Mountain Iron spent more per resident in 2022 than 92% of similar cities
Mountain Iron’s city government spent $5.5 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2023, about $1,934 per resident. Water and other utilities ($3.3 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Mountain Iron is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$1,901 per resident in 2022: more than 92% of them
Mountain Iron’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,901 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. Mountain Iron spent more than 92% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($1.2 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 →
Minnesota cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Mountain Iron itself left out).
About $1,934 per resident a year, or $5.30 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 20%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Day-to-day spending is up 3% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Mountain Iron 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: $1,901 · 2023: $1,934.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $1,759 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.91% 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 Mountain Iron’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 Mountain Iron’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Mountain Iron →
Who’s in charge in Mountain Iron
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Mountain Iron’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on mtniron.com ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 124 residents
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2023 finance file (2,859).
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.
Mountain Iron-Buhl School District
Mountain Iron’s K–12 school district, shared with Buhl, Kinney, Great Scott Township. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $15,393 per pupil, $9,787 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.
Rock Ridge Public Schools · $16,232 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Mountain Iron’s votes are counted by county
Minnesota reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Mountain Iron alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are St. Louis County’s results.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat55.7%66,335 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican42.1%50,065 votesOthers: 2.2% (2,609 votes).
Most votes in St. Louis County: Kamala D Harris
Minnesota: Harris 50.9%, Trump 46.7%
100% of Mountain Iron lies in St. Louis County. Every 2024 race in St. Louis County is on the county’s page.
St. Louis 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 Mountain Iron.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: mtniron.com ↗
- 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 Mountain Iron compares with the towns next door
Mountain Iron spent $1,901 per resident in 2022; the 6 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $196 to $2,831. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Clinton Township | $196 | $1,333 |
| Wuori Township | $319 | $1,365 |
| Great Scott Township | $444 | $1,656 |
| Leonidas | $1,904 | $767 |
| Eveleth | $2,152 | $690 |
| Virginia | $2,831 | $1,232 |
| Mountain Iron | $1,901 | $1,759 |
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 Mountain Iron’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Mountain Iron’s government
How much does Mountain Iron spend per resident?
About $1,934 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2023, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,901 was more than 92% of 133 Minnesota cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Mountain Iron?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,759 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.91% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see mtniron.com.
Who runs Mountain Iron’s government?
See mtniron.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Mountain Iron yet.
How did Mountain Iron vote in 2024?
Minnesota counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Mountain Iron alone. St. Louis County, where 100% of Mountain Iron lies, voted Harris 55.7%, Trump 42.1% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Mountain Iron?
23 full-time and 25 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $129,352 (about $1.6M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Mountain Iron in the state legislature?
State Senate District 7 (Rob Farnsworth) and State House District 7B (Cal Warwas). The House district also covers 40 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Mountain Iron’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 →