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Charter Township

Cascade Charter Township

TownshipKent County

Cascade Charter Township is a charter township in Kent County, Michigan. In 2025, primary homes here pay a total of 31.10–32.05 mills in property tax, depending on the school district; rentals, second homes and businesses pay 49.10–49.80 mills. It levied property tax in 3 tax areas in 2025. In fiscal year 2025 it reported $21.6 million in spending across all its funds. It has 20 boards and sub-entities.

Total property tax rate, primary homes

31.10–32.05

mills in 2025 · 3 tax areas · about $5,059–$5,215 a year on a median home (estimate)

Total property tax rate, rentals, second homes and businesses

49.10–49.80

mills in 2025 · includes the school operating tax

Levies, 2025

2

in 3 tax areas

Boards and sub-entities

20

Total property tax rates here, 2025

What property pays to every taxing body (the State, county, schools, local government and others), by tax area. A mill is $1 of tax per $1,000 of taxable value.

Compare with every tax area in Kent County →

School district Primary homes mills Median home est. yearly tax Rentals, second homes and businesses mills
Lowell Area Schools 32.0538 $5,215 49.7990
Forest Hills Public Schools 31.1340 $5,066 49.1340
Caledonia Community Schools 31.0957 $5,059 49.0957

Rates differ within Cascade Charter Township because parts of it are in different school districts (Caledonia Community Schools, Forest Hills Public Schools and Lowell Area Schools).

Kent County's certified rates split each area's total between a summer and a winter tax bill; open an area below to see its split.

Primary homes, which their owners live in, pay the homestead rate; so do qualified farmland and a few other kinds of property exempt from the school operating tax. Rentals, second homes and most businesses pay the non-homestead rate, which includes it. What these terms mean

Median home, estimated: the yearly tax a new buyer would pay on a primary home at Kent County's median value, $325,400 (Census Bureau, 2024): half the value times the mills, divided by 1,000. An estimate, not a bill. How the estimate works

Every levy, by tax area

Lowell Area Schools · 32.0538 primary homes, 49.7990 other

Billed in 2 parts, in mills: primary homes summer 21.0704, winter 10.9834; rentals, second homes and businesses summer 29.9430, winter 19.8560.

Levy Levied by Primary homes mills Median home est. yearly tax Rentals, second homes and businesses mills
School Debt Lowell Area Schools 7.0000 $1,139 7.0000
State Education Tax State of Michigan 6.0000 $976 6.0000
ISD Voted Special Education Kent ISD 4.3364 $706 4.3364
County Allocated Operating Kent County 4.0605 $661 4.0605
Voted Operating Cascade Charter Township 3.0274 $493 3.0274
Community College Grand Rapids Community College 1.6793 $273 1.6793
Library Kent District Library 1.0832 $176 1.0832
Building and Site Lowell Area Schools 0.9581 $156 0.9581
Allocated or Charter Operating Cascade Charter Township 0.9506 $155 0.9506
ISD Voted Vocational Education Kent ISD 0.9310 $151 0.9310
Jail Kent County 0.7417 $121 0.7417
Senior Citizens Kent County 0.4914 $80 0.4914
Zoo and Museum Kent County 0.4134 $67 0.4134
Ready by Five Kent County 0.2476 $40 0.2476
ISD Allocated Operating Kent ISD 0.0841 $14 0.0841
Veterans Kent County 0.0491 $8 0.0491
School Operating (Non-Homestead) Lowell Area Schools 0.0000 $0 17.7452
Forest Hills Public Schools · 31.1340 primary homes, 49.1340 other

Billed in 2 parts, in mills: primary homes summer 20.6105, winter 10.5235; rentals, second homes and businesses summer 29.6105, winter 19.5235.

