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Main Street - Bigfork, Minnesota (35097018354)Photo: Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0
Town Hall · Bigfork

Bigfork spent more per resident in 2022 than 75% of similar cities

Bigfork’s city government spent $666,000 on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $1,500 per resident. Water and other utilities ($230,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Minnesota.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$666,000
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,500
In 2022: $1,500, more than 75% of 619 similar cities
Long-term debt
$786,000
end of 2022, reported
City staff, 2022
3
full-time · 25 part-time · March payroll $23,513
Typical tax bill
$1,071
0.90% of home value · MN 1.02%

What stands out about how Bigfork is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,500 per resident, more than 75% of 619 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer43% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Grand Rapids Public School District with 6+ other towns.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $1,071 a year: 0.90% of the home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota.
Compared with similar places

$1,500 per resident in 2022: more than 75% of them

Bigfork’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,500 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. Bigfork spent more than 75% of them.

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

Includes sewer and trash ($160,000), 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; Bigfork itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,500 per resident a year, or $4.11 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: fire, at 33%.

Where the money comes from
From the state 25%Fees & charges 24%Property taxes 19%From other local governments 12%Utility sales 12%From the federal government 4%Interest, fines & other 4%Other taxes & licenses <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $72,000; interest on debt $21,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $1 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,071 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.90% of the home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Minnesota$3,357
Bigfork$1,071
$1,071
typical bill a year
0.90%
effective rate
$118,800
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Bigfork

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

See cityofbigfork.com for Bigfork’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Bigfork yet.cityofbigfork.com ↗
Agendas

Bigfork’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on cityofbigfork.com ↗.

Who works for Bigfork

One full-time city employee for every 148 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (444).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022

Fire0 + 23 pt
Administration & buildings3 + 2 pt
3
full-time
25
part-time
$23,513
payroll for March 2022
$282,156
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$50,200
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Bigfork had 6.8 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: Bigfork had more than 72% 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

Grand Rapids Public School District

Bigfork’s K–12 school district, shared with Alvwood Township, Arbo Township, Ardenhurst Township, Bearville Township, Bigfork Township and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Bigfork →
$14,971
per pupil · MN $17,091
4,024
students
$95.8 million
long-term debt

Of the $14,971 per pupil, $10,126 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 28%State 62%Federal 9%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Bigfork’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Itasca County’s results26,840 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican59.1%15,863 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat39.0%10,467 votes

Others: 1.9% (510 votes).

Most votes in Itasca County: Donald J Trump

Minnesota: Harris 50.9%, Trump 46.7%

The county’s page

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

Itasca 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 Bigfork

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Bigfork.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: cityofbigfork.com ↗
  2. 2
    Minnesota HouseState representatives
    Roger Skraba
  3. 3
    Minnesota SenateState senator
    Grant Hauschild
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Tim Walz
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Pete Stauber
  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 Bigfork’s government

The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.

The Handbook →
Official websitecityofbigfork.com ↗

Questions about Bigfork’s government

How much does Bigfork spend per resident?

About $1,500 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 $1,500 was more than 75% of 619 Minnesota cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Bigfork?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,071 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.90% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofbigfork.com.

Who runs Bigfork’s government?

See cityofbigfork.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Bigfork yet.

How did Bigfork vote in 2024?

Minnesota counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Bigfork alone. Itasca County, where 100% of Bigfork lies, voted Trump 59.1%, Harris 39.0% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Bigfork?

3 full-time and 25 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $23,513 (about $282,156 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Bigfork in the state legislature?

State Senate District 3 (Grant Hauschild) and State House District 3A (Roger Skraba). The House district also covers 56 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Bigfork’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 →