Photo: Gpwitteveen · CC BY-SA 3.0Kentwood spent less per resident in 2022 than 100% of similar cities
Kentwood’s city government spent $51.8 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $957 per resident.
What stands out about how Kentwood is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$853 per resident in 2022: less than 100% of them
Kentwood’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($853 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 16 Michigan cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,780, and the middle half spent $1,544–$1,976. Kentwood spent less than 100% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($5.2 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 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Kentwood itself left out).
About $957 per resident a year, or $2.62 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 28%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Day-to-day spending is up 17% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Kentwood 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: $853 · 2023: $873 · 2024: $957. Per resident it went from $853 to $957 (up 12%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 51,719 to 54,077.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $3,246 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.21% 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 Kentwood’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 Kentwood’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Kentwood →
Who’s in charge in Kentwood
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Kentwood’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on ci.kentwood.mi.us ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 54,077 residents
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (54,077).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Kentwood Public Schools
Kentwood’s K–12 school district. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $16,317 per pupil, $9,545 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.
Forest Hills Public Schools · $14,583 per pupil
Kelloggsville Public Schools · $15,035 per pupil
Caledonia Community Schools · $15,092 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Kentwood voted in 2024
Official results for Kentwood’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat58.4%15,833 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican39.6%10,734 votesOthers: 2.0% (529 votes).
Most votes in Kentwood: Kamala D Harris
Kent County: Harris 51.8%, Trump 46.4% · Michigan: Trump 49.7%, Harris 48.3%
of Kentwood’s 36,946 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Michigan: 74%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Elissa SlotkinDemocrat57.6%
Mike RogersRepublican39.2%Most votes in Kentwood: Elissa Slotkin
Kent County: Slotkin 50.9%, Rogers 46.3% · Michigan: Slotkin 48.6%, Rogers 48.3%
Most votes in the district: Hillary Scholten
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Kentwood, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentwood | 58.4% | 39.6% | 2.0% | 27,096 |
| Kent County | 51.8% | 46.4% | 1.8% | 371,947 |
| 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 Kentwood.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: ci.kentwood.mi.us ↗
- 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 Kentwood compares with the towns next door
Kentwood spent $853 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.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Rapids Township | $202 | $4,173 |
| Gaines Township | $289 | $3,241 |
| Cascade Township | $549 | $5,028 |
| Ada Township | $611 | $5,831 |
| Wyoming | $1,188 | $2,812 |
| Grand Rapids | $1,892 | $2,493 |
| Kentwood | $853 | $3,246 |
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 Kentwood’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Kentwood’s government
How much does Kentwood spend per resident?
About $957 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 $853 was less than 100% of 16 Michigan cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Kentwood?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,246 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.21% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.25% across Michigan. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ci.kentwood.mi.us.
Who runs Kentwood’s government?
See ci.kentwood.mi.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Kentwood yet.
How did Kentwood vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 58.4%, Donald J Trump 39.6% (27,096 votes, official results). Kent County: Harris 51.8%, Trump 46.4%. Michigan: Trump 49.7%, Harris 48.3%.
How many people work for Kentwood?
1 full-time and 0 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $8,255 (about $99,060 a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.
Who represents Kentwood in the state legislature?
State Senate District 29 (Winnie Brinks) and State House District 80 (Phil Skaggs). The House district also covers three neighboring towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Kentwood’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 →