Photo: Peter Michael Grund (petermgrund as found on Flickr) · CC BY-SA 2.0How is Chisago City run?
Chisago City’s city government spent $5.3 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $1,005 per resident. Water and other utilities ($622,000) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Chisago City is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
About $1,005 per resident a year, or $2.75 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 18%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
$1,005 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities
Chisago City’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,005 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 133 Minnesota cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,081, and the middle half spent $815–$1,405. Chisago City spent less than 55% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($972,000), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Minnesota cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Chisago City itself left out).
No trend yet
Chisago City reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $4,176 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.01% 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 Chisago City’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 Chisago City’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Chisago City →
Who’s in charge in Chisago City
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Chisago City’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on ci.chisago.mn.us ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 349 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 (5,241).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Chisago Lakes School District
Chisago City’s K–12 school district, shared with Center City, Lindstrom, Shafer, Shafer Township, Taylors Falls and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $13,786 per pupil, $8,880 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.
North Branch Public Schools · $13,094 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Chisago City’s votes are counted by county
Minnesota reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Chisago City alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Chisago County’s results.
Donald J TrumpRepublican64.7%23,047 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat33.4%11,894 votesOthers: 1.9% (660 votes).
Most votes in Chisago County: Donald J Trump
Minnesota: Harris 50.9%, Trump 46.7%
100% of Chisago City lies in Chisago County. Every 2024 race in Chisago County is on the county’s page.
Chisago 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 Chisago City.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: ci.chisago.mn.us ↗
- 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 Chisago City compares with the towns next door
Chisago City spent $1,005 per resident in 2022; the 6 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $143 to $832. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Chisago Lake Township | $143 | $4,196 |
| Scandia | $442 | $4,352 |
| Forest Lake | $696 | $3,751 |
| Stacy | $725 | $3,355 |
| Wyoming | $827 | $4,277 |
| Lindstrom | $832 | $4,246 |
| Chisago City | $1,005 | $4,176 |
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 Chisago City’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Chisago City’s government
How much does Chisago City spend per resident?
About $1,005 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 $1,005 was less than 55% of 133 Minnesota cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Chisago City?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,176 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.01% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ci.chisago.mn.us.
Who runs Chisago City’s government?
See ci.chisago.mn.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Chisago City yet.
How did Chisago City vote in 2024?
Minnesota counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Chisago City alone. Chisago County, where 100% of Chisago City lies, voted Trump 64.7%, Harris 33.4% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Chisago City?
15 full-time and 6 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $128,297 (about $1.5M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Chisago City in the state legislature?
State Senate District 28 (Mark Koran) and State House District 28B (Max Rymer). The House district also covers 12 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Chisago City’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 →