Photo: Dave Parker · CC BY 3.0Southfield spent more per resident in 2022 than 69% of similar cities
Southfield’s city government spent $154 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $2,042 per resident. Water and other utilities ($39.9 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Southfield is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$1,927 per resident in 2022: more than 69% of them
Southfield’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,927 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 $1,648, and the middle half spent $1,430–$1,976. Southfield spent more than 69% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($3.1 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; Southfield itself left out).
About $2,042 per resident a year, or $5.59 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 21%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Day-to-day spending is up 11% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Southfield 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: $1,927 · 2023: $1,866 · 2024: $2,042.
full-time in March 2025, down from 535 in 2022.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $3,832 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.62% 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 Southfield’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 Southfield’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Southfield →
Who’s in charge in Southfield
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Southfield’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on cityofsouthfield.com ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 158 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (75,431).
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.
Southfield Public School District
Southfield’s K–12 school district, shared with Lathrup Village. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $22,199 per pupil, $12,041 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.
Birmingham City School District · $21,253 per pupil
Oak Park City School District · $20,244 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Southfield voted in 2024
Official results for Southfield’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat84.3%37,414 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican14.3%6,327 votesOthers: 1.4% (628 votes).
Most votes in Southfield: Kamala D Harris
Oakland County: Harris 54.3%, Trump 43.7% · Michigan: Trump 49.7%, Harris 48.3%
of Southfield’s 60,134 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Michigan: 74%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Elissa SlotkinDemocrat84.5%
Mike RogersRepublican13.5%Most votes in Southfield: Elissa Slotkin
Oakland County: Slotkin 54.8%, Rogers 42.7% · Michigan: Slotkin 48.6%, Rogers 48.3%
Most votes in the district: Rashida Tlaib
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Southfield, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southfield | 84.3% | 14.3% | 1.4% | 44,369 |
| Oakland County | 54.3% | 43.7% | 1.9% | 772,145 |
| 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 Southfield.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: cityofsouthfield.com ↗
- 2Michigan HouseSouthfield is split between 3 districts
- 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 Southfield compares with the towns next door
Southfield spent $1,927 per resident in 2022; the 7 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $44 to $2,910. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Southfield Township | $44 | $7,088 |
| Beverly Hills | $1,577 | $6,775 |
| Farmington Hills | $1,603 | $5,396 |
| Oak Park | $1,679 | $2,839 |
| Franklin | $1,728 | $9,379 |
| Bingham Farms | $2,559 | $7,896 |
| Detroit | $2,910 | $1,402 |
| Southfield | $1,927 | $3,832 |
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 Southfield’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Southfield’s government
How much does Southfield spend per resident?
About $2,042 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 $1,927 was more than 69% of 16 Michigan cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Southfield?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,832 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.62% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.25% across Michigan. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofsouthfield.com.
Who runs Southfield’s government?
See cityofsouthfield.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Southfield yet.
How did Southfield vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 84.3%, Donald J Trump 14.3% (44,369 votes, official results). Oakland County: Harris 54.3%, Trump 43.7%. Michigan: Trump 49.7%, Harris 48.3%.
How many people work for Southfield?
477 full-time and 145 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $3.9M (about $47.3M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Southfield in the state legislature?
Southfield is split among 3 State House districts, so your address decides. The Michigan Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District 7 (Jeremy Moss). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Southfield’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 →