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2009-0619-Escanaba-CHPhoto: Bobak Ha'Eri · CC BY 3.0
Town Hall · Escanaba

Escanaba spent more per resident in 2022 than 77% of similar cities

Escanaba’s city government spent $33.1 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2023, about $2,665 per resident.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Michigan.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2023
$33.1M
year to June 30, 2023
Per resident, 2023
$2,665
In 2022: $2,487, more than 77% of 44 similar cities
Long-term debt
$17.2M
end of FY2023, reported
City staff, 2025
114
full-time · 20 part-time · March payroll $707,524
Typical tax bill
$1,843
1.47% of home value · MI 1.25%

What stands out about how Escanaba is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$2,487 per resident in 2022: more than 77% of them

Escanaba’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($2,487 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 44 Michigan cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,874, and the middle half spent $1,414–$2,447. Escanaba spent more than 77% of them.

Middle half of the group, $1,414–$2,447Median $1,874Escanaba

Includes sewer and trash ($3.8 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
44

Michigan cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Escanaba itself left out).

Your share of the 2023 budget

About $2,665 per resident a year, or $7.30 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 15%.

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 32%Utility sales 24%From the state 22%Property taxes 15%From the federal government 4%Interest, fines & other 2%From other local governments <1%Other taxes & licenses <1%Sales taxes <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $29.4 million; interest on debt $408,000; payments to other governments $263,000. With these, the whole budget was $63.1 million.
About “Other”.54% of Escanaba’s day-to-day spending ($17.8 million) is filed by the Census Bureau outside the named functions above, so the receipt can’t say what it buys.
Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 10% since 2022

Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Escanaba reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$30.1 million
2023$33.1 million

Per resident: 2022: $2,487 · 2023: $2,665.

City staff
114

full-time in March 2025, down from 117 in 2022.

Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,843 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.47% of the home’s value, vs 1.25% across Michigan.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Michigan$2,904
Ford River Township$1,980
Escanaba$1,843
Wells Township$1,482
$1,843
typical bill a year
1.47%
effective rate
$125,200
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Escanaba

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

See escanaba.org for Escanaba’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Escanaba yet.escanaba.org ↗
Agendas

Escanaba’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on escanaba.org ↗.

Who works for Escanaba

One full-time city employee for every 109 residents

On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2023 finance file (12,416).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025

Police26 + 7 pt
Water & other utilities26
Administration & buildings14 + 4 pt
Roads & transportation15
Parks & libraries8 + 9 pt
Sewer & trash7
Housing & development5
Other13
114
full-time
20
part-time
$707,524
payroll for March 2025
$8.5M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$73,000
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
25
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Escanaba had 9.7 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 36 of the 44 Michigan cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 6.3: Escanaba had more than 83% of them. Same group and year as the budget comparison.

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

Escanaba Area Public Schools

Escanaba’s K–12 school district, shared with Wells Township, Cornell Township, Ford River Township. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Escanaba →
$13,751
per pupil · MI $16,528
2,131
students
$10.6 million
long-term debt

Of the $13,751 per pupil, $8,417 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 7%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

How Escanaba voted in 2024

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

President6,196 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican56.6%3,509 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat41.9%2,598 votes

Others: 1.4% (89 votes).

Most votes in Escanaba: Donald J Trump

Delta County: Trump 64.5%, Harris 34.1% · Michigan: Trump 49.7%, Harris 48.3%

Turnout
63%

of Escanaba’s 9,783 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Michigan: 74%.

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

U.S. Senate6,073 votes
Mike RogersMike RogersRepublican55.8%
Elissa SlotkinElissa SlotkinDemocrat41.1%
Others3.1%

Most votes in Escanaba: Mike Rogers

Delta County: Rogers 63.3%, Slotkin 34.1% · Michigan: Slotkin 48.6%, Rogers 48.3%

U.S. House · Michigan’s 1st District477,184 votes
Jack BergmanRepublican59.2%
Callie BarrDemocrat37.9%
Others2.9%

Most votes in the district: Jack Bergman

Whole-district result

President, 2024: Escanaba, its county and the state

TrumpHarrisOthersVotes
Escanaba56.6%41.9%1.4%6,196
Delta County64.5%34.1%1.4%21,874
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 Escanaba

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Escanaba.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: escanaba.org ↗
  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 Escanaba compares with the towns next door

Escanaba spent $2,487 per resident in 2022; the neighbor that reported 2022 spent $110. 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
Wells Township$110$1,482
Ford River Townshipestimate$1,980
Escanaba$2,487$1,843

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 Escanaba’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Escanaba’s government

How much does Escanaba spend per resident?

About $2,665 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2023, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $2,487 was more than 77% of 44 Michigan cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Escanaba?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,843 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.47% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.25% across Michigan. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see escanaba.org.

Who runs Escanaba’s government?

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

How did Escanaba vote in 2024?

For president, Donald J Trump 56.6%, Kamala D Harris 41.9% (6,196 votes, official results). Delta County: Trump 64.5%, Harris 34.1%. Michigan: Trump 49.7%, Harris 48.3%.

How many people work for Escanaba?

114 full-time and 20 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $707,524 (about $8.5M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Escanaba in the state legislature?

State Senate District 38 (Ed McBroom) and State House District 108 (Dave Prestin). The House district also covers 63 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Escanaba’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 →