Levy Levied by Primary homes mills Median home est. yearly tax Rentals, second homes and businesses mills
School Debt Forest Hills Public Schools 6.0500 $984 6.0500
State Education Tax State of Michigan 6.0000 $976 6.0000
ISD Voted Special Education Kent ISD 4.3364 $706 4.3364
County Allocated Operating Kent County 4.0605 $661 4.0605
Voted Operating Cascade Charter Township 3.0274 $493 3.0274
Community College Grand Rapids Community College 1.6793 $273 1.6793
Library Kent District Library 1.0832 $176 1.0832
Extra Voted Millage Forest Hills Public Schools 0.9883 $161 0.9883
Allocated or Charter Operating Cascade Charter Township 0.9506 $155 0.9506
ISD Voted Vocational Education Kent ISD 0.9310 $151 0.9310
Jail Kent County 0.7417 $121 0.7417
Senior Citizens Kent County 0.4914 $80 0.4914
Zoo and Museum Kent County 0.4134 $67 0.4134
Ready by Five Kent County 0.2476 $40 0.2476
ISD Allocated Operating Kent ISD 0.0841 $14 0.0841
Veterans Kent County 0.0491 $8 0.0491
School Operating (Non-Homestead) Forest Hills Public Schools 0.0000 $0 18.0000
Caledonia Community Schools · 31.0957 primary homes, 49.0957 other

Billed in 2 parts, in mills: primary homes summer 20.5913, winter 10.5044; rentals, second homes and businesses summer 29.5913, winter 19.5044.

Levy Levied by Primary homes mills Median home est. yearly tax Rentals, second homes and businesses mills
School Debt Caledonia Community Schools 7.0000 $1,139 7.0000
State Education Tax State of Michigan 6.0000 $976 6.0000
ISD Voted Special Education Kent ISD 4.3364 $706 4.3364
County Allocated Operating Kent County 4.0605 $661 4.0605
Voted Operating Cascade Charter Township 3.0274 $493 3.0274
Community College Grand Rapids Community College 1.6793 $273 1.6793
Library Kent District Library 1.0832 $176 1.0832
Allocated or Charter Operating Cascade Charter Township 0.9506 $155 0.9506
ISD Voted Vocational Education Kent ISD 0.9310 $151 0.9310
Jail Kent County 0.7417 $121 0.7417
Senior Citizens Kent County 0.4914 $80 0.4914
Zoo and Museum Kent County 0.4134 $67 0.4134
Ready by Five Kent County 0.2476 $40 0.2476
ISD Allocated Operating Kent ISD 0.0841 $14 0.0841
Veterans Kent County 0.0491 $8 0.0491
School Operating (Non-Homestead) Caledonia Community Schools 0.0000 $0 18.0000

Where the property tax goes here

Each tax area's total for primary homes, split by who levies it.

Of the $5,059–$5,215 a year a new buyer of a median primary home here would pay (an estimate), about $647 goes to Cascade Charter Township (12–13%). The rest goes to the other bodies that levy here: the State, the county, the schools and others.

Cascade Charter Township's 3 tax areas rank 41st, 45th and 48th highest of Kent County's 94 for primary homes. See every area

  • State
  • County
  • ISD and college
  • School district
  • City, township or village
  • Library, transit and other
  • Cascade Charter Township Lowell Area Schools 32.0538 mills $5,215

    Cascade Charter Township with Lowell Area Schools: 32.0538 mills in total (State 6.0000, County 6.0037, ISD and college 7.0308, School district 7.9581, City, township or village 3.9780, Library, transit and other 1.0832), estimated $5,215 a year for a new buyer

  • Cascade Charter Township Forest Hills Public Schools 31.1340 mills $5,066

    Cascade Charter Township with Forest Hills Public Schools: 31.1340 mills in total (State 6.0000, County 6.0037, ISD and college 7.0308, School district 7.0383, City, township or village 3.9780, Library, transit and other 1.0832), estimated $5,066 a year for a new buyer

  • Cascade Charter Township Caledonia Community Schools 31.0957 mills $5,059

    Cascade Charter Township with Caledonia Community Schools: 31.0957 mills in total (State 6.0000, County 6.0037, ISD and college 7.0308, School district 7.0000, City, township or village 3.9780, Library, transit and other 1.0832), estimated $5,059 a year for a new buyer

