Photo: Jamie Begin · CC BY-SA 4.0In Chelsea, 86% of adult citizens voted for president in 2024, more than across Michigan
Chelsea’s city government spent $21.2 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $3,952 per resident. These are Census Bureau estimates: Chelsea didn’t report its figures, so this page shows them without comparisons.
What stands out about how Chelsea is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
Who’s in charge in Chelsea
From public records with a current term; a name is hidden the day its term ends.
Council members and agencies: city-chelsea.org ↗
Chelsea’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on city-chelsea.org ↗.
About $3,952 per resident a year, or $10.83 a day
Day-to-day services only (a Census Bureau estimate). The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 15%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Chelsea didn’t report all of its 2022 figures to the Census Bureau, so most of these numbers are the Bureau’s estimates.
No comparison or trend for Chelsea yet
Every year of Chelsea’s figures is a Census Bureau estimate: the city reported none of its dollars for 2022. Estimates are shown above, labeled, but never ranked against places that reported or drawn as a trend.
How Town Hall compares budgets →The typical homeowner pays $4,853 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.55% 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 Chelsea’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 Chelsea’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Chelsea →
One full-time city employee for every 114 residents
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (5,377).
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.
Chelsea School District
Chelsea’s K–12 school district, shared with Sylvan Township, Lyndon Township, Lima Township, Dexter Township. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $16,137 per pupil, $9,315 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 Chelsea voted in 2024
Official results for Chelsea’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat66.8%2,585 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican31.9%1,235 votesOthers: 1.2% (47 votes).
Most votes in Chelsea: Kamala D Harris
Washtenaw County: Harris 70.9%, Trump 26.6% · Michigan: Trump 49.7%, Harris 48.3%
of Chelsea’s 4,514 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Michigan: 74%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Elissa SlotkinDemocrat66.0%
Mike RogersRepublican32.5%Most votes in Chelsea: Elissa Slotkin
Washtenaw County: Slotkin 70.4%, Rogers 26.6% · Michigan: Slotkin 48.6%, Rogers 48.3%
Most votes in the district: Debbie Dingell
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Chelsea, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chelsea | 66.8% | 31.9% | 1.2% | 3,867 |
| Washtenaw County | 70.9% | 26.6% | 2.5% | 221,542 |
| 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 Chelsea.
- 1Your cityMayorKate Hensonas listed by Open States, October 9, 2026
- 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 Chelsea compares with the towns next door
Chelsea’s own figures are Census estimates, so it isn’t placed among its neighbors. 2 of the 2 towns next door reported 2022 figures, from $130 to $522 per resident. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Lima Township | $130 | $5,366 |
| Sylvan Township | $522 | $6,039 |
| Chelsea | estimate | $4,853 |
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 Chelsea’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Chelsea’s government
How much does Chelsea spend per resident?
About $3,952 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, a Census Bureau estimate (Chelsea didn’t report its figures). With building projects and interest, the whole budget was about $22.6 million.
What is the property tax rate in Chelsea?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,853 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.55% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.25% across Michigan. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see city-chelsea.org.
Who is the mayor of Chelsea?
Kate Henson, as listed by Open States (checked October 9, 2026). The council and agencies are listed on city-chelsea.org.
How did Chelsea vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 66.8%, Donald J Trump 31.9% (3,867 votes, official results). Washtenaw County: Harris 70.9%, Trump 26.6%. Michigan: Trump 49.7%, Harris 48.3%.
How many people work for Chelsea?
47 full-time and 9 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $362,889 (about $4.4M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Chelsea in the state legislature?
State Senate District 14 (Sue Shink) and State House District 46 (Kathy Schmaltz). The House district also covers six other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Chelsea’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 (for Chelsea, the Bureau’s estimates); 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 →