Photo: KAM32296 · CC BY-SA 4.0Big Lake Township spent less per resident in 2022 than 92% of similar towns
Big Lake Township’s town government spent $994,000 on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $122 per resident.
What stands out about how Big Lake Township is run
Read from the town’s budget and official records.
$122 per resident in 2022: less than 92% of them
Big Lake Township’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($122 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 37 Minnesota towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $232, and the middle half spent $170–$301. Big Lake Township spent less than 92% of them.
Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Minnesota towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Big Lake Township itself left out).
About $122 per resident a year, or $0.33 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 37%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Revenue is well above spending. That usually means Big Lake Township collects property taxes for the school district and county and passes them on, so only its own spending is counted.
No trend yet
Big Lake Township reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $4,145 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.02% of the home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Big Lake Township’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.
Tax bills are one input to Big Lake Township’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Big Lake Township →
Who’s in charge in Big Lake Township
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Big Lake Township’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on biglakemn.org ↗.
Big Lake Public School District
Big Lake Township’s K–12 school district, shared with Big Lake, Orrock Township. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $14,099 per pupil, $9,152 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.
Minnesota districts overall: 30% local, 62% state, 8% federal.
Elk River School District · $13,652 per pupil
Monticello Public School District · $16,758 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Big Lake Township’s votes are counted by county
Minnesota reports official results by county and precinct, not by town, so there are no official results for Big Lake Township alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Sherburne County’s results.
Donald J TrumpRepublican66.4%38,491 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat31.6%18,329 votesOthers: 2.0% (1,140 votes).
Most votes in Sherburne County: Donald J Trump
Minnesota: Harris 50.9%, Trump 46.7%
100% of Big Lake Township lies in Sherburne County. Every 2024 race in Sherburne County is on the county’s page.
Sherburne County’s 2024 results →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.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Big Lake Township.
- 1Your townTown governmentOfficials: biglakemn.org ↗
- 2Minnesota HouseState representatives
- 3Minnesota SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Minnesota
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Big Lake Township compares with the towns next door
Big Lake Township spent $122 per resident in 2022; the 6 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $102 to $1,009. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Orrock Township | $102 | $3,739 |
| Becker Township | $125 | $3,806 |
| Monticello Township | $203 | $2,834 |
| Otsego | $304 | $3,847 |
| Elk River | $908 | $4,296 |
| Monticello | $1,009 | $2,773 |
| Big Lake Township | $122 | $4,145 |
Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).
Reach Big Lake Township’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Big Lake Township’s government
How much does Big Lake Township spend per resident?
About $122 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 $122 was less than 92% of 37 Minnesota towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Big Lake Township?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,145 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.02% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see biglakemn.org.
Who runs Big Lake Township’s government?
See biglakemn.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Big Lake Township yet.
How did Big Lake Township vote in 2024?
Minnesota counts votes by county and precinct, not by town, so there are no official results for Big Lake Township alone. Sherburne County, where 100% of Big Lake Township lies, voted Trump 66.4%, Harris 31.6% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Big Lake Township?
0 full-time and 60 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $34,545 (about $414,540 a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.
Who represents Big Lake Township in the state legislature?
State Senate District 27 (Andrew Mathews) and State House District 27A (Shane Mekeland). The House district also covers nine other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Big Lake Township’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
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 →