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Town Hall · Farwell

How is Farwell run?

Farwell’s village government spent $917,000 on day-to-day services in the year to February 28, 2022, about $1,054 per resident.

Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Michigan.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$917,000
year to February 28, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,054
In 2022: $1,054, less than 53% of 291 similar cities
Long-term debt
$2.9M
end of FY2022, reported
Village staff, 2022
10
full-time · 10 part-time · March payroll $17,388
Typical tax bill
$1,354
1.37% of home value · MI 1.25%

What stands out about how Farwell is run

Read from the village’s budget and official records.

★ What stands out · Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,054 per resident a year, or $2.89 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 51%.

Where the money comes from
From the state 29%Fees & charges 20%Property taxes 20%Interest, fines & other 16%Utility sales 14%Other taxes & licenses 2%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $149,000; interest on debt $95,000. With these, the whole budget was $1.2 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,054 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Farwell’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,054 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. Farwell spent less than 53% of them.

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

Includes sewer and trash ($468,000), 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; Farwell itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,354 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.37% of the home’s value, vs 1.25% across Michigan.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Michigan$2,904
Farwell$1,354
$1,354
typical bill a year
1.37%
effective rate
$98,700
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Farwell

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

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

One full-time village employee for every 87 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 (870).

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

Administration & buildings1 + 8 pt
Roads & transportation3
Sewer & trash3
Water & other utilities3
Parks & libraries0 + 1 pt
Other0 + 1 pt
10
full-time
10
part-time
$17,388
payroll for March 2022
$208,656
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$16,900
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Farwell had 11.5 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 233 of the 291 Michigan cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 4.4: Farwell had more than 91% 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

Farwell Area Schools

Farwell’s K–12 school district, shared with Garfield Township, Lincoln Township, Surrey Township, Freeman Township, Gilmore Township and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Farwell →
$15,591
per pupil · MI $16,528
1,011
students
$16.4 million
long-term debt

Of the $15,591 per pupil, $9,069 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 44%State 44%Federal 12%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Farwell’s votes are counted by county

Michigan reports official results by county and precinct, not by village, so there are no official results for Farwell alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Clare County’s results.

President · Clare County’s results17,288 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican68.1%11,772 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat30.5%5,273 votes

Others: 1.4% (243 votes).

Most votes in Clare County: Donald J Trump

Michigan: Trump 49.7%, Harris 48.3%

The county’s page

100% of Farwell lies in Clare County. Every 2024 race in Clare County is on the county’s page.

Clare 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 Farwell

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Farwell.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    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.

Reach Farwell’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Farwell’s government

How much does Farwell spend per resident?

About $1,054 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 $1,054 was less than 53% of 291 Michigan cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Farwell?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,354 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.37% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.25% across Michigan. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the village’s assessor.

Who runs Farwell’s government?

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

How did Farwell vote in 2024?

Michigan counts votes by county and precinct, not by village, so there are no official results for Farwell alone. Clare County, where 100% of Farwell lies, voted Trump 68.1%, Harris 30.5% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Farwell?

10 full-time and 10 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $17,388 (about $208,656 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Farwell in the state legislature?

State Senate District 34 (Roger Hauck) and State House District 100 (Tom Kunse). The House district also covers 62 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Farwell’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 →