Photo: Andrew Jameson · CC BY-SA 3.0Highland Park spent more per resident in 2022 than 82% of similar cities
Highland Park’s city government spent $77 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $8,891 per resident.
What stands out about how Highland Park is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$2,847 per resident in 2022: more than 82% of them
Highland Park’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($2,847 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. Highland Park spent more than 82% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($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; Highland Park itself left out).
About $8,891 per resident a year, or $24.36 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 33%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Day-to-day spending is up 152% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Highland Park 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: $2,847 · 2024: $8,891. Per resident it went from $2,847 to $8,891 (up 212%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 10,712 to 8,657.
full-time in March 2025, down from 44 in 2022. Both are Census estimates.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $1,326 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.67% 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 Highland Park’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 Highland Park’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Highland Park →
Who’s in charge in Highland Park
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Highland Park’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on highlandparkmi.gov ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 222 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (8,657).
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.
How Highland Park voted in 2024
Official results for Highland Park’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat91.9%3,353 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican6.3%230 votesOthers: 1.8% (64 votes).
Most votes in Highland Park: Kamala D Harris
Wayne County: Harris 62.7%, Trump 33.7% · Michigan: Trump 49.7%, Harris 48.3%
of Highland Park’s 6,959 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Michigan: 74%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Elissa SlotkinDemocrat89.4%
Mike RogersRepublican6.4%Most votes in Highland Park: Elissa Slotkin
Wayne County: Slotkin 63.4%, Rogers 31.9% · Michigan: Slotkin 48.6%, Rogers 48.3%
Most votes in the district: Shri Thanedar
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Highland Park, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highland Park | 91.9% | 6.3% | 1.8% | 3,647 |
| Wayne County | 62.7% | 33.7% | 3.6% | 856,690 |
| 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 Highland Park.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: highlandparkmi.gov ↗
- 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.
Reach Highland Park’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Highland Park’s government
How much does Highland Park spend per resident?
About $8,891 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 $2,847 was more than 82% of 44 Michigan cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Highland Park?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,326 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.67% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.25% across Michigan. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see highlandparkmi.gov.
Who runs Highland Park’s government?
See highlandparkmi.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Highland Park yet.
How did Highland Park vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 91.9%, Donald J Trump 6.3% (3,647 votes, official results). Wayne County: Harris 62.7%, Trump 33.7%. Michigan: Trump 49.7%, Harris 48.3%.
How many people work for Highland Park?
39 full-time and 87 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $255,540 (about $3.1M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.
Who represents Highland Park in the state legislature?
State Senate District 3 (Stephanie Chang) and State House District 7 (Tonya Phillips). The House district also covers two neighboring towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Highland Park’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 →