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St. Clair Flats South Channel Range LightsSt. Clair Flats South Channel Range Lights · Photo: US Coast Guard · Public domain
Town Hall · Clay Township

Clay Township spent more per resident in 2022 than 100% of similar towns

Clay Township’s town government spent $17.3 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,935 per resident.

Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Michigan.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$17.3M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,935
In 2022: $1,935, more than 100% of 364 similar towns
Long-term debt
$6.6M
end of FY2022, reported
Town staff, 2022
40
full-time · 25 part-time · March payroll $253,330 · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$3,575
1.16% of home value · MI 1.25%

What stands out about how Clay Township is run

Read from the town’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$1,935 per resident in 2022: more than 100% of them

Clay Township’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,935 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 364 Michigan towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $252, and the middle half spent $173–$385. Clay Township spent more than 100% of them.

Middle half of the group, $173–$385Median $252Clay Township

Includes sewer and trash ($2.8 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
364

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

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,935 per resident a year, or $5.30 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 35%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 39%Utility sales 21%Interest, fines & other 14%Fees & charges 12%From the state 10%Other taxes & licenses 3%From other local governments 2%From the federal government <1%Sales taxes <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $543,000; interest on debt $128,000; payments to other governments $974,000. With these, the whole budget was $18.9 million.
About “Other”.30% of Clay Township’s day-to-day spending ($5.2 million) is filed by the Census Bureau outside the named functions above, so the receipt can’t say what it buys.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $3,575 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.16% of the home’s value, vs 1.25% across Michigan.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Clay Township$3,575
Ira Township$3,120
Michigan$2,904
Cottrellville Township$2,753
$3,575
typical bill a year
1.16%
effective rate
$307,600
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Clay Township

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

Check Clay Township’s own website for current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Clay Township yet.
Who works for Clay Township

One full-time town employee for every 223 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 (8,915).

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

Police20 + 5 pt
Fire8 + 10 pt
Administration & buildings6 + 6 pt
Water & other utilities6
Parks & libraries0 + 3 pt
Other0 + 1 pt
40
full-time
25
part-time
$253,330
payroll for March 2022
$3.0M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$69,200
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
16
sworn police officers
8
full-time firefighters
Estimates.Clay Township 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

Algonac Community School District

Clay Township’s K–12 school district, shared with Algonac, Ira Township. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Clay Township →
$14,533
per pupil · MI $16,528
1,348
students
$12.6 million
long-term debt

Of the $14,533 per pupil, $8,464 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 46%State 48%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 Clay Township voted in 2024

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

President6,185 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican74.0%4,574 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat24.9%1,538 votes

Others: 1.2% (73 votes).

Most votes in Clay Township: Donald J Trump

St. Clair County: Trump 66.6%, Harris 32.0% · Michigan: Trump 49.7%, Harris 48.3%

Turnout
87%

of Clay Township’s 7,108 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Michigan: 74%.

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

U.S. Senate6,058 votes
Mike RogersMike RogersRepublican71.4%
Elissa SlotkinElissa SlotkinDemocrat26.4%
Others2.2%

Most votes in Clay Township: Mike Rogers

St. Clair County: Rogers 63.5%, Slotkin 33.4% · Michigan: Slotkin 48.6%, Rogers 48.3%

U.S. House · Michigan’s 9th District468,252 votes
Lisa McClainRepublican66.8%
Clinton St MosleyDemocrat29.5%
Others3.7%

Most votes in the district: Lisa McClain

Whole-district result

President, 2024: Clay Township, its county and the state

TrumpHarrisOthersVotes
Clay Township74.0%24.9%1.2%6,185
St. Clair County66.6%32.0%1.5%96,524
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 Clay Township

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Clay Township.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your townTown government
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Michigan HouseState representatives
  3. 3
    Michigan SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Michigan

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

Next door

How Clay Township compares with the towns next door

Clay Township spent $1,935 per resident in 2022; the 2 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $424 to $780. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Cottrellville Township$424$2,753
Ira Township$780$3,120
Clay Township$1,935$3,575

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 Clay Township’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Clay Township’s government

How much does Clay Township spend per resident?

About $1,935 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 $1,935 was more than 100% of 364 Michigan towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Clay Township?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,575 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.16% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.25% across Michigan. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the town’s assessor.

Who runs Clay Township’s government?

We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Clay Township yet.

How did Clay Township vote in 2024?

For president, Donald J Trump 74.0%, Kamala D Harris 24.9% (6,185 votes, official results). St. Clair County: Trump 66.6%, Harris 32.0%. Michigan: Trump 49.7%, Harris 48.3%.

How many people work for Clay Township?

40 full-time and 25 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $253,330 (about $3.0M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents Clay Township in the state legislature?

State Senate District 12 (Kevin Hertel) and State House District 63 (Jay DeBoyer). The House district also covers 11 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Clay Township’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 →