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Town Hall · Ghent

How is Ghent run?

Ghent’s city government spent $449,000 on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $1,244 per resident. Water and other utilities ($75,000) are counted separately.

Day-to-day spending, 2022
$449,000
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,244
In 2022: $1,244, more than 59% of 619 similar cities
Long-term debt
$174,000
end of 2022, reported
City staff, 2022
2
full-time · 6 part-time · March payroll $12,123
Typical tax bill
$1,917
1.28% of home value · MN 1.02%

What stands out about how Ghent is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Runs its own water & sewer34% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Marshall Public School District with 6+ other towns.Low bills, a higher rateThe typical bill is $1,917 a year: 1.28% of the home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota.
★ What stands out · Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,244 per resident a year, or $3.41 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 23%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 27%Fees & charges 21%From the state 20%Utility sales 19%From other local governments 7%From the federal government 3%Interest, fines & other 2%Other taxes & licenses 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $219,000; interest on debt $7,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $750,000.
Compared with similar places

$1,244 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Ghent’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,244 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. Ghent spent more than 59% of them.

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

Includes sewer and trash ($105,000), 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; Ghent itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,917 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.28% of the home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Minnesota$3,357
Ghent$1,917
$1,917
typical bill a year
1.28%
effective rate
$150,000
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Ghent

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

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

One full-time city employee for every 181 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 (361).

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

Administration & buildings1 + 6 pt
Roads & transportation1
2
full-time
6
part-time
$12,123
payroll for March 2022
$145,476
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$70,600
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Ghent 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: Ghent 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

Marshall Public School District

Ghent’s K–12 school district, shared with Marshall, Lake Marshall Township, Fairview Township, Clifton Township, Sodus Township and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Ghent →
$14,605
per pupil · MN $17,091
2,705
students
$42.7 million
long-term debt

Of the $14,605 per pupil, $9,628 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 20%State 72%Federal 8%

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

Also serving Ghent

Minneota Public School District · $14,004 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Ghent’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Lyon County’s results12,990 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican64.7%8,400 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat33.0%4,284 votes

Others: 2.4% (306 votes).

Most votes in Lyon County: Donald J Trump

Minnesota: Harris 50.9%, Trump 46.7%

The county’s page

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

Lyon 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 Ghent

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Ghent.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Minnesota HouseState representatives
    Chris Swedzinski
  3. 3
    Minnesota SenateState senator
    Gary Dahms
  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 Ghent’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Ghent’s government

How much does Ghent spend per resident?

About $1,244 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 $1,244 was more than 59% of 619 Minnesota cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Ghent?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,917 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.28% 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 Ghent’s government?

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

How did Ghent vote in 2024?

Minnesota counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Ghent alone. Lyon County, where 100% of Ghent lies, voted Trump 64.7%, Harris 33.0% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Ghent?

2 full-time and 6 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $12,123 (about $145,476 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Ghent in the state legislature?

State Senate District 15 (Gary Dahms) and State House District 15A (Chris Swedzinski). The House district also covers 90 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Ghent’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 →