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Harbor Beach LightPhoto: Aaron Linville · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Harbor Beach

Harbor Beach spent more per resident in 2022 than 92% of similar cities

Harbor Beach’s city government spent $4.8 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $3,065 per resident.

Election Day

Today

General election in Michigan.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$4.8M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$3,065
In 2022: $3,065, more than 92% of 291 similar cities
Long-term debt
$4.6M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
22
full-time · 11 part-time · March payroll $106,135
Typical tax bill
$1,516
1.30% of home value · MI 1.25%

What stands out about how Harbor Beach is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $3,065 per resident, more than 92% of 291 similar cities.A shared school districtShares Harbor Beach Community Schools with 6+ other towns.Low bills, a higher rateThe typical bill is $1,516 a year: 1.30% of the home’s value, vs 1.25% across Michigan.
Compared with similar places

$3,065 per resident in 2022: more than 92% of them

Harbor Beach’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($3,065 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 $1,078, and the middle half spent $748–$1,622. Harbor Beach spent more than 92% of them.

Middle half of the group, $748–$1,622Median $1,078Harbor Beach

Includes sewer and trash ($111,000), 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; Harbor Beach itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $3,065 per resident a year, or $8.40 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 14%.

Where the money comes from
From the state 34%Fees & charges 28%Utility sales 18%Property taxes 12%Interest, fines & other 8%Other taxes & licenses <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $464,000; interest on debt $146,000. With these, the whole budget was $5.4 million.
About “Other”.45% of Harbor Beach’s day-to-day spending ($2.1 million) is filed by the Census Bureau outside the named functions above, so the receipt can’t say what it buys.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,516 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.30% of the home’s value, vs 1.25% across Michigan.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Michigan$2,904
Harbor Beach$1,516
$1,516
typical bill a year
1.30%
effective rate
$116,600
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Harbor Beach

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

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

One full-time city employee for every 71 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 (1,570).

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

Administration & buildings7 + 5 pt
Police4 + 2 pt
Roads & transportation4
Sewer & trash4
Water & other utilities3
Parks & libraries0 + 2 pt
Other0 + 2 pt
22
full-time
11
part-time
$106,135
payroll for March 2022
$1.3M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$56,300
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
4
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Harbor Beach had 14.0 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: Harbor Beach had more than 94% 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

Harbor Beach Community Schools

Harbor Beach’s K–12 school district, shared with Forestville, Sand Beach Township, Sherman Township, Rubicon Township, Delaware Township and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Harbor Beach →
$15,352
per pupil · MI $16,528
477
students
$4.8 million
long-term debt

Of the $15,352 per pupil, $9,153 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 38%State 46%Federal 17%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Harbor Beach’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Huron County’s results18,969 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican69.7%13,224 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat29.1%5,522 votes

Others: 1.2% (223 votes).

Most votes in Huron County: Donald J Trump

Michigan: Trump 49.7%, Harris 48.3%

The county’s page

100% of Harbor Beach lies in Huron County. Every 2024 race in Huron County is on the county’s page.

Huron 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 Harbor Beach

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Harbor Beach.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Michigan HouseState representatives
    Greg Alexander
  3. 3
    Michigan SenateState senator
    Dan Lauwers
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Gretchen Whitmer
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Lisa C. McClain
  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 Harbor Beach’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Harbor Beach’s government

How much does Harbor Beach spend per resident?

About $3,065 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $3,065 was more than 92% of 291 Michigan cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Harbor Beach?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,516 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.30% 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 Harbor Beach’s government?

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

How did Harbor Beach vote in 2024?

Michigan counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Harbor Beach alone. Huron County, where 100% of Harbor Beach lies, voted Trump 69.7%, Harris 29.1% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Harbor Beach?

22 full-time and 11 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $106,135 (about $1.3M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Harbor Beach in the state legislature?

State Senate District 25 (Dan Lauwers) and State House District 98 (Greg Alexander). The House district also covers 94 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Harbor Beach’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 →