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Town Hall · Alpha

Alpha spent less per resident in 2022 than 70% of similar cities

Alpha’s city government spent $103,000 on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $866 per resident. Water and other utilities ($185,000) are counted separately.

Election Day

Today

General election in Minnesota.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$103,000
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$866
In 2022: $866, less than 70% of 619 similar cities
Long-term debt
Not reported
end of 2022, reported
City staff, 2025
0
full-time · 6 part-time · March payroll $9,376
Typical tax bill
$556
0.83% of home value · MN 1.02%

What stands out about how Alpha is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends less than most similar citiesIn 2022: $866 per resident, less than 70% of 619 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer68% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Jackson County Central School District with 6+ other towns.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $556 a year: 0.83% of the home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota.
Compared with similar places

$866 per resident in 2022: less than 70% of them

Alpha’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($866 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 619 Minnesota cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,112, and the middle half spent $740–$1,505. Alpha spent less than 70% of them.

Middle half of the group, $740–$1,505Median $1,112Alpha

Includes sewer and trash ($10,000), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
619

Minnesota cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Alpha itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $866 per resident a year, or $2.37 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: fire, at 34%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 50%From the state 21%Property taxes 17%Fees & charges 9%From the federal government 3%Interest, fines & other 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $31,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $319,000.
About “Other”.26% of Alpha’s day-to-day spending ($27,000) is filed by the Census Bureau outside the named functions above, so the receipt can’t say what it buys.
Over the years

No trend yet

Alpha reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.

City staff
0

full-time in March 2025, the same as 0 in 2022. Both are Census estimates.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $556 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.83% of the home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Minnesota$3,357
Alpha$556
$556
typical bill a year
0.83%
effective rate
$67,100
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Tax bills are one input to Alpha’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Alpha →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Alpha

Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.

Check Alpha’s own website for current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Alpha yet.
The school district

Jackson County Central School District

Alpha’s K–12 school district, shared with Belmont Township, Des Moines Township, Enterprise Township, Hunter Township, Jackson and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Alpha →
$14,183
per pupil · MN $17,091
1,104
students
$32.9 million
long-term debt

Of the $14,183 per pupil, $8,841 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 27%State 69%Federal 4%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Alpha’s votes are counted by county

Minnesota reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Alpha alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Jackson County’s results.

President · Jackson County’s results5,644 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican70.0%3,949 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat28.0%1,581 votes

Others: 2.0% (114 votes).

Most votes in Jackson County: Donald J Trump

Minnesota: Harris 50.9%, Trump 46.7%

The county’s page

100% of Alpha lies in Jackson County. Every 2024 race in Jackson County is on the county’s page.

Jackson County’s 2024 results →
DemocratRepublicanLibertarianIndependent / other

Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.

Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.

Who represents Alpha

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Alpha.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Minnesota HouseState representatives
    Marj Fogelman
  3. 3
    Minnesota SenateState senator
    Bill Weber
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Tim Walz
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Brad Finstad
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Minnesota
    Amy KlobucharTina Smith

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

Reach Alpha’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Alpha’s government

How much does Alpha spend per resident?

About $866 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $866 was less than 70% of 619 Minnesota cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Alpha?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $556 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.83% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the city’s assessor.

Who runs Alpha’s government?

We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Alpha yet.

How did Alpha vote in 2024?

Minnesota counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Alpha alone. Jackson County, where 100% of Alpha lies, voted Trump 70.0%, Harris 28.0% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Alpha?

0 full-time and 6 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $9,376 (about $112,512 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Alpha in the state legislature?

State Senate District 21 (Bill Weber) and State House District 21B (Marj Fogelman). The House district also covers 67 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Alpha’s government

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →
Ask neighbors

Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →