Town Hall · Wadena

Wadena, MN town hall & government

Wadena spent $19.2 million in the year to December 31, 2024, about $4,405 per resident.

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

Town budget

Where Wadena's money goes

Spent
$19.2 million
fiscal year to December 31, 2024
Per resident
$4,405
typical Minnesota cities: $2,521
Long-term debt
$7.9 million
$1,824 per resident
Water & other utilities
$9.3 million49%
Parks & libraries
$2.1 million11%
Sewer & trash
$1.7 million9%
Roads & transportation
$1.6 million8%
Housing & development
$1.6 million8%
Police
$1.4 million7%
Interest on debt
$425,0002%
Fire
$241,0001%
Administration & buildings
$216,0001%
Other
$530,0003%

Where the money comes from

  • Utility sales 50%
  • Fees & charges 22%
  • From the state 11%
  • Interest, fines & other 7%
  • Property taxes 7%
  • From other local governments 3%
  • Sales taxes 1%
  • Other taxes & licenses <1%
  • From the federal government <1%
Town workforce

Who works for Wadena

Full-time staff
43
52 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$80,800
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
9
full-time, with power of arrest
Parks & libraries
6 full-time24 part
Police
10 full-time1 part
Water & other utilities
9 full-time
Fire
0 full-time16 part
Administration & buildings
5 full-time4 part
Roads & transportation
4 full-time
Sewer & trash
4 full-time
Housing & development
1 full-time
Other
4 full-time7 part

Staff on the town's payroll in March 2025. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate.

Schools · school year 2023–24

Wadena-Deer Creek School District

Wadena's K–12 school district, shared with Bluffton, Compton, Deer Creek, Leaf River, Wadena and Deer Creek. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$15,152
Minnesota: $17,091
Students
1,112
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$11.7 million
at year end

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

  • Local 17%
  • State 73%
  • Federal 10%

Of the $15,152 per pupil, $9,449 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.

Property tax

What homeowners in Wadena pay

Typical tax bill
$1,493
a year · Minnesota typical $3,357
Effective rate
0.93%
of home value · Minnesota 1.02%
Typical home value
$160,800
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 Wadena's government

🏛️ Official websitewadena.org ↗

Town hall & decisions in Wadena →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Wadena

Wadena is represented in Congress by Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith and Representative Michelle Fischbach. Tim Walz is governor.

All of Wadena's representatives, with contacts →

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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Wadena

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