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Central Avenue, Long Prairie, MinnesotaPhoto: Myotus · CC BY 4.0
Town Hall · Long Prairie

Long Prairie spent more per resident in 2022 than 80% of similar cities

Long Prairie’s city government spent $5.4 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, about $1,460 per resident. Water and other utilities ($2.6 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$5.4M
year to December 31, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$1,460
In 2022: $1,612, more than 80% of 133 similar cities
Long-term debt
$20.4M
end of 2024, reported
City staff, 2022
17
full-time · 43 part-time · March payroll $112,283
Typical tax bill
$1,722
1.13% of home value · MN 1.02%

What stands out about how Long Prairie is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$1,612 per resident in 2022: more than 80% of them

Long Prairie’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,612 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 $1,074, and the middle half spent $815–$1,375. Long Prairie spent more than 80% of them.

Middle half of the group, $815–$1,375Median $1,074Long Prairie

Includes sewer and trash ($1.5 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
133

Minnesota cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Long Prairie itself left out).

Your share of the 2024 budget

About $1,460 per resident a year, or $4.00 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 45%.

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 33%Utility sales 30%From the state 12%Property taxes 9%Interest, fines & other 7%From other local governments 7%From the federal government 1%Other taxes & licenses <1%Sales taxes <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $4.3 million; interest on debt $990,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $13.3 million.
Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 2% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$5.3 million
2024$5.4 million

Per resident: 2022: $1,612 · 2024: $1,460. Per resident it went from $1,612 to $1,460 (down 9%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 3,297 to 3,704.

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 $1,722 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.13% of the home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Minnesota$3,357
Long Prairie Township$1,805
Long Prairie$1,722
$1,722
typical bill a year
1.13%
effective rate
$152,000
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Long Prairie

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

See longprairie.net for Long Prairie’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Long Prairie yet.longprairie.net ↗
Agendas

Long Prairie’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on longprairie.net ↗.

Who works for Long Prairie

One full-time city employee for every 218 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (3,704).

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

Fire0 + 23 pt
Police6 + 6 pt
Roads & transportation7
Administration & buildings3 + 6 pt
Other1 + 8 pt
17
full-time
43
part-time
$112,283
payroll for March 2022
$1.3M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$68,400
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
6
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Long Prairie had 5.2 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 109 of the 133 Minnesota cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 5.3: Long Prairie had fewer than 52% 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

Long Prairie-Grey Eagle School District

Long Prairie’s K–12 school district, shared with Burtrum, Grey Eagle, Long Prairie Township, Reynolds Township, Round Prairie Township and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Long Prairie →
$15,805
per pupil · MN $17,091
984
students
$16.1 million
long-term debt

Of the $15,805 per pupil, $9,938 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 17%State 71%Federal 11%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Long Prairie’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Todd County’s results13,718 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican75.8%10,392 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat22.4%3,072 votes

Others: 1.9% (254 votes).

Most votes in Todd County: Donald J Trump

Minnesota: Harris 50.9%, Trump 46.7%

The county’s page

100% of Long Prairie lies in Todd County. Every 2024 race in Todd County is on the county’s page.

Todd 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 Long Prairie

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Long Prairie.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
  2. 2
    Minnesota HouseState representatives
  3. 3
    Minnesota SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Minnesota

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

Next door

How Long Prairie compares with the towns next door

Long Prairie spent $1,612 per resident in 2022. Most of its neighbors are townships, a different kind of government, so the like-for-like comparison is with similar cities, above. Tap a town to see its page.

Long Prairie Township: $189 per resident (2022)Long Prairie TownshipLong Prairie
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Long Prairie Township$189$1,805
Long Prairie$1,612$1,722

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 Long Prairie’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Long Prairie’s government

How much does Long Prairie spend per resident?

About $1,460 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 $1,612 was more than 80% of 133 Minnesota cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Long Prairie?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,722 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.13% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see longprairie.net.

Who runs Long Prairie’s government?

See longprairie.net for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Long Prairie yet.

How did Long Prairie vote in 2024?

Minnesota counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Long Prairie alone. Todd County, where 100% of Long Prairie lies, voted Trump 75.8%, Harris 22.4% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Long Prairie?

17 full-time and 43 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $112,283 (about $1.3M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Long Prairie in the state legislature?

State Senate District 5 (Paul Utke) and State House District 5B (Mike Wiener). The House district also covers 60 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Long Prairie’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 →