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Town Hall · Alvarado

Alvarado spent more per resident in 2022 than 69% of similar cities

Alvarado’s city government spent $502,000 on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $1,387 per resident. Water and other utilities ($444,000) are counted separately.

Day-to-day spending, 2022
$502,000
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,387
In 2022: $1,387, more than 69% of 619 similar cities
Long-term debt
$601,000
end of 2022, reported
City staff, 2025
4
full-time · 14 part-time · March payroll $31,749
Typical tax bill
$1,635
1.23% of home value · MN 1.02%

What stands out about how Alvarado is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,387 per resident, more than 69% of 619 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer55% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Warren-Alvarado-Oslo School District with 6+ other towns.Low bills, a higher rateThe typical bill is $1,635 a year: 1.23% of the home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota.
Compared with similar places

$1,387 per resident in 2022: more than 69% of them

Alvarado’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,387 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 $1,111, and the middle half spent $740–$1,505. Alvarado spent more than 69% of them.

Middle half of the group, $740–$1,505Median $1,111Alvarado

Includes sewer and trash ($78,000), 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; Alvarado itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,387 per resident a year, or $3.80 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: housing & development, at 29%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 52%From the federal government 12%Fees & charges 10%Interest, fines & other 10%From the state 9%Property taxes 6%From other local governments <1%Other taxes & licenses <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $36,000; interest on debt $15,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $997,000.
About “Other”.40% of Alvarado’s day-to-day spending ($201,000) 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

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

City staff
4

full-time in March 2025, up from 2 in 2022.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,635 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.23% of the home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Minnesota$3,357
Alvarado$1,635
$1,635
typical bill a year
1.23%
effective rate
$133,300
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Alvarado’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 Alvarado’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Alvarado →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Alvarado

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

Check Alvarado’s own website for current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Alvarado yet.
Who works for Alvarado

One full-time city employee for every 91 residents

On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (362).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025

Water & other utilities2 + 7 pt
Administration & buildings0 + 6 pt
Sewer & trash2
Other0 + 1 pt
4
full-time
14
part-time
$31,749
payroll for March 2025
$380,988
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$73,900
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Alvarado had 5.5 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 457 of the 619 Minnesota cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 3.8: Alvarado had more than 64% of them. Same group and year as the budget comparison.

The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.

The school district

Warren-Alvarado-Oslo School District

Alvarado’s K–12 school district, shared with Angus Township, Boxville Township, Brislet Township, Farley Township, Helgeland Township and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Alvarado →
$16,576
per pupil · MN $17,091
580
students
$3.1 million
long-term debt

Of the $16,576 per pupil, $9,917 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 29%State 66%Federal 5%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Alvarado’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Marshall County’s results5,031 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican75.0%3,774 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat23.4%1,177 votes

Others: 1.6% (80 votes).

Most votes in Marshall County: Donald J Trump

Minnesota: Harris 50.9%, Trump 46.7%

The county’s page

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

Marshall 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 Alvarado

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Alvarado.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Minnesota HouseState representatives
    John Burkel
  3. 3
    Minnesota SenateState senator
    Mark Johnson
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Tim Walz
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Michelle Fischbach
  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 Alvarado’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Alvarado’s government

How much does Alvarado spend per resident?

About $1,387 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 $1,387 was more than 69% of 619 Minnesota cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Alvarado?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,635 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.23% 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 Alvarado’s government?

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

How did Alvarado vote in 2024?

Minnesota counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Alvarado alone. Marshall County, where 100% of Alvarado lies, voted Trump 75.0%, Harris 23.4% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Alvarado?

4 full-time and 14 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $31,749 (about $380,988 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Alvarado in the state legislature?

State Senate District 1 (Mark Johnson) and State House District 1A (John Burkel). The House district also covers 156 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Alvarado’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 →