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Town Hall · Copper City

How is Copper City run?

Copper City’s city government spent $176,000 on day-to-day services in the year to February 28, 2022, about $978 per resident.

Day-to-day spending, 2022
$176,000
year to February 28, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$978
In 2022: $978, less than 58% of 291 similar cities
Long-term debt
$170,000
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
0
full-time · 28 part-time · March payroll $8,628 · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$1,750
1.69% of home value · MI 1.25%

What stands out about how Copper City is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Runs its own water & sewer48% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Calumet Public Schools with 6+ other towns.Low bills, a higher rateThe typical bill is $1,750 a year: 1.69% of the home’s value, vs 1.25% across Michigan.
★ What stands out · Your share of the 2022 budget

About $978 per resident a year, or $2.68 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 48%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 30%Utility sales 28%Fees & charges 22%From the state 21%
Not in the receipt.Interest on debt $6,000. With these, the whole budget was $182,000.
About “Other”.30% of Copper City’s day-to-day spending ($53,000) is filed by the Census Bureau outside the named functions above, so the receipt can’t say what it buys.
Compared with similar places

$978 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Copper City’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($978 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 291 Michigan cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,081, and the middle half spent $748–$1,663. Copper City spent less than 58% of them.

Middle half of the group, $748–$1,663Median $1,081Copper City

Includes sewer and trash ($84,000), 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
291

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

Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,750 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.69% of the home’s value, vs 1.25% across Michigan.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Michigan$2,904
Copper City$1,750
$1,750
typical bill a year
1.69%
effective rate
$103,400
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Copper City’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. In a town this small the estimate has a wide margin.

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Copper City

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

Check Copper City’s own website for current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Copper City yet.
The school district

Calumet Public Schools

Copper City’s K–12 school district, shared with Ahmeek, Allouez Township, Calumet, Eagle Harbor Township, Houghton Township and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Copper City →
$15,339
per pupil · MI $16,528
1,352
students
$9.9 million
long-term debt

Of the $15,339 per pupil, $9,899 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 26%State 67%Federal 6%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Copper City’s votes are counted by county

Michigan reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Copper City alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Houghton County’s results.

President · Houghton County’s results19,374 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican57.7%11,181 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat40.7%7,881 votes

Others: 1.6% (312 votes).

Most votes in Houghton County: Donald J Trump

Michigan: Trump 49.7%, Harris 48.3%

The county’s page

100% of Copper City lies in Houghton County. Every 2024 race in Houghton County is on the county’s page.

Houghton County’s 2024 results →
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. 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 Copper City

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Copper City.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Michigan HouseState representatives
    Greg Markkanen
  3. 3
    Michigan SenateState senator
    Ed McBroom
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Gretchen Whitmer
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Jack Bergman
  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.

Reach Copper City’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Copper City’s government

How much does Copper City spend per resident?

About $978 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to February 28, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $978 was less than 58% of 291 Michigan cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Copper City?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,750 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.69% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.25% across Michigan. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the city’s assessor.

Who runs Copper City’s government?

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

How did Copper City vote in 2024?

Michigan counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Copper City alone. Houghton County, where 100% of Copper City lies, voted Trump 57.7%, Harris 40.7% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Copper City?

0 full-time and 28 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $8,628 (about $103,536 a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents Copper City in the state legislature?

State Senate District 38 (Ed McBroom) and State House District 110 (Greg Markkanen). The House district also covers 63 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Copper City’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 →