ZIP 48656 · Richfield Township, MI

Eight governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 48656: the state, county, city or town and school district, and where each one's money comes from and goes.

Each government is shown for its own newest fiscal year on file, so the years differ. Figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau's Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, the government's own report or, for Michigan governments, the Michigan Department of Treasury, as named under Sources and more.

Where do my taxes go in 48656?
48656 is served by the State of Michigan, Roscommon County, Roscommon Area Public Schools, Richfield Township, Houghton Lake Community Schools, Au Sable Township, Higgins Township and Backus Township. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of Michigan spent $98.8 billion (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023), Roscommon County spent $37.0 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2025), Roscommon Area Public Schools spent $16.0 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Richfield Township spent $3.2 million (fiscal year ended March 31, 2025), Houghton Lake Community Schools spent $20.2 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Au Sable Township spent $182 thousand (fiscal year ended March 31, 2026), Higgins Township spent $1.0 million (fiscal year ended March 31, 2026) and Backus Township spent $206 thousand (fiscal year ended March 31, 2026). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 48656?
Of the governments serving 48656, State of Michigan collected $2.81 billion (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023), Roscommon County collected $18.3 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2025), Roscommon Area Public Schools collected $11.2 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Houghton Lake Community Schools collected $10.2 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Richfield Township collected $977 thousand (fiscal year ended March 31, 2025), Higgins Township collected $700 thousand (fiscal year ended March 31, 2026), Backus Township collected $165 thousand (fiscal year ended March 31, 2026) and Au Sable Township collected $139 thousand (fiscal year ended March 31, 2026) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 48656.

See another ZIP code

From the state down to your schools: where each one's money comes from and goes.

See the full budget for: Roscommon County, Richfield Township, Au Sable Township and Higgins Township

Why not this year? Michigan governments with newer filings show figures from the Michigan Department of Treasury (for 2025 and 2026, each government's newest year on file). Each other figure is the newest year the U.S. Census Bureau has published for that government, so the years differ and are not the current year. Most governments post their current budget on their own website.

Where property tax goes in 48656

State of Michigan$2.81 billion

3.0% of its $93.9 billion in revenue · fiscal year ended September 30, 2023

Roscommon County$18.3 million

45% of its $40.7 million in revenue · fiscal year ended December 31, 2025

Roscommon Area Public Schools$11.2 million

57% of its $19.7 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024

Houghton Lake Community Schools$10.2 million

45% of its $22.8 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024

Richfield Township$977 thousand

28% of its $3.5 million in revenue · fiscal year ended March 31, 2025

Higgins Township$700 thousand

67% of its $1.0 million in revenue · fiscal year ended March 31, 2026

Backus Township$165 thousand

79% of its $209 thousand in revenue · fiscal year ended March 31, 2026

Au Sable Township$139 thousand

80% of its $173 thousand in revenue · fiscal year ended March 31, 2026

These are each government's total property tax collections, not your bill. Your own bill is split by each government's tax rate, shown on your property tax bill.

Your county

Roscommon County

$37.0 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended December 31, 2025), from the Michigan Department of Treasury.

Where the money comes from

County taxes45%State tax money27%Fees for services15%Fines and other6.0%Federal tax money5.4%Local tax money1.9%

Full Roscommon County breakdown

County taxes45%

Property tax

45%$18.3 million

Other taxes

0.3%$132 thousand

Fees for services15%

Fees for services

15%$5.9 million

Federal tax money5.4%

Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.

From the federal government

5.4%$2.2 million

State tax money27%

Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.

From the state

27%$10.9 million

Local tax money1.9%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments

1.9%$778 thousand

Fines and other6.0%

Interest, rents and other

6.0%$2.4 million

Fines

<0.1%$19 thousand

Roscommon County page →

Where the money goes

Police, fire, courts and jails36%Roads, transit and parking35%Running the government and other costs15%Social services8.4%Debt payments (principal and interest)2.3%All other spending3.7%

Full Roscommon County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails

36%$13.3 million

Roads, transit and parking

35%$12.9 million

Running the government and other costs

15%$5.5 million

Social services

8.4%$3.1 million

Debt payments (principal and interest)

2.3%$841 thousand

Water, sewer, trash and utilities

2.0%$756 thousand

Health and hospitals

1.4%$509 thousand

Housing and community development

0.2%$91 thousand

Roscommon County page →

Your towns

Richfield Township

$3.2 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended March 31, 2025), from the Michigan Department of Treasury.