The figures as a table
Tax area State County ISD and college School district City, township or village Library, transit and other Total Estimated tax
Cascade Charter Township, Lowell Area Schools 6.0000 6.0037 7.0308 7.9581 3.9780 1.0832 32.0538 $5,215
Cascade Charter Township, Forest Hills Public Schools 6.0000 6.0037 7.0308 7.0383 3.9780 1.0832 31.1340 $5,066
Cascade Charter Township, Caledonia Community Schools 6.0000 6.0037 7.0308 7.0000 3.9780 1.0832 31.0957 $5,059

Median home, estimated: the yearly tax a new buyer would pay on a primary home at Kent County's median value, $325,400 (Census Bureau, 2024): half the value times the mills, divided by 1,000. An estimate, not a bill. How the estimate works

What Cascade Charter Township levies, 2025

Only its own millages, part of the totals above, and how many tax areas each is levied in.

Levy Primary homes mills Median home est. yearly tax Rentals, second homes and businesses mills Tax areas
Voted Operating 3.0274 $493 3.0274 3
Allocated or Charter Operating 0.9506 $155 0.9506 3

Median home, estimated: the yearly tax a new buyer would pay on a primary home at Kent County's median value, $325,400 (Census Bureau, 2024): half the value times the mills, divided by 1,000. An estimate, not a bill. How the estimate works

Money in and out, fiscal year 2025

From its annual financial report, as filed with the Michigan Department of Treasury. Its fiscal year ends in December.

Revenue

$19.9M

all funds

Spending

$21.6M

all funds

Spending per resident

$1,073

2024 population: 20,172

General fund spending

$5.3M

budget: $7.1M

Spending by purpose

All funds. Share of $21,645,399 in total.

  • Capital outlay, debt service and other $8,003,919 37%
    Capital Outlay $7,168,766
    Debt Service $835,153
  • Public safety $7,137,372 33%
    Police/Sheriff/Constable $894,574
    Fire $3,720,910
    Building Inspection & Regulation Activities $2,519,217
    All Other Public Safety Activities $2,671
  • Public works $2,671,674 12%
    Public Works (Non-Act 51) $514,681
    Sanitation/Landfill/Solid Waste $115,805
    All Other Public Works $2,041,188
  • General government $2,660,926 12%
    Legislative (Council, Board, Commission) $135,208
    Chief Executive $340,948
    Treasurer $208,447
    Clerk $108,323
    Assessing Equalization $410,772
    Finance and Tax Administration $201,034
    Elections $83,365
    Building and Grounds $584,101
    All Other General Government $588,728
  • Recreation and culture $647,751 3%
    Parks and Recreation $324,068
    Library $273,272
    Various Cultural Activities, Fine Arts, Historical Society, Museums, etc. $11,212
    All Other Recreation and Culture $39,199
  • Community and economic development $331,861 2%
    Community Planning and Zoning $331,861
  • Transfers out and special items $191,896 1%
    Transfers (Out) $191,896

Revenue by source

All funds. Share of $19,865,925 in total.

  • Taxes $10,809,602 54%
    Property Tax (includes, delinquent taxes, penalties, interest, fees, community wide special assessments) $10,809,602
  • State grants $2,862,842 14%
    State Revenue Sharing $2,224,432
    Public Safety $170,420
    Streets and Highways (Non-Act 51) $31,771
    Culture and Recreation $322,917
    Other General/All Other State Aid Grants $113,302
  • Licenses and permits $2,381,208 12%
    Business Licenses and Permits $332,291
    Non-Business Licenses and Permits $2,048,917
  • Interest and rents $1,665,331 8%
    Interest & Dividends $1,427,459
    Rents & Royalties $237,872
  • From other local governments $708,329 4%
    Culture and Recreation $43,826
    All Other $664,503
  • Charges for services $572,216 3%
    All Other Services Rendered Charges $572,216
  • Other revenue $383,467 2%
    Sale of Capital Assets $296,400
    Public and Private Contributions $13,363
    Refunds & Rebates $16,271
    Miscellaneous Other Revenue $57,433
  • Special assessments $281,034 1%
    Special Assessments $281,034
  • Federal grants $10,000 <1%
    All Other Federal Aid Grants $10,000
  • Borrowing and transfers in $191,896 1%
    Transfers In $191,896

"All funds" is the report's total column: the general fund, other governmental funds, enterprise funds such as water and sewer, internal service funds and component units. Its totals include money moved between the government's own funds, and revenue includes money borrowed. Spending per resident is total spending divided by the population shown; the shares are each heading's part of its total. Open a heading to see the lines filed under it.

