Hugo spent less per resident in 2022 than 96% of similar cities
Hugo’s city government spent $6.7 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, about $410 per resident. Water and other utilities ($3.7 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Hugo is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$374 per resident in 2022: less than 96% of them
Hugo’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($374 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 51 Minnesota cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $995, and the middle half spent $708–$1,242. Hugo spent less than 96% of them.
Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Minnesota cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Hugo itself left out).
About $410 per resident a year, or $1.12 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 28%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Day-to-day spending is up 16% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Hugo reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $374 · 2024: $410. Per resident it went from $374 to $410 (up 10%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 15,452 to 16,408.
full-time in March 2025, down from 26 in 2022.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $4,079 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.00% 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 Hugo’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 Hugo’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Hugo →
Who’s in charge in Hugo
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Hugo’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on ci.hugo.mn.us ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 656 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 (16,408).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Forest Lake Public School District
Hugo’s K–12 school district, shared with Columbus, Forest Lake, Linwood Township, Scandia, Wyoming and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $15,260 per pupil, $8,462 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.
White Bear Lake School District · $16,146 per pupil
Stillwater Area Public School District · $16,719 per pupil
Mahtomedi Public School District · $15,463 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Hugo’s votes are counted by county
Minnesota reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Hugo alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Washington County’s results.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat53.3%90,324 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican44.4%75,271 votesOthers: 2.3% (3,941 votes).
Most votes in Washington County: Kamala D Harris
Minnesota: Harris 50.9%, Trump 46.7%
100% of Hugo lies in Washington County. Every 2024 race in Washington County is on the county’s page.
Washington 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 Hugo.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: ci.hugo.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 Hugo compares with the towns next door
Hugo spent $374 per resident in 2022; the 5 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $319 to $696. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| May Township | $319 | $4,478 |
| Grant | $409 | $5,420 |
| White Bear Township | $614 | $4,429 |
| Lino Lakes | $637 | $4,237 |
| Forest Lake | $696 | $3,751 |
| Hugo | $374 | $4,079 |
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 Hugo’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Hugo’s government
How much does Hugo spend per resident?
About $410 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 $374 was less than 96% of 51 Minnesota cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Hugo?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,079 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.00% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ci.hugo.mn.us.
Who runs Hugo’s government?
See ci.hugo.mn.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Hugo yet.
How did Hugo vote in 2024?
Minnesota counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Hugo alone. Washington County, where 100% of Hugo lies, voted Harris 53.3%, Trump 44.4% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Hugo?
25 full-time and 36 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $247,547 (about $3.0M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Hugo in the state legislature?
State Senate District 33 (Karin Housley) and State House District 33A (Patti Anderson). The House district also covers five other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Hugo’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 →