About 48% of this ZIP is in Richfield Township.

Where the money comes from

Fines and other35%Township taxes30%Fees for services17%State tax money12%Federal tax money6.1%

Full Richfield Township breakdown

Township taxes30%

Property tax

28%$977 thousand

Other taxes

2.0%$70 thousand

Fees for services17%

Fees for services

17%$581 thousand

Federal tax money6.1%

Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.

From the federal government

6.1%$213 thousand

State tax money12%

Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.

From the state

12%$416 thousand

Fines and other35%

Interest, rents and other

34%$1.2 million

Fines

0.9%$31 thousand

Richfield Township page →

Where the money goes

Police, fire, courts and jails35%Running the government and other costs25%Water, sewer, trash and utilities18%Parks, recreation and libraries9.3%Health and hospitals7.5%All other spending4.4%

Full Richfield Township breakdown

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails

35%$1.1 million

Running the government and other costs

25%$818 thousand

Water, sewer, trash and utilities

18%$591 thousand

Parks, recreation and libraries

9.3%$300 thousand

Health and hospitals

7.5%$240 thousand

Roads, transit and parking

2.0%$66 thousand

Debt payments (principal and interest)

1.5%$47 thousand

Housing and community development

0.9%$30 thousand

Richfield Township page →

Au Sable Township

$182 thousand budget in fiscal year 2026 (ended March 31, 2026), from the Michigan Department of Treasury.

About 17% of this ZIP is in Au Sable Township.

Where the money comes from

Township taxes80%State tax money16%Fines and other3.2%

Full Au Sable Township breakdown

Township taxes80%

Property tax

80%$139 thousand

Other taxes

0.2%$375

State tax money16%

Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.

From the state

16%$28 thousand

Fines and other3.2%

Interest, rents and other

3.2%$6 thousand

Au Sable Township page →

Where the money goes

Running the government and other costs63%Police, fire, courts and jails16%Water, sewer, trash and utilities13%Housing and community development5.3%Roads, transit and parking3.3%

Full Au Sable Township breakdown

Spending by category100%

Running the government and other costs

63%$114 thousand

Police, fire, courts and jails

16%$29 thousand

Water, sewer, trash and utilities

13%$24 thousand

Housing and community development

5.3%$10 thousand

Roads, transit and parking

3.3%$6 thousand

Au Sable Township page →

Higgins Township

$1.0 million budget in fiscal year 2026 (ended March 31, 2026), from the Michigan Department of Treasury.

About 16% of this ZIP is in Higgins Township.

Where the money comes from

Township taxes68%Fees for services20%State tax money11%Fines and other0.2%

Full Higgins Township breakdown

Township taxes68%

Property tax

67%$700 thousand

Other taxes

1.0%$11 thousand

Fees for services20%

Fees for services

20%$214 thousand

Federal tax money<0.1%

Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.

From the federal government

<0.1%$521

State tax money11%

Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.

From the state

11%$117 thousand

Fines and other0.2%

Interest, rents and other

0.2%$2 thousand

Higgins Township page →

Where the money goes

Police, fire, courts and jails49%Running the government and other costs28%Water, sewer, trash and utilities22%Housing and community development0.7%Parks, recreation and libraries0.5%

Full Higgins Township breakdown

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails

49%$503 thousand

Running the government and other costs

28%$285 thousand

Water, sewer, trash and utilities

22%$221 thousand

Housing and community development

0.7%$8 thousand

Parks, recreation and libraries

0.5%$5 thousand

Higgins Township page →

Backus Township

$206 thousand budget in fiscal year 2026 (ended March 31, 2026), from the Michigan Department of Treasury.

