Every Dollar Accounted For
Independent audits of every city department, published in plain language so residents can see where their money goes.
HOME
$14M
in wasteful spending flagged and cut
AA+
city bond rating maintained
112
audits completed on time
6+ yrs
of clean, on-schedule financial reports
WHO IS MAX FRANTZ
THE CITY'S WATCHDOG — NOT A RUBBER STAMP
Max Frantz has served as your Grand Rapids City Comptroller since December 2019 and oversees the City's internal and independent audit functions as well as the City's payroll, accounts payable and accounting operations. Max led and delivered upon strategic priorities to simplify public reports on City finances and initiate new audits of City departments and organizations that receive City funding. Max recently launched an initiative to reduce City costs and improve transaction efficiency with local businesses by transitioning the City's vendor payment operations away from paper checks toward electronic payments.
Max is a resident of the city's Third Ward and is proud to call Grand Rapids his home. He received a bachelor's degree in finance from Grand Valley State University.
THE PRIORITIES
Budgets in the Open
A public, searchable spending dashboard updated monthly — no records requests, no runaround, no surprises.
Neighborhoods First
Directing savings back into streets, parks and water infrastructure in the wards that have waited longest.
PRESS & VIDEO
IN THE NEWS
- Press
Who watches Grand Rapids City Hall if the watchdog is muzzled?
After the Comptroller flagged questionable spending at City Hall, the officials he reviews cut his staff from 16 to three and slashed his budget by nearly 80%.
Mackinac Center for Public Policy · June 9, 2026
- Press
Grand Rapids stripped comptroller's authority after he questioned spending, lawsuit says
Court denies early motion in the Grand Rapids comptroller lawsuit as Frantz fights the transfer of 13 employees and $1.3 million out of his office.
Michigan Capitol Confidential · March 23, 2026
- Press
GR comptroller sues the city, alleging 'usurping' of duties, staff
The comptroller's office budget was cut more than 78% while the city manager's office grew by nearly $9 million over the same period.
WOOD TV 8 · January 5, 2026
- Press
5 things to know about city's elected watchdog suing Grand Rapids leaders
A plain-language breakdown of the comptroller's office, why it was restructured, and what Frantz is asking the court to do.
MLive / The Grand Rapids Press · January 7, 2026