Benton Harbor City Manager

Darwin Watson, City Manager
200 East Wall Street
Benton Harbor, MI 49022
(269) 927-8457
dwatson@cityofbentonharbormi.gov

The charter for the city of Benton Harbor became effective on April 14, 1945. Under that charter, the city is governed by a council-manager system that combines the strong political leadership of nine elected commissioners with the professional expertise of a city manager appointed by the commissioners.

As the chief administrator of Benton Harbor, the city manager is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the city.  The manager implements the council’s policies and programs while coordinating the delivery of services throughout the city through the various departments in city government.

Serving as City Manager since February 2014, Darwin Watson strives to be responsive to the public. Interested residents are encouraged to visit him in his office on the second floor of City Hall, accessible by both stairs and elevator. If you have a question, concern, or simply a helpful observation, please feel free to visit or contact your City Manager, Darwin Watson.

Financial Transparency
2018 City of Benton Harbor Audit
Rehmann Robson LLC audited the accompanying financial statements of the governmental activities, the business-type activities, the aggregate discretely presented component units, each major fund, and the aggregate remaining fund information of the City of Benton Harbor, Michigan (the “City”), as of and for the year ended June 30, 2018, and the related notes to the financial statements, which collectively comprise the City’s basic financial statements as listed in the table of contents.