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Eaton County CourthousePhoto: Shirl · CC BY 2.0
Town Hall · Charlotte

Charlotte spent less per resident in 2022 than 83% of similar cities

Charlotte’s city government spent $10.8 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,197 per resident.

Town website
Next public meeting

City Council

7:00 pm · City Hall, 2nd floor, Council Chambers, 111 E Lawrence Ave

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$10.8M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,197
In 2022: $1,197, less than 83% of 120 similar cities
Long-term debt
$2.7M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
56
full-time · 16 part-time · March payroll $322,279 · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$2,360
1.53% of home value · MI 1.25%

What stands out about how Charlotte is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends less than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,197 per resident, less than 83% of 120 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer28% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Charlotte Public Schools with 4 other towns.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

Recent meetings

  • Oct26
    City CouncilMonday · 7:00 pm · City Hall, 2nd floor, Council Chambers, 111 E Lawrence AveCity Council MeetingMeeting page ↗
  • Oct12
    City CouncilMonday · 7:00 pm · City Hall, 2nd floor, Council Chambers, 111 E Lawrence AveCity Council MeetingMeeting page ↗
  • Sep28
    City CouncilMonday · 7:00 pm · City Hall, 2nd floor, Council Chambers, 111 E Lawrence AveCity Council MeetingMeeting page ↗
  • Sep14
    City CouncilMonday · 7:00 pm · City Hall, 2nd floor, Council Chambers, 111 E Lawrence AveCity Council MeetingMeeting page ↗
  • Aug24
    City CouncilMonday · 7:00 pm · City Hall, 2nd floor, Council Chambers, 111 E Lawrence AveCity Council MeetingMeeting 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 2022 budget

About $1,197 per resident a year, or $3.28 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 28%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 37%Fees & charges 24%From the state 20%Utility sales 14%Interest, fines & other 3%From the federal government 1%From other local governments <1%Other taxes & licenses <1%Sales taxes <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $1.9 million; interest on debt $119,000. With these, the whole budget was $12.9 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,197 per resident in 2022: less than 83% of them

Charlotte’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,197 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 120 Michigan cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,684, and the middle half spent $1,333–$2,384. Charlotte spent less than 83% of them.

Middle half of the group, $1,333–$2,384Median $1,684Charlotte

Includes sewer and trash ($3.1 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
120

Michigan cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Charlotte itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

Charlotte reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,360 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.53% of the home’s value, vs 1.25% across Michigan.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Michigan$2,904
Carmel Township$2,530
Charlotte$2,360
Eaton Township$2,347
$2,360
typical bill a year
1.53%
effective rate
$153,900
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Charlotte’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 Charlotte’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Charlotte →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Charlotte

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

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

One full-time city employee for every 162 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (9,052).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022

Police19
Roads & transportation12
Administration & buildings7 + 9 pt
Sewer & trash7 + 6 pt
Fire7
Water & other utilities1
Other3 + 1 pt
56
full-time
16
part-time
$322,279
payroll for March 2022
$3.9M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$67,000
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
18
sworn police officers
7
full-time firefighters
Estimates.Charlotte didn’t report its staff figures; these are the Census Bureau’s estimates, so they aren’t compared with other towns.

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

Charlotte Public Schools

Charlotte’s K–12 school district, shared with Carmel Township, Eaton Township, Benton Township, Chester Township. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Charlotte →
$12,684
per pupil · MI $16,528
2,355
students
$104.5 million
long-term debt

Of the $12,684 per pupil, $7,076 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 33%State 61%Federal 6%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

How Charlotte voted in 2024

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

President4,594 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican53.0%2,437 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat45.3%2,080 votes

Others: 1.7% (77 votes).

Most votes in Charlotte: Donald J Trump

Eaton County: Trump 50.8%, Harris 47.6% · Michigan: Trump 49.7%, Harris 48.3%

Turnout
66%

of Charlotte’s 6,935 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Michigan: 74%.

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

U.S. Senate4,556 votes
Mike RogersMike RogersRepublican51.4%
Elissa SlotkinElissa SlotkinDemocrat45.7%
Others2.9%

Most votes in Charlotte: Mike Rogers

Eaton County: Rogers 48.9%, Slotkin 48.7% · Michigan: Slotkin 48.6%, Rogers 48.3%

U.S. House · Michigan’s 7th District450,912 votes
Tom BarrettRepublican50.3%
Curtis HertelDemocrat46.6%
Others3.2%

Most votes in the district: Tom Barrett

Whole-district result

President, 2024: Charlotte, its county and the state

TrumpHarrisOthersVotes
Charlotte53.0%45.3%1.7%4,594
Eaton County50.8%47.6%1.6%65,208
Michigan49.7%48.3%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 Charlotte

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Charlotte.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: charlottemi.org ↗
  2. 2
    Michigan HouseState representatives
    Angela Witwer
  3. 3
    Michigan SenateState senator
    Sarah Anthony
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Gretchen Whitmer
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Tom Barrett
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Michigan
    Gary C. PetersElissa Slotkin

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

Next door

How Charlotte compares with the towns next door

Charlotte spent $1,197 per resident in 2022. Most of its neighbors are townships, a different kind of government, so the like-for-like comparison is with similar cities, above. Tap a town to see its page.

Eaton Township: $175 per resident (2022)Carmel Township: $142 per resident (2022)Eaton TownshipCarmel TownshipCharlotte
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Carmel Township$142$2,530
Eaton Township$175$2,347
Charlotte$1,197$2,360

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 Charlotte’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitecharlottemi.org ↗

Questions about Charlotte’s government

How much does Charlotte spend per resident?

About $1,197 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,197 was less than 83% of 120 Michigan cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Charlotte?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,360 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.53% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.25% across Michigan. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see charlottemi.org.

Who runs Charlotte’s government?

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

How did Charlotte vote in 2024?

For president, Donald J Trump 53.0%, Kamala D Harris 45.3% (4,594 votes, official results). Eaton County: Trump 50.8%, Harris 47.6%. Michigan: Trump 49.7%, Harris 48.3%.

How many people work for Charlotte?

56 full-time and 16 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $322,279 (about $3.9M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents Charlotte in the state legislature?

State Senate District 21 (Sarah Anthony) and State House District 76 (Angela Witwer). The House district also covers 19 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Charlotte?

The next posted meeting is City Council on Monday, November 9, at 7:00 pm in City Hall, 2nd floor, Council Chambers, 111 E Lawrence Ave, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Charlotte’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 →