Town Hall · Northrop

How Northrop is run

Northrop spent $321,000 in the year to December 31, 2022, about $1,521 per resident.

Photo: Northrop1899

City budget

$321,000

spent, year to December 31, 2022

Per resident

$1,521

Below typical Minnesota cities ($2,225)

Long-term debt

$983,000

$4,659 per resident

City staff

full-time · 8 part-time

Typical tax bill

$1,145

a year · MN $3,357

What stands out about how Northrop is run

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

A lean budget$1,521 per resident a year, vs $2,225 for a typical Minnesota city.Lower tax billsThe typical homeowner pays $1,145 a year in property tax, vs $3,357 across Minnesota.Runs its own water & sewer70% of spending goes to water, sewer and trash, paid largely by users’ fees.A shared school districtShares Fairmont Area School District with 6+ other towns.

★ What stands out · Your share of the budget

About $1,521 per resident a year, or $4.17 a day

The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 50% of spending.

NORTHROPYour share · per resident · year to December 31, 2022

Sewer & trash$160,000 · 50%$758

Water & other utilities$65,000 · 20%$308

Fire$23,000 · 7%$109

Interest on debt$23,000 · 7%$109

Police$15,000 · 5%$71

Roads & transportation$11,000 · 3%$52

Administration & buildings$6,000 · 2%$28

Parks & libraries$4,000 · 1%$19

Other$14,000 · 4%$66

Total per resident$1,521

Whole budget $321,000 · 211 residents
Thank you for being a neighbor

Where the money comes from

From the state 38%Utility sales 27%Property taxes 25%From the federal government 6%Interest, fines & other 2%Other taxes & licenses 1%

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,145 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.84% of the home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Minnesota$3,357

Northrop$1,145

$1,145

typical bill a year

0.84%

effective rate

$136,300

typical home value (Census)

Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Northrop’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

Fairmont Area School District

Northrop’s K–12 school district, shared with Ceylon, Fairmont, Tenhassen, Lake Belt, Fairmont and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Northrop →

$14,446

per pupil · MN $17,091

1,818

students

$31.5 million

long-term debt

Of the $14,446 per pupil, $8,745 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 23%State 70%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 Northrop

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

Who works for Northrop

0 full-time staff

On the payroll in March 2022.

By department full-time, plus part-time

Administration & buildings0 + 6 pt

Sewer & trash0 + 1 pt

Water & other utilities0 + 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 Northrop

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Northrop.

Politics & elections →

1
Your cityMayor & council

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

Bjorn Olson
3
Minnesota SenateState senator

Rich Draheim
4
GovernorStatewide

Tim Walz
5
U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress

Brad Finstad
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 Northrop’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 Northrop is run?

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →

Weigh in

Does Northrop 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.