Photo: Phoenix-Five · CC BY-SA 4.0In Garfield Township, 77% of adult citizens voted for president in 2024, more than across Michigan
Garfield Township’s town government spent $10.4 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $573 per resident.
What stands out about how Garfield Township is run
Read from the town’s budget and official records.
About $573 per resident a year, or $1.57 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 37%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
$573 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar towns
Garfield Township’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($573 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 68 Michigan towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $541, and the middle half spent $325–$702. Garfield Township spent more than 56% of them.
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 →
Michigan towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Garfield Township itself left out).
No trend yet
Garfield Township reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $2,914 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.92% 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 Garfield 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 Garfield Township’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Garfield Township →
Who’s in charge in Garfield Township
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
One full-time town employee for every 1,066 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 (18,118).
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.
Traverse City Area Public Schools
Garfield Township’s K–12 school district, shared with East Bay Township, Long Lake Township, Peninsula Township, Traverse City, Elmwood Township and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $15,423 per pupil, $8,413 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 Garfield Township voted in 2024
Official results for Garfield Township’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat51.7%6,260 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican46.7%5,656 votesOthers: 1.6% (198 votes).
Most votes in Garfield Township: Kamala D Harris
Grand Traverse County: Trump 50.1%, Harris 48.3% · Michigan: Trump 49.7%, Harris 48.3%
of Garfield Township’s 15,708 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Michigan: 74%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Elissa SlotkinDemocrat50.8%
Mike RogersRepublican46.3%Most votes in Garfield Township: Elissa Slotkin
Grand Traverse County: Rogers 49.8%, Slotkin 47.5% · Michigan: Slotkin 48.6%, Rogers 48.3%
Most votes in the district: Jack Bergman
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Garfield Township, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garfield Township | 51.7% | 46.7% | 1.6% | 12,114 |
| Grand Traverse County | 48.3% | 50.1% | 1.6% | 62,772 |
| 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 Garfield Township.
- 1Your townTown governmentLocal officials aren’t on record yet.
- 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 Garfield Township compares with the towns next door
Garfield Township spent $573 per resident in 2022; the 4 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $193 to $5,306. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Long Lake Township | $193 | $3,466 |
| Blair Township | $344 | $2,510 |
| East Bay Township | $513 | $2,390 |
| Traverse City | $5,306 | $4,671 |
| Garfield Township | $573 | $2,914 |
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 Garfield Township’s government
Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.
Questions about Garfield Township’s government
How much does Garfield Township spend per resident?
About $573 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $573 was more than 56% of 68 Michigan towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Garfield Township?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,914 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.92% 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 Garfield Township’s government?
We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Garfield Township yet.
How did Garfield Township vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 51.7%, Donald J Trump 46.7% (12,114 votes, official results). Grand Traverse County: Trump 50.1%, Harris 48.3%. Michigan: Trump 49.7%, Harris 48.3%.
How many people work for Garfield Township?
17 full-time and 3 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $94,803 (about $1.1M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Garfield Township in the state legislature?
State Senate District 37 (John Damoose) and State House District 103 (Betsy Coffia). The House district also covers 22 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Garfield Township’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; 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 →