Photo: Gpwitteveen · CC BY-SA 3.0Grand Haven spent more per resident in 2022 than 100% of similar cities
Grand Haven’s city government spent $56.2 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $5,120 per resident.
What stands out about how Grand Haven is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$5,606 per resident in 2022: more than 100% of them
Grand Haven’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($5,606 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. Grand Haven spent more than 100% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($4.7 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 cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Grand Haven itself left out).
About $5,120 per resident a year, or $14.03 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 10%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Day-to-day spending is down 9% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Grand Haven reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $5,606 · 2023: $5,479 · 2024: $5,120.
full-time in March 2025, down from 157 in 2022.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $3,401 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.36% 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 Grand Haven’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 Grand Haven’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Grand Haven →
Who’s in charge in Grand Haven
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Grand Haven’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on grandhaven.org ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 75 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (10,982).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Grand Haven Area Public Schools
Grand Haven’s K–12 school district, shared with Ferrysburg, Grand Haven Township, Robinson Township, Port Sheldon Township, Spring Lake Township. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $17,223 per pupil, $10,612 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 Grand Haven voted in 2024
Official results for Grand Haven’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat55.5%4,035 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican42.9%3,117 votesOthers: 1.6% (116 votes).
Most votes in Grand Haven: Kamala D Harris
Ottawa County: Trump 59.5%, Harris 39.0% · Michigan: Trump 49.7%, Harris 48.3%
of Grand Haven’s 9,188 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Michigan: 74%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Elissa SlotkinDemocrat54.5%
Mike RogersRepublican43.0%Most votes in Grand Haven: Elissa Slotkin
Ottawa County: Rogers 59.7%, Slotkin 38.1% · Michigan: Slotkin 48.6%, Rogers 48.3%
Most votes in the district: Hillary Scholten
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Grand Haven, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Haven | 55.5% | 42.9% | 1.6% | 7,268 |
| Ottawa County | 39.0% | 59.5% | 1.5% | 178,507 |
| 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 Grand Haven.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: grandhaven.org ↗
- 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 Grand Haven compares with the towns next door
Grand Haven spent $5,606 per resident in 2022; the 4 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $456 to $1,378. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Haven Township | $456 | $3,437 |
| Spring Lake Township | $479 | $3,871 |
| Ferrysburg | $1,127 | $3,266 |
| Spring Lake | $1,378 | $3,703 |
| Grand Haven | $5,606 | $3,401 |
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 Grand Haven’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Grand Haven’s government
How much does Grand Haven spend per resident?
About $5,120 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $5,606 was more than 100% of 44 Michigan cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Grand Haven?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,401 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.36% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.25% across Michigan. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see grandhaven.org.
Who runs Grand Haven’s government?
See grandhaven.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Grand Haven yet.
How did Grand Haven vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 55.5%, Donald J Trump 42.9% (7,268 votes, official results). Ottawa County: Trump 59.5%, Harris 39.0%. Michigan: Trump 49.7%, Harris 48.3%.
How many people work for Grand Haven?
146 full-time and 19 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $803,001 (about $9.6M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Grand Haven in the state legislature?
State Senate District 31 (Roger Victory) and State House District 88 (Greg VanWoerkom). The House district also covers 10 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Grand Haven’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 →