Population: DashBoard_Metrics (MI Community Financial Dashboard), Michigan Department of Treasury.

Source: FY2025 F65 Township Part 2, Michigan Department of Treasury, retrieved November 3, 2026.

Revenue and spending, fiscal years 2016–2025

All funds, as filed each year.

Revenue Spending
The figures as a table
Fiscal year Revenue Spending General fund spending Long-term debt
2025 $19,865,925 $21,645,399 $5,299,006 $6,068,000
2024 $22,701,603 $21,003,771 $6,441,323 $6,578,000
2023 $23,319,379 $28,806,168 $9,423,791 $8,138,383
2022 $23,139,816 $15,178,236 $4,510,745 $8,696,323
2021 $13,923,449 $13,617,690 $5,402,781 $2,790,700
2020 $14,161,838 $16,025,051 $6,098,000 $3,143,056
2019 $13,806,435 $15,194,214 $6,367,711 $3,522,270
2018 $13,343,827 $12,566,960 $5,653,833 $3,072,849
2017 $15,197,011 $13,927,785 $3,923,820 $3,194,000
2016 $11,492,858 $10,173,356 $3,958,256 $3,619,000

Each year links to the dataset it comes from. A year with dashes across has no report in the State's data.

Debt, pensions and staff, fiscal year 2025

As reported in the same filing.

Debt and fund balance

Long-term debt at year end
$6,068,000
General fund balance at year end
$8,991,822
Of which unassigned
$8,629,158

Pensions and retiree health care

Unfunded pension liability
$5,027,189
Pension funded, general employees
67.73%
Pension funded, police and fire
—
Unfunded retiree health care (OPEB)
—

Staff

Police
—
Fire
39
Combined public safety
—
All other staff
80
Wages and salaries
$5,651,269

A dash means the State's data has no figure for that line. Its datasets leave out zero amounts in most years, so a dash can also be a zero that was filed. The unfunded pension liability is the filing's "aggregate pension liability" line.

Source: FY2025 F65 Township Part 2, Michigan Department of Treasury, retrieved November 3, 2026.

Boards and sub-entities

Authorities and special districts

Boards, commissions and committees

Transparency checks

What this body files with the State and posts online, checked against the law and good practice.

Grade pending

A grade appears once every check below has been read and the site has set its grading scale. Every check counts the same.

Required by law

6 found · 1 not found

  • Found: Audit filed with the State for the latest fiscal year

    Treasury's Document Search shows the audit for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 as received, sent June 25, 2026.

    Uniform Budgeting and Accounting Act, MCL 141.421 et seq.; MCL 141.921 · FY2025 · Read September 27, 2026 from State records · Evidence for Audit filed with the State for the latest fiscal year

  • Found: Audit filed on time

    Sent June 25, 2026, within six months of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 (due June 30, 2026; fiscal year end from its F-65).

    Due six months after fiscal year end; MCL 141.921 · FY2025 · Read September 27, 2026 from State records · Evidence for Audit filed on time

  • Found: Annual financial report (F-65) filed with the State

    Treasury's Document Search shows the annual financial report (F-65) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 as received, sent June 25, 2026.

    MCL 141.424(3) · FY2025 · Read September 27, 2026 from State records · Evidence for Annual financial report (F-65) filed with the State

  • Found: Annual financial report (F-65) filed on time

    Sent June 25, 2026, within six months of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 (due June 30, 2026; fiscal year end from its F-65).

