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Hall-Fowler Memorial LibraryHall-Fowler Memorial Library · Photo: Gpwitteveen · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Ionia

Ionia spent less per resident in 2022 than 82% of similar cities

Ionia’s city government spent $14 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $1,084 per resident. Water and other utilities ($998,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Michigan.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$14.0M
year to June 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$1,084
In 2022: $1,347, less than 82% of 44 similar cities
Long-term debt
$22.1M
end of FY2024, reported
City staff, 2022
52
full-time · 26 part-time · March payroll $319,705
Typical tax bill
$1,898
1.15% of home value · MI 1.25%

What stands out about how Ionia is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends less than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,347 per resident, less than 82% of 44 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer42% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2024).A shared school districtShares Ionia Public Schools with 6+ other towns.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

Recent meetings

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 2024 budget

About $1,084 per resident a year, or $2.97 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 38%.

Where the money comes from
From the state 27%Fees & charges 27%Income taxes 17%Utility sales 13%Property taxes 7%Interest, fines & other 7%From the federal government 1%Other taxes & licenses <1%From other local governments <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $1.8 million; interest on debt $744,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $17.6 million.
About “Other”.30% of Ionia’s day-to-day spending ($4.2 million) is filed by the Census Bureau outside the named functions above, so the receipt can’t say what it buys.
Compared with similar places

$1,347 per resident in 2022: less than 82% of them

Ionia’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,347 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 $1,901, and the middle half spent $1,439–$2,467. Ionia spent less than 82% of them.

Middle half of the group, $1,439–$2,467Median $1,901Ionia

Includes sewer and trash ($5 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 →

The group
44

Michigan cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Ionia itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is down 5% since 2022

Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Ionia reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$14.8 million
2024$14 million

Per resident: 2022: $1,347 · 2024: $1,084. Per resident it went from $1,347 to $1,084 (down 20%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 10,997 to 12,935.

Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,898 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.15% of the home’s value, vs 1.25% across Michigan.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Michigan$2,904
Berlin Township$2,094
Easton Township$2,092
Orange Township$2,034
Ionia$1,898
Ionia Township$1,576
$1,898
typical bill a year
1.15%
effective rate
$164,800
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Ionia

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

See ci.ionia.mi.us for Ionia’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Ionia yet.ci.ionia.mi.us ↗
Who works for Ionia

One full-time city employee for every 249 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (12,935).

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

Roads & transportation13 + 8 pt
Police15 + 3 pt
Administration & buildings10
Sewer & trash5
Housing & development3 + 2 pt
Water & other utilities4
Fire0 + 7 pt
Parks & libraries1 + 1 pt
Other1 + 5 pt
52
full-time
26
part-time
$319,705
payroll for March 2022
$3.8M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$67,200
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
13
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Ionia had 4.7 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 36 of the 44 Michigan cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 6.6: Ionia had fewer than 75% 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

Ionia Public Schools

Ionia’s K–12 school district, shared with Lyons, Muir, Ionia Township, Ronald Township, Easton Township and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Ionia →
$12,742
per pupil · MI $16,528
2,733
students
$18.5 million
long-term debt

Of the $12,742 per pupil, $7,456 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 21%State 68%Federal 11%

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

Also serving Ionia

Ionia Township School District 2 · $20,231 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

How Ionia voted in 2024

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

President2,826 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican54.8%1,548 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat43.3%1,223 votes

Others: 1.9% (55 votes).

Most votes in Ionia: Donald J Trump

Ionia County: Trump 65.2%, Harris 33.3% · Michigan: Trump 49.7%, Harris 48.3%

Turnout
26%

of Ionia’s 10,680 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Michigan: 74%.

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

U.S. Senate2,777 votes
Mike RogersMike RogersRepublican52.1%
Elissa SlotkinElissa SlotkinDemocrat43.4%
Others4.5%

Most votes in Ionia: Mike Rogers

Ionia County: Rogers 63.3%, Slotkin 33.5% · Michigan: Slotkin 48.6%, Rogers 48.3%

U.S. House · Michigan’s 2nd District428,550 votes
John R MoolenaarRepublican65.1%
Michael LynchDemocrat31.7%
Others3.2%

Most votes in the district: John R Moolenaar

Whole-district result

President, 2024: Ionia, its county and the state

TrumpHarrisOthersVotes
Ionia54.8%43.3%1.9%2,826
Ionia County65.2%33.3%1.5%34,021
Michigan49.7%48.3%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 Ionia

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Ionia.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: ci.ionia.mi.us ↗
  2. 2
    Michigan HouseState representatives
    Gina Johnsen
  3. 3
    Michigan SenateState senator
    Rick Outman
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Gretchen Whitmer
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    John R. Moolenaar
  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 Ionia compares with the towns next door

Ionia spent $1,347 per resident in 2022. Most of its neighbors are townships, a different kind of government, so the like-for-like comparison is with similar cities, above. Tap a town to see its page.

Ionia Township: $107 per resident (2022)Easton Township: $132 per resident (2022)Berlin Township: $218 per resident (2022)Orange Township: $182 per resident (2022)Ionia TownshipEaston TownshipBerlin TownshipOrange TownshipIonia
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Ionia Township$107$1,576
Easton Township$132$2,092
Orange Township$182$2,034
Berlin Township$218$2,094
Ionia$1,347$1,898

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 Ionia’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websiteci.ionia.mi.us ↗

Questions about Ionia’s government

How much does Ionia spend per resident?

About $1,084 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 $1,347 was less 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 Ionia?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,898 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.15% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.25% across Michigan. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ci.ionia.mi.us.

Who runs Ionia’s government?

See ci.ionia.mi.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Ionia yet.

How did Ionia vote in 2024?

For president, Donald J Trump 54.8%, Kamala D Harris 43.3% (2,826 votes, official results). Ionia County: Trump 65.2%, Harris 33.3%. Michigan: Trump 49.7%, Harris 48.3%.

How many people work for Ionia?

52 full-time and 26 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $319,705 (about $3.8M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Ionia in the state legislature?

State Senate District 33 (Rick Outman) and State House District 78 (Gina Johnsen). The House district also covers 35 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Ionia?

The next posted meeting is City Council on Wednesday, November 4, at 6:30 pm in Ionia City Hall, 114 N. Kidd St., from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Ionia’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 →