Town Hall · Hazel Run

How Hazel Run is run

Hazel Run spent $57,000 in the year to December 31, 2022, about $1,018 per resident.

City budget

$57,000

spent, year to December 31, 2022

Per resident

$1,018

Below typical Minnesota cities ($2,225)

Long-term debt

$102,000

$1,821 per resident

City staff

full-time · 4 part-time

Typical tax bill

$800

a year · MN $3,357

What stands out about how Hazel Run is run

Read from the town’s budget, meetings and records. The page puts what stands out first.

A lean budget$1,018 per resident a year, vs $2,225 for a typical Minnesota city.Lower tax billsThe typical homeowner pays $800 a year in property tax, vs $3,357 across Minnesota.Runs its own water & sewer63% of spending goes to water, sewer and trash, paid largely by users’ fees.A shared school districtShares Yellow Medicine East with 6+ other towns.

★ What stands out · Your share of the budget

About $1,018 per resident a year, or $2.79 a day

The biggest line: water & other utilities, at 44% of spending.

HAZEL RUNYour share · per resident · year to December 31, 2022

Water & other utilities$25,000 · 44%$446

Sewer & trash$11,000 · 19%$196

Administration & buildings$6,000 · 11%$107

Roads & transportation$3,000 · 5%$54

Parks & libraries$3,000 · 5%$54

Fire$2,000 · 4%$36

Interest on debt$2,000 · 4%$36

Other$5,000 · 9%$89

Total per resident$1,018

Whole budget $57,000 · 56 residents
Thank you for being a neighbor

Where the money comes from

From the state 37%Fees & charges 25%Property taxes 21%Utility sales 17%

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $800 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.71% of the home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Minnesota$3,357

Hazel Run$800

$800

typical bill a year

0.71%

effective rate

$112,500

typical home value (Census)

Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Hazel Run’s rate.

Can I afford it? →

The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate. In a town this small the estimate has a wide margin.

The school district

Yellow Medicine East

Hazel Run’s K–12 school district, shared with Clarkfield, Echo, Friendship, Granite Falls, Hanley Falls and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Hazel Run →

$17,693

per pupil · MN $17,091

603

students

$1.7 million

long-term debt

Of the $17,693 per pupil, $10,569 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.

The district: schools, scores and graduation →

Where the district’s money comes from

Local 25%State 67%Federal 8%

Minnesota districts overall: 30% local, 62% state, 8% federal.

School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Hazel Run

Local officials aren’t in the public records we use for Hazel Run yet. Neighbors can add them.

Who works for Hazel Run

0 full-time staff

On the payroll in March 2022.

By department full-time, plus part-time

Administration & buildings0 + 3 pt

Sewer & trash0 + 1 pt

full-time

part-time

Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it’s approximate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.

Who represents Hazel Run

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Hazel Run.

Politics & elections →

1
Your cityMayor & council

Local officials aren’t on record yet.
2
Minnesota HouseState representatives

Chris Swedzinski
3
Minnesota SenateState senator

Gary Dahms
4
GovernorStatewide

Tim Walz
5
U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress

Michelle Fischbach
6
U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Minnesota

Amy Klobuchar Tina Smith

Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.

Reach Hazel Run’s government

Numbers and hours come from neighbors and the town’s own site (the Handbook). A new one goes live once two neighbors confirm it.

The Handbook →

Questions about how Hazel Run is run?

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →

Weigh in

Does Hazel Run get good value for its tax dollars?

Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.

Ask neighbors

Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. School district: Census school finance survey. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 5-year estimates. Representatives: Open States, the Census and congress-legislators.