About 12% of this ZIP is in Backus Township.

Where the money comes from

Township taxes79%State tax money15%Fines and other4.9%Fees for services0.5%

Full Backus Township breakdown

Township taxes79%

Property tax

79%$165 thousand

Fees for services0.5%

Fees for services

0.5%$1 thousand

State tax money15%

Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.

From the state

15%$32 thousand

Fines and other4.9%

Interest, rents and other

4.9%$10 thousand

Backus Township page →

Where the money goes

Running the government and other costs46%Police, fire, courts and jails26%Water, sewer, trash and utilities25%Housing and community development3.0%

Full Backus Township breakdown

Spending by category100%

Running the government and other costs

46%$94 thousand

Police, fire, courts and jails

26%$53 thousand

Water, sewer, trash and utilities

25%$52 thousand

Housing and community development

3.0%$6 thousand

Backus Township page →

Your schools

Roscommon Area Public Schools

$16.0 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

About 56% of this ZIP is in Roscommon Area Public Schools.

Where the money comes from

School district taxes57%State tax money34%County and local tax money4.1%Fines and other2.9%Fees for services (school lunches, school tuition and transportation)1.3%Federal tax money0.3%

Full Roscommon Area Public Schools breakdown

What stands out

57%

of Roscommon Area Public Schools' money comes from property tax.A typical school district with fewer than 5,000 students gets 28%.

School district taxes57%

Property tax

57%$11.2 million

Fees for services1.3%

Fees for services

1.3%$257 thousand

What's in fees for servicesOther school charges; school lunches and 1 more

Other school charges$241 thousand
School lunches$13 thousand
School tuition and transportation$3 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money0.3%

Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.

From the federal government

0.3%$56 thousand

State tax money34%

Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.

From the state

34%$6.8 million

County and local tax money4.1%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments

4.1%$806 thousand

Fines and other2.9%

Interest, rents and other

2.9%$576 thousand

Roscommon Area Public Schools page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges94%Sent to other local governments4.0%Interest on debt2.2%

Full Roscommon Area Public Schools breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges

94%$15.1 million

What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools

Elementary and secondary schools$15.1 million

Sent to other local governments

4.0%$642 thousand

What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to school districts

Sent to school districts$642 thousand

Interest on debt

2.2%$353 thousand

Roscommon Area Public Schools page →

Houghton Lake Community Schools

$20.2 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

About 44% of this ZIP is in Houghton Lake Community Schools.

Where the money comes from

State tax money49%School district taxes45%Fines and other3.4%County and local tax money2.2%Fees for services (school lunches, school tuition and transportation)0.6%

Full Houghton Lake Community Schools breakdown

What stands out

45%

of Houghton Lake Community Schools' money comes from property tax.A typical school district with fewer than 5,000 students gets 28%.

School district taxes45%

Property tax

45%$10.2 million

Fees for services0.6%

Fees for services

0.6%$138 thousand

What's in fees for servicesSchool lunches; other school charges and 1 more

School lunches$64 thousand
Other school charges$51 thousand
School tuition and transportation$23 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money<0.1%

Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.

From the federal government

<0.1%$4 thousand

State tax money49%

Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.

From the state

49%$11.2 million

County and local tax money2.2%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments

2.2%$510 thousand

Fines and other3.4%

Interest, rents and other

3.4%$765 thousand

Houghton Lake Community Schools page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges98%Sent to other local governments1.5%Interest on debt0.4%

Full Houghton Lake Community Schools breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges

98%$19.8 million

What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools

Elementary and secondary schools$19.8 million

Sent to other local governments

1.5%$305 thousand

What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to school districts

Sent to school districts$305 thousand

Interest on debt

0.4%$78 thousand

Houghton Lake Community Schools page →

Your state

State of Michigan

$98.8 billion budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended September 30, 2023.