    Due six months after fiscal year end; MCL 141.424(3) · FY2025 · Read September 27, 2026 from State records · Evidence for Annual financial report (F-65) filed on time

  • Found: Retirement report (Form 5572) filed with the State

    Treasury's FY2025 status report (as of September 18, 2026) does not list it as "No Retirement Submission".

    PA 202 of 2017, MCL 38.2805 · FY2025 · Read September 26, 2026 from State records · Evidence for Retirement report (Form 5572) filed with the State

  • Found: FOIA procedures and written public summary posted

    The Manager's Office FOIA page (linked from the homepage) links "Freedom of Information Act Procedures/Guidelines" and "Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Procedures/Guidelines Public Summary".

    MCL 15.234(4) · Read September 27, 2026 on its website · Evidence for FOIA procedures and written public summary posted

  • Not found: Retirement report information posted

    Financial Reports posts PA 202 pension reports for 2018, 2021, 2023 and 2024; the newest (opened 2026-09-27) is for fiscal year 2024. The latest report due by 2026-09-27 is the one for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 (due June 30, 2026), and none is posted for it.

    MCL 38.2805(8) · FY2025 · Read September 27, 2026 on its website · Evidence for Retirement report information posted

Good practice

7 found · 4 not found

  • Found: Current budget posted

    Found on the second reading (the site's own search): the site posts "FY26 Budget", the FY 2026 proposed budget with amounts by fund (memo dated October 15, 2025; opened 2026-09-27), for the fiscal year in progress (calendar 2026). Financial Reports lists budgets only through 2025.

    Read September 27, 2026 on its website · Evidence for Current budget posted

  • Found: Budgets for the past three years posted

    Financial Reports posts the 2025, 2024 and 2023 budgets (and back to 2012).

    Read September 27, 2026 on its website · Evidence for Budgets for the past three years posted

  • Found: Latest audit posted

    Financial Reports posts the "2025 CAFR" (fiscal year ended December 31, 2025) and earlier annual audited reports.

    Read September 27, 2026 on its website · Evidence for Latest audit posted

  • Not found: Budget posted as a spreadsheet or data file

    The budgets on Financial Reports are PDFs; no spreadsheet or data file was found.

    Read September 27, 2026 on its website · Evidence for Budget posted as a spreadsheet or data file

  • Found: Regular meeting schedule for the year posted

    Township Board Members & Meetings says the board meets "the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 7 pm", with a Meeting Schedule page.

    Read September 27, 2026 on its website · Evidence for Regular meeting schedule for the year posted

  • Found: Agendas posted for the past 12 months

    Agendas & Minutes > Board of Trustees posts an agenda for every meeting from September 9, 2025 to September 23, 2026.

    Read September 27, 2026 on its website · Evidence for Agendas posted for the past 12 months

  • Found: Minutes posted for the past 12 months

    Agendas & Minutes > Board of Trustees posts minutes for every meeting from September 9, 2025 to September 9, 2026.

    Read September 27, 2026 on its website · Evidence for Minutes posted for the past 12 months

  • Found: Members' names and a way to contact them posted

    Township Board Members & Meetings names all seven members (supervisor, clerk, treasurer and four trustees), each with an email address.

    Read September 27, 2026 on its website · Evidence for Members' names and a way to contact them posted

  • Not found: Check register (payments) posted

    No check register or payments list was found on the Finance, Financial Reports or Treasurer's Office pages.

    Read September 27, 2026 on its website · Evidence for Check register (payments) posted

  • Not found: Employee pay or salary schedule posted

    No salary schedule, pay ranges or pay by position was found on the Manager's Office, Clerk's Office, Finance or Financial Reports pages.

    Read September 27, 2026 on its website · Evidence for Employee pay or salary schedule posted

  • Not found: Current contracts posted

    No list of current contracts or contract in force was found; Bids & Proposals lists none.

    Read September 27, 2026 on its website · Evidence for Current contracts posted

About

Type
Charter Township

Codes

Census of Governments ID
208382
Census GEOID (county subdivision)
2608113660
Michigan Treasury unit code
411080

Sources

Where this page's facts come from.

Open Government Project · a nonpartisan, nonprofit project

Every figure comes from a public record, cited on its page.