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Michigan Avenue at Beech Daly Road Inkster MichiganPhoto: Dwight Burdette · CC BY 3.0
Town Hall · Inkster

How is Inkster run?

Inkster’s city government spent $32.6 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,353 per resident. These are Census Bureau estimates: Inkster didn’t report its figures, so this page shows them without comparisons.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Michigan.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$32.6M
year to June 30, 2022 · Census estimate
Per resident, 2022
$1,353
Census estimate · not compared
Long-term debt
$30.0M
end of FY2022 · Census estimate
City staff, 2022
140
full-time · 0 part-time · March payroll $469,248
Typical tax bill
$1,847
2.30% of home value · MI 1.25%

What stands out about how Inkster is run

Read from the city’s budget, meetings and official records.

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Runs its own water & sewer19% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (a Census estimate).Its own police and fire31 sworn officers and 21 full-time firefighters on the payroll.Low bills, a higher rateThe typical bill is $1,847 a year: 2.30% of the home’s value, vs 1.25% across Michigan.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Inkster’s own agenda portal, checked daily. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check before you go.

Recent meetings

  • Nov2
    City CouncilMonday · 7:00 pm · 26215 TrowbirdgeCity Council MeetingMeeting page ↗
  • Nov2
    City CouncilMonday · 7:00 pm · 26215 TrowbirdgeCity Council MeetingMeeting page ↗
  • Nov2
    City CouncilMonday · 7:00 pm · 26215 TrowbirdgeCity Council MeetingMeeting page ↗
  • Nov2
    City CouncilMonday · 6:00 pm · 26215 TrowbirdgeCity Council MeetingMeeting page ↗
  • Nov2
    City CouncilMonday · 6:00 pm · 26215 TrowbirdgeCity Council MeetingMeeting page ↗
Go in person

Most meetings are open to the public, and many have a public comment period at the start.

Agenda portal ↗
Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,353 per resident a year, or $3.71 a day

Day-to-day services only (a Census Bureau estimate). The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 18%.

Where the money comes from
From the federal government 33%Fees & charges 22%Property taxes 17%From the state 13%Utility sales 7%Interest, fines & other 5%Other taxes & licenses 2%
An estimate

Inkster didn’t report all of its 2022 figures to the Census Bureau, so most of these numbers are the Bureau’s estimates.

Not in the receipt.Building projects $5.2 million; interest on debt $739,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $39.2 million.
Compared with similar places · Over the years

No comparison or trend for Inkster yet

Every year of Inkster’s figures is a Census Bureau estimate: the city reported none of its dollars for 2022. Estimates are shown above, labeled, but never ranked against places that reported or drawn as a trend.

How Town Hall compares budgets →
Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,847 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 2.30% of the home’s value, vs 1.25% across Michigan.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Dearborn Heights$3,036
Michigan$2,904
Westland$2,751
Inkster$1,847
$1,847
typical bill a year
2.30%
effective rate
$80,400
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Inkster

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

See cityofinkster.com for Inkster’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Inkster yet.cityofinkster.com ↗
Who works for Inkster

One full-time city employee for every 172 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 (24,115).

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

Police41
Housing & development29
Fire22
Administration & buildings20
Roads & transportation15
Courts, inspections & corrections11
Parks & libraries2
140
full-time
0
part-time
$469,248
payroll for March 2022
$5.6M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$40,200
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
31
sworn police officers
21
full-time firefighters
Not compared.Staff are compared with the same group as the budget, and Inkster’s 2022 budget was a Census estimate, so there is no group to compare with.

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

Westwood Community Schools

Inkster’s K–12 school district. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Inkster →
$19,119
per pupil · MI $16,528
1,509
students
$6.2 million
long-term debt

Of the $19,119 per pupil, $9,810 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 24%State 57%Federal 18%

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

Also serving Inkster

Wayne-Westland Community School District · $21,028 per pupil

Taylor School District · $18,682 per pupil

Romulus Community Schools · $20,788 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

How Inkster voted in 2024

Official results for Inkster’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.

President9,806 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat84.6%8,293 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican13.2%1,292 votes

Others: 2.3% (221 votes).

Most votes in Inkster: Kamala D Harris

Wayne County: Harris 62.7%, Trump 33.7% · Michigan: Trump 49.7%, Harris 48.3%

Turnout
54%

of Inkster’s 18,216 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Michigan: 74%.

Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).

U.S. Senate9,676 votes
Elissa SlotkinElissa SlotkinDemocrat83.8%
Mike RogersMike RogersRepublican12.3%
Others4.0%

Most votes in Inkster: Elissa Slotkin

Wayne County: Slotkin 63.4%, Rogers 31.9% · Michigan: Slotkin 48.6%, Rogers 48.3%

U.S. House · Michigan’s 12th District363,499 votes
Rashida TlaibDemocrat69.7%
James D HooperRepublican25.4%
Others4.9%

Most votes in the district: Rashida Tlaib

Whole-district result

President, 2024: Inkster, its county and the state

HarrisTrumpOthersVotes
Inkster84.6%13.2%2.3%9,806
Wayne County62.7%33.7%3.6%856,690
Michigan48.3%49.7%2.0%5,664,186
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; 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.

Who represents Inkster

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Inkster.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: cityofinkster.com ↗
  2. 2
    Michigan HouseState representatives
    Dylan Wegela
  3. 3
    Michigan SenateState senator
    Dayna Polehanki
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Gretchen Whitmer
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Rashida Tlaib
  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.

Next door

How Inkster compares with the towns next door

Inkster’s own figures are Census estimates, so it isn’t placed among its neighbors. 2 of the 2 towns next door reported 2022 figures, from $1,555 to $2,686 per resident. Tap a town to see its page.

Dearborn Heights: $1,555 per resident (2022)Westland: $2,686 per resident (2022)Dearborn HeightsWestlandInkster
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Dearborn Heights$1,555$3,036
Westland$2,686$2,751
Inksterestimate$1,847

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 Inkster’s government

The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.

The Handbook →
Official websitecityofinkster.com ↗

Questions about Inkster’s government

How much does Inkster spend per resident?

About $1,353 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, a Census Bureau estimate (Inkster didn’t report its figures). With building projects and interest, the whole budget was about $39.2 million.

What is the property tax rate in Inkster?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,847 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 2.30% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.25% across Michigan. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofinkster.com.

Who runs Inkster’s government?

See cityofinkster.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Inkster yet.

How did Inkster vote in 2024?

For president, Kamala D Harris 84.6%, Donald J Trump 13.2% (9,806 votes, official results). Wayne County: Harris 62.7%, Trump 33.7%. Michigan: Trump 49.7%, Harris 48.3%.

How many people work for Inkster?

140 full-time and 0 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $469,248 (about $5.6M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Inkster in the state legislature?

State Senate District 5 (Dayna Polehanki) and State House District 26 (Dylan Wegela). The House district also covers three neighboring towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Inkster?

The next posted meeting is City Council on Monday, November 16, at 6:00 pm in 26215 Trowbirdge, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Inkster’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 (for Inkster, the Bureau’s estimates); 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 →