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Van Buren Charter Township Hall, MichiganPhoto: PeRshGo · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Van Buren Township

How is Van Buren Township run?

Van Buren Township’s town government spent $46.6 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, about $1,544 per resident. Water and other utilities ($3.8 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$46.6M
year to December 31, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$1,544
In 2022: $767, less than 54% of 24 similar towns
Long-term debt
$34.8M
end of 2024, reported
Town staff, 2022
118
full-time · 31 part-time · March payroll $798,140
Typical tax bill
$3,559
1.32% of home value · MI 1.25%

What stands out about how Van Buren Township is run

Read from the town’s budget and official records.

The school district

Van Buren Public Schools

Van Buren Township’s K–12 school district, shared with Belleville, Sumpter Township. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Van Buren Township →
$17,515
per pupil · MI $16,528
4,293
students
$74.1 million
long-term debt

Of the $17,515 per pupil, $9,742 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 40%State 52%Federal 9%

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

Also serving Van Buren Township

Lincoln Consolidated School District · $17,279 per pupil

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

Your share of the 2024 budget

About $1,544 per resident a year, or $4.23 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: parks & libraries, at 31%.

Where the money comes from
Interest, fines & other 41%Property taxes 17%Fees & charges 14%From other local governments 9%From the state 6%Utility sales 6%From the federal government 5%Other taxes & licenses 2%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $2.7 million; interest on debt $731,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $53.8 million.
Compared with similar places

$767 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar towns

Van Buren Township’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($767 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 24 Michigan towns and townships of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $798, and the middle half spent $545–$1,023. Van Buren Township spent less than 54% of them.

Middle half of the group, $545–$1,023Median $798Van Buren Township

Includes sewer and trash ($2.6 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
24

Michigan towns and townships of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Van Buren Township itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 114% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$21.8 million
2024$46.6 million

Per resident: 2022: $767 · 2024: $1,544. Per resident it went from $767 to $1,544 (up 101%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 28,425 to 30,173.

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 $3,559 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.32% of the home’s value, vs 1.25% across Michigan.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Canton Township$5,236
Ypsilanti Township$3,678
Van Buren Township$3,559
Sumpter Township$3,225
Michigan$2,904
Romulus$2,744
$3,559
typical bill a year
1.32%
effective rate
$269,700
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Van Buren Township

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

See vbtmi.gov for Van Buren Township’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Van Buren Township yet.vbtmi.gov ↗
Agendas

Van Buren Township’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on vbtmi.gov ↗.

Who works for Van Buren Township

One full-time town employee for every 256 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 (30,173).

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

Police44
Administration & buildings23
Fire7 + 19 pt
Water & other utilities12
Parks & libraries4 + 6 pt
Health & welfare2 + 5 pt
Other26 + 1 pt
118
full-time
31
part-time
$798,140
payroll for March 2022
$9.6M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$75,400
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
41
sworn police officers
7
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Van Buren Township had 4.2 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 21 of the 24 Michigan towns and townships of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 2.8: Van Buren Township had more than 95% 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.

Elections · 2024 general election

How Van Buren Township voted in 2024

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

President17,735 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat61.2%10,854 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican36.8%6,523 votes

Others: 2.0% (358 votes).

Most votes in Van Buren Township: Kamala D Harris

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

Turnout
73%

of Van Buren Township’s 24,158 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Michigan: 74%.

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

U.S. Senate17,467 votes
Elissa SlotkinElissa SlotkinDemocrat61.9%
Mike RogersMike RogersRepublican34.8%
Others3.3%

Most votes in Van Buren Township: Elissa Slotkin

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

U.S. House · Michigan’s 6th District453,306 votes
Debbie DingellDemocrat62.0%
Heather SmileyRepublican35.0%
Others3.0%

Most votes in the district: Debbie Dingell

Whole-district result

President, 2024: Van Buren Township, its county and the state

HarrisTrumpOthersVotes
Van Buren Township61.2%36.8%2.0%17,735
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 Van Buren Township

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Van Buren Township.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your townTown government
    Officials: vbtmi.gov ↗
  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 Van Buren Township compares with the towns next door

Van Buren Township spent $767 per resident in 2022; the 4 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $576 to $1,935. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Ypsilanti Township$576$3,678
Canton Township$899$5,236
Sumpter Township$913$3,225
Romulus$1,935$2,744
Van Buren Township$767$3,559

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 Van Buren Township’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Van Buren Township’s government

How much does Van Buren Township spend per resident?

About $1,544 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $767 was less than 54% of 24 Michigan towns and townships of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Van Buren Township?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,559 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.32% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.25% across Michigan. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see vbtmi.gov.

Who runs Van Buren Township’s government?

See vbtmi.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Van Buren Township yet.

How did Van Buren Township vote in 2024?

For president, Kamala D Harris 61.2%, Donald J Trump 36.8% (17,735 votes, official results). Wayne County: Harris 62.7%, Trump 33.7%. Michigan: Trump 49.7%, Harris 48.3%.

How many people work for Van Buren Township?

118 full-time and 31 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $798,140 (about $9.6M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Van Buren Township in the state legislature?

State Senate District 4 (Darrin Camilleri) and State House District 31 (Reggie Miller). The House district also covers 14 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Van Buren Township’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 →