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Town Hall · Springfield

Springfield spent less per resident in 2022 than 67% of similar cities

Springfield’s city government spent $7.2 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,380 per resident.

Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Michigan.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$7.2M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,380
In 2022: $1,380, less than 67% of 120 similar cities
Long-term debt
$1.8M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
15
full-time · 10 part-time · March payroll $78,185
Typical tax bill
$1,787
1.61% of home value · MI 1.25%

What stands out about how Springfield is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$1,380 per resident in 2022: less than 67% of them

Springfield’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,380 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 120 Michigan cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,684, and the middle half spent $1,295–$2,384. Springfield spent less than 67% of them.

Middle half of the group, $1,295–$2,384Median $1,684Springfield

Includes sewer and trash ($2.1 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 →

The group
120

Michigan cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Springfield itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,380 per resident a year, or $3.78 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 29%.

Where the money comes from
From the state 25%Property taxes 22%Fees & charges 19%Income taxes 18%Utility sales 13%Other taxes & licenses 2%From the federal government 1%Interest, fines & other <1%From other local governments <1%Sales taxes <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $585,000; interest on debt $80,000; payments to other governments $2.2 million. With these, the whole budget was $10.1 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

Springfield reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,787 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.61% of the home’s value, vs 1.25% across Michigan.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Michigan$2,904
Bedford Township$1,848
Springfield$1,787
$1,787
typical bill a year
1.61%
effective rate
$110,800
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Springfield

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

Check Springfield’s own website for current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Springfield yet.
Who works for Springfield

One full-time city employee for every 346 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 (5,184).

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

Administration & buildings10
Fire0 + 8 pt
Water & other utilities2
Roads & transportation1
Parks & libraries1
Police0 + 2 pt
Other1
15
full-time
10
part-time
$78,185
payroll for March 2022
$938,220
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$59,200
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Springfield had 2.9 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 103 of the 120 Michigan cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 6.0: Springfield had fewer than 97% 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

Battle Creek Public Schools

Springfield’s K–12 school district, shared with Battle Creek, Bedford Township. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Springfield →
$20,168
per pupil · MI $16,528
3,693
students
$86.2 million
long-term debt

Of the $20,168 per pupil, $10,043 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 30%State 44%Federal 27%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

How Springfield voted in 2024

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

President2,093 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican52.5%1,099 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat46.0%963 votes

Others: 1.5% (31 votes).

Most votes in Springfield: Donald J Trump

Calhoun County: Trump 56.4%, Harris 42.3% · Michigan: Trump 49.7%, Harris 48.3%

Turnout
59%

of Springfield’s 3,552 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Michigan: 74%.

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

U.S. Senate2,053 votes
Mike RogersMike RogersRepublican50.1%
Elissa SlotkinElissa SlotkinDemocrat45.2%
Others4.7%

Most votes in Springfield: Mike Rogers

Calhoun County: Rogers 54.4%, Slotkin 42.1% · Michigan: Slotkin 48.6%, Rogers 48.3%

U.S. House · Michigan’s 4th District425,817 votes
Bill HuizengaRepublican55.1%
Jessica SwartzDemocrat43.4%
Others1.6%

Most votes in the district: Bill Huizenga

Whole-district result

President, 2024: Springfield, its county and the state

TrumpHarrisOthersVotes
Springfield52.5%46.0%1.5%2,093
Calhoun County56.4%42.3%1.3%68,505
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 Springfield

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Springfield.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Michigan HouseState representatives
  3. 3
    Michigan SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Michigan

Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.

Next door

How Springfield compares with the towns next door

Springfield spent $1,380 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.

Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Bedford Township$227$1,848
Springfield$1,380$1,787

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 Springfield’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Springfield’s government

How much does Springfield spend per resident?

About $1,380 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,380 was less than 67% of 120 Michigan cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Springfield?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,787 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.61% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.25% across Michigan. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the city’s assessor.

Who runs Springfield’s government?

We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Springfield yet.

How did Springfield vote in 2024?

For president, Donald J Trump 52.5%, Kamala D Harris 46.0% (2,093 votes, official results). Calhoun County: Trump 56.4%, Harris 42.3%. Michigan: Trump 49.7%, Harris 48.3%.

How many people work for Springfield?

15 full-time and 10 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $78,185 (about $938,220 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Springfield in the state legislature?

State Senate District 18 (Thomas Albert) and State House District 44 (Steve Frisbie). The House district also covers eight other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Springfield’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 →