Sarah Wilson, City of Muskegon Treasurer: Where Every Dollar Goes and Why It Matters

Local government isnʼt built for profit. Itʼs built for service. Thatʼs the lens Sarah Wilson brings to the treasurerʼs office, where every dollar collected funds essential services. After a start in private-sector finance, Wilson found mission and meaning in public service: forecasting revenue, stewarding taxpayer funds, and helping residents understand how the system works.

Inside City Hall, her team of six runs nonstop water and sewer billing cycles and manages property tax collection, then disburses most of those dollars to schools, the county, libraries, and other taxing entities. The treasurerʼs job isnʼt to keep money; itʼs to move it, accurately, transparently, and on time. Forecasting is the hard part. Rapid growth, tax abatements, and incentives all change what the city can actually spend. Wilson models those impacts so departments can plan services without guesswork.

Governance is guided by state law. The General Property Tax Act and other statutes shape nearly every step, so Wilson leans on statewide peers and counsel to interpret rules and stay compliant. Sheʼs active in the Michigan Municipal Treasurers Association, which trains new treasurers, advocates in Lansing, and shares playbooks across big cities and tiny townships alike.

At the counter, the work is human. Residents come with confusion or frustration about bills and rising costs. Wilsonʼs approach is empathy first and education always, explaining taxable vs. assessed value, why a charge looks the way it does, and where to find help if someone is struggling. Not everyone leaves happy, but they all leave informed.

Looking ahead, Muskegonʼs skyline is changing. New buildings and businesses are rising, many under long-horizon abatements. The real payoff comes when those abatements end, and stable tax revenue expands the cityʼs ability to deliver the services residents want. Until then, Wilsonʼs blueprint is simple. Forecast carefully, comply rigorously, explain clearly, and keep the money moving where itʼs needed most.

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