.
How many people work for Cascade Township?
34 full-time and 23 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $179,956 (about $2.2M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Cascade Township in the state legislature?
State Senate District 30 (Mark Huizenga) and State House District 80 (Phil Skaggs). The House district also covers three neighboring towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Cascade Township’s 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 →