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Water Tower 3Photo: ElkRiverCommunications · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Elk River

How is Elk River run?

Elk River’s city government spent $27.5 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, about $1,029 per resident. Water and other utilities ($45 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Minnesota.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$27.5M
year to December 31, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$1,029
In 2022: $908, less than 60% of 25 similar cities
Long-term debt
$95.5M
end of 2024, reported
City staff, 2025
184
full-time · 151 part-time · March payroll $1.8M
Typical tax bill
$4,296
1.16% of home value · MN 1.02%

What stands out about how Elk River is run

Read from the city’s budget, meetings and official records.

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Runs its own water & sewer68% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2024).A shared school districtShares Elk River School District with 6+ other towns.Its own police and fire34 sworn officers and 4 full-time firefighters on the payroll.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Elk River’s own agenda portal, checked daily. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check before you go.

Recent meetings

Go in person

Most meetings are open to the public, and many have a public comment period at the start.

Agenda portal ↗
Your share of the 2024 budget

About $1,029 per resident a year, or $2.82 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 26%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 56%Property taxes 16%Fees & charges 9%Interest, fines & other 8%Sales taxes 5%From the state 3%Other taxes & licenses 1%From the federal government 1%From other local governments <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $16.6 million; interest on debt $2.7 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $91.9 million.
Compared with similar places

$908 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Elk River’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($908 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 25 Minnesota cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,016, and the middle half spent $786–$1,129. Elk River spent less than 60% of them.

Middle half of the group, $786–$1,129Median $1,016Elk River

Includes sewer and trash ($3.6 million), 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
25

Minnesota cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Elk River itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 18% since 2022

Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Elk River reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$23.3 million
2023$25 million
2024$27.5 million

Per resident: 2022: $908 · 2023: $954 · 2024: $1,029. Per resident it went from $908 to $1,029 (up 13%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 25,601 to 26,750.

City staff
184

full-time in March 2025, up from 176 in 2022.

Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $4,296 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.16% of the home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Dayton$5,324
Elk River$4,296
Big Lake Township$4,145
Livonia Township$4,110
Otsego$3,847
Nowthen$3,701
Ramsey$3,481
Minnesota$3,357
$4,296
typical bill a year
1.16%
effective rate
$370,100
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Elk River

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

See ElkRiverMN.gov for Elk River’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Elk River yet.ElkRiverMN.gov ↗
Who works for Elk River

One full-time city employee for every 145 residents

On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (26,750).

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

Administration & buildings45 + 13 pt
Parks & libraries19 + 49 pt
Police43 + 1 pt
Fire4 + 61 pt
Water & other utilities24
Roads & transportation12 + 4 pt
Sewer & trash8
Other29 + 23 pt
184
full-time
151
part-time
$1.8M
payroll for March 2025
$22.0M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$111,700
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
34
sworn police officers
4
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Elk River had 6.9 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 16 of the 25 Minnesota cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 4.0: Elk River had more than 100% 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

Elk River School District

Elk River’s K–12 school district, shared with Livonia Township, Zimmerman, Rogers, Otsego, Nowthen and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Elk River →
$13,652
per pupil · MN $17,091
14,352
students
$271 million
long-term debt

Of the $13,652 per pupil, $8,684 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 35%State 62%Federal 3%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Elk River’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Sherburne County’s results57,960 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican66.4%38,491 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat31.6%18,329 votes

Others: 2.0% (1,140 votes).

Most votes in Sherburne County: Donald J Trump

Minnesota: Harris 50.9%, Trump 46.7%

The county’s page

100% of Elk River lies in Sherburne County. Every 2024 race in Sherburne County is on the county’s page.

Sherburne 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 Elk River

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Elk River.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: ElkRiverMN.gov ↗
  2. 2
    Minnesota HouseState representatives
    Paul Novotny
  3. 3
    Minnesota SenateState senator
    Eric Lucero
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Tim Walz
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Tom Emmer
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Minnesota
    Amy KlobucharTina Smith

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

Next door

How Elk River compares with the towns next door

Elk River spent $908 per resident in 2022; the 6 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $113 to $932. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Otsego: $304 per resident (2022)Big Lake Township: $122 per resident (2022)Ramsey: $722 per resident (2022)Nowthen: $352 per resident (2022)Livonia Township: $113 per resident (2022)Dayton: $932 per resident (2022)OtsegoBig Lake TownshipRamseyNowthenLivonia TownshipDaytonElk River
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Livonia Township$113$4,110
Big Lake Township$122$4,145
Otsego$304$3,847
Nowthen$352$3,701
Ramsey$722$3,481
Dayton$932$5,324
Elk River$908$4,296

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 Elk River’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websiteElkRiverMN.gov ↗

Questions about Elk River’s government

How much does Elk River spend per resident?

About $1,029 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $908 was less than 60% of 25 Minnesota cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Elk River?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,296 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.16% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ElkRiverMN.gov.

Who runs Elk River’s government?

See ElkRiverMN.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Elk River yet.

How did Elk River vote in 2024?

Minnesota counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Elk River alone. Sherburne County, where 100% of Elk River lies, voted Trump 66.4%, Harris 31.6% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Elk River?

184 full-time and 151 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $1.8M (about $22.0M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Elk River in the state legislature?

State Senate District 30 (Eric Lucero) and State House District 30B (Paul Novotny). The House district also covers three neighboring towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Elk River?

The next posted meeting is Parks and Recreation Commission on Wednesday, November 4, at 6:30 pm in Elk River City Hall, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Elk River’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 →