Where the money comes from

State taxes41%Federal tax money36%Fees for services (hospital bills, college tuition)17%Fines and other6.2%Local tax money0.3%

What stands out

17%

of Michigan's money comes from fees for services such as water, sewer and parking.A typical state government gets 10%.

Full Michigan breakdown

State taxes41%

Sales tax

14%$12.7 billion

Local income tax

12%$11.6 billion

Other taxes

8.9%$8.34 billion

What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; motor fuel taxes and 17 more

Other selective sales taxes$2.33 billion
Motor fuel taxes$1.55 billion
Motor vehicle licenses$1.53 billion
Tobacco taxes$675 million
Insurance premium taxes$529 million
Real estate and stock transfer taxes$399 million
Amusement taxes$311 million
Occupation and business licenses$281 million
Other licenses$238 million
Alcoholic beverage taxes$205 million
Driver's licenses$65.4 million
Hunting and fishing licenses$64.4 million
Public utility taxes$42.7 million
Public utility licenses$37.9 million
Severance taxes$27.6 million
Corporation licenses$24.3 million
Alcoholic beverage licenses$22.5 million
Other taxes not classified elsewhere$40 thousand
Estate and gift taxes$6 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Business income tax

3.4%$3.18 billion

Property tax

3.0%$2.81 billion

Fees for services17%

Fees for services

17%$15.6 billion

What's in fees for servicesHospital bills; college tuition and 12 more

Hospital bills$8.03 billion
College tuition$4.34 billion
Liquor stores$1.56 billion
University housing and dining$1.36 billion
Other service charges$164 million
Parks, land and natural resources$58.2 million
Housing$43.7 million
Tolls on roads and bridges$32.1 million
Parks and recreation$8.7 million
Other education charges$6.7 million
Airport$529 thousand
Other government-run businesses$443 thousand
Road charges$159 thousand
Transit fares$10 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money36%

Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.

From the federal government

36%$33.6 billion

Local tax money0.3%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From local governments

0.3%$279 million

Fines and other6.2%

Interest, rents and other

6.1%$5.73 billion

Fines

0.1%$119 million

Michigan page →

Where the money goes

Sent to local governments34%Social services25%Schools and colleges16%Health and hospitals10%Running the government and other costs3.6%All other spending11%

What stands out

34%

of Michigan's spending goes to local governments.A typical state government spends 24%.

Full Michigan breakdown

Spending by category100%

Sent to local governments

34%$34.0 billion

What's in sent to local governmentsSent to school districts; sent to local governments: other public welfare and 20 more

Sent to school districts$20.3 billion
Sent to local governments: other public welfare$5.13 billion
Sent to local governments: roads and highways$2.45 billion
Sent to local governments: general support$1.68 billion
Sent to local governments: public health$1.02 billion
Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$856 million
Sent to school districts (colleges)$568 million
Sent to local governments: other government administration$556 million
Sent to local governments: courts and legal services$487 million
Sent to local governments: finance, tax collection and budgeting$437 million
Sent to local governments: airports$221 million
Sent to local governments: police$80.9 million
Sent to local governments: natural resources, farming and conservation$40.2 million
Sent to local governments: housing and community development$35.2 million
Sent to local governments: inspections and regulation$31.1 million
Sent to local governments: parks and recreation$29.0 million
Sent to local governments: probation, parole and other corrections$25.4 million
Sent to local governments: libraries$17.1 million
Sent to local governments: colleges and universities$13.5 million
Sent to local governments: other education$12.8 million
Sent to local governments: hospitals$7.0 million
Sent to the federal government$2.2 million

Social services

25%$24.7 billion

What's in social servicesOther public welfare; unemployment and social insurance offices and 1 more

Other public welfare$24.4 billion
Unemployment and social insurance offices$304 million
Welfare institutions$31.7 million

Schools and colleges

16%$15.6 billion

What's in schools and collegesColleges and universities; scholarships and other education subsidies and 2 more

Colleges and universities$10.9 billion
Scholarships and other education subsidies$1.95 billion
College housing, dining and bookstores$1.93 billion
Other education$812 million

