Town Hall · Empire

Empire, MN town hall & government

Empire spent $1.7 million in the year to December 31, 2022, about $537 per resident.

Where the money goes, where it comes from, property taxes, and how to reach Empire's government.

Town budget

Where Empire's money goes

Spent
$1.7 million
fiscal year to December 31, 2022
Per resident
$537
typical Minnesota towns: $269
Long-term debt
$2.2 million
$725 per resident
Water & other utilities
$480,00029%
Roads & transportation
$420,00025%
Administration & buildings
$211,00013%
Fire
$151,0009%
Parks & libraries
$143,0009%
Interest on debt
$88,0005%
Health & welfare
$1,000<1%
Sewer & trash
$1,000<1%
Other
$155,0009%

Where the money comes from

  • Property taxes 58%
  • Utility sales 21%
  • Other taxes & licenses 12%
  • Fees & charges 4%
  • Interest, fines & other 2%
  • From the state 2%
  • From other local governments 1%
  • Sales taxes <1%

Revenue here is well above spending. That usually means Empire collects property taxes for the school district and county and passes them on, so only its own spending is counted above.

Town workforce

Who works for Empire

Full-time staff
4
4 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$60,000
a year, before benefits
Administration & buildings
2 full-time3 part
Roads & transportation
1 full-time
Water & other utilities
1 full-time
Parks & libraries
0 full-time1 part

Staff on the town's payroll in March 2022. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate.

Schools · school year 2023–24

Farmington Public School District

Empire's K–12 school district, shared with Farmington, Castle Rock and Eureka. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$13,987
Minnesota: $17,091
Students
6,630
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$100.4 million
at year end

Where the district's money comes from Minnesota districts overall: 30% local, 62% state, 8% federal

  • Local 33%
  • State 64%
  • Federal 3%

Of the $13,987 per pupil, $9,331 goes to classroom instruction (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to support services such as buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren't in the per-pupil figure.

Also serving Empire: Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan ($16,224 per pupil).

Property tax

What homeowners in Empire pay

Typical tax bill
$4,505
a year · Minnesota typical $3,357
Effective rate
0.96%
of home value · Minnesota 1.02%
Typical home value
$469,500
owner-occupied

The median yearly bill homeowners report, covering every local property tax on the home (town, schools, county). The effective rate is that bill divided by the median home value, so it's a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Local

Contact Empire's government

Town hall & decisions in Empire →

Budget: U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Finance (every city and town government's revenue, spending and debt, grouped into plain categories). Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 5-year estimates.

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Empire

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