Health and hospitals

10%$10.3 billion

What's in health and hospitalsHospitals and public health

Hospitals$8.10 billion
Public health$2.22 billion

Running the government and other costs

3.6%$3.56 billion

What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; finance, tax collection and budgeting and 3 more

Other and not broken out$1.63 billion
Finance, tax collection and budgeting$1.33 billion
Other government administration$346 million
Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$250 million
Other government-run businesses$514 thousand

Police, fire, courts and jails

3.5%$3.45 billion

What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPrisons and jails; police and 3 more

Prisons and jails$1.68 billion
Police$733 million
Probation, parole and other corrections$361 million
Inspections and regulation$359 million
Courts and legal services$316 million

Roads, transit and parking

3.2%$3.14 billion

What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways; toll roads and bridges and 2 more

Roads and highways$2.98 billion
Toll roads and bridges$92.2 million
Airports$63.4 million
Public transit$114 thousand

Water, sewer, trash and utilities

1.3%$1.27 billion

What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesLiquor stores and garbage and solid waste

Liquor stores$1.26 billion
Garbage and solid waste$5.3 million

Interest on debt

1.0%$984 million

Housing and community development

0.9%$928 million

Environment and natural resources

0.6%$548 million

What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation

Natural resources, farming and conservation$548 million

Parks, recreation and libraries

0.3%$284 million

What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries

Parks and recreation$273 million
Libraries$11.1 million

Michigan page →

Sources and moreEach government's source, fiscal year and how a ZIP is matched

State of Michigan. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended September 30, 2023.

Roscommon County. Michigan Department of Treasury, MI Community Financial Dashboard (annual F-65 filings), fiscal year 2025, fiscal year ended December 31, 2025. The earlier Census figures are from U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments, Finance, individual unit file, fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.

Roscommon Area Public Schools. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2024.

Richfield Township. Michigan Department of Treasury, MI Community Financial Dashboard (annual F-65 filings), fiscal year 2025, fiscal year ended March 31, 2025. The earlier Census figures are from U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments, Finance, individual unit file, fiscal year ended March 31, 2022.

Houghton Lake Community Schools. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2024.

Au Sable Township. Michigan Department of Treasury, MI Community Financial Dashboard (annual F-65 filings), fiscal year 2026, fiscal year ended March 31, 2026. The earlier Census figures are from U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments, Finance, individual unit file, fiscal year ended March 31, 2022.

Higgins Township. Michigan Department of Treasury, MI Community Financial Dashboard (annual F-65 filings), fiscal year 2026, fiscal year ended March 31, 2026. The earlier Census figures are from U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments, Finance, individual unit file, fiscal year ended March 31, 2022.

Backus Township. Michigan Department of Treasury, MI Community Financial Dashboard (annual F-65 filings), fiscal year 2026, fiscal year ended March 31, 2026. The earlier Census figures are from U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments, Finance, individual unit file, fiscal year ended March 31, 2022.

How these figures are counted. Revenue and spending are the annual financial reports (Form F-65) that a Michigan government filed with the Michigan Department of Treasury, grouped into the same categories as the Census figures. Counties, cities, villages and townships are included together with their component units, such as road commissions, downtown development authorities and county health departments. Internal service funds, transfers, borrowing proceeds and depreciation are not counted.

Debt payments. The report lists principal and interest on debt, so the "Debt payments" line includes principal as well as interest. The Census figures leave principal out.

Capital purchases. Michigan filings do not break out enterprise capital purchases, so total spending can read lower than the Census figure for governments with large water or sewer projects.

How a ZIP is matched. A ZIP code is not a government boundary, so we match it to the cities, counties and school districts that overlap it, using Census Bureau geography. Where a ZIP crosses several, each one is shown with its share of the ZIP. Each government's money covers its own operations only; the others listed here are separate.

Latest recorded year. The year differs by government: each block shows the newest fiscal year on file. A Census survey year covers fiscal years ending July 1 of the year before through June 30 of that year.