Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Ostrander

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Town Hall · Ostrander

How is Ostrander run?

Ostrander’s city government spent $265,000 on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $1,073 per resident. Water and other utilities ($36,000) are counted separately.

Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Minnesota.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$265,000
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,073
In 2022: $1,073, less than 53% of 619 similar cities
Long-term debt
$1.9M
end of 2022, reported
City staff, 2022
0
full-time · 2 part-time · March payroll $16,865 · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$1,471
1.00% of home value · MN 1.02%

What stands out about how Ostrander is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Runs its own water & sewer31% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares LeRoy-Ostrander Public Schools with 5 other towns.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $1,471 a year: 1.00% of the home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota.
★ What stands out · Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,073 per resident a year, or $2.94 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 22%.

Where the money comes from
From the federal government 70%From the state 7%Property taxes 7%Fees & charges 5%From other local governments 5%Utility sales 5%Interest, fines & other 1%Other taxes & licenses <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $2.7 million; interest on debt $53,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $3 million.
About “Other”.26% of Ostrander’s day-to-day spending ($70,000) is filed by the Census Bureau outside the named functions above, so the receipt can’t say what it buys.
Compared with similar places

$1,073 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Ostrander’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,073 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 $1,112, and the middle half spent $740–$1,505. Ostrander spent less than 53% of them.

Middle half of the group, $740–$1,505Median $1,112Ostrander

Includes sewer and trash ($57,000), 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; Ostrander itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,471 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.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Minnesota$3,357
Ostrander$1,471
$1,471
typical bill a year
1.00%
effective rate
$146,900
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Ostrander

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

Check Ostrander’s own website for current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Ostrander yet.
The school district

LeRoy-Ostrander Public Schools

Ostrander’s K–12 school district, shared with Le Roy, Le Roy Township, Beaver Township, Bennington Township, Lodi Township. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Ostrander →
$18,252
per pupil · MN $17,091
250
students
$270,000
long-term debt

Of the $18,252 per pupil, $10,732 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 56%Federal 10%

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

Also serving Ostrander

Kingsland Public School District · $15,319 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Ostrander’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Fillmore County’s results12,385 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican61.7%7,638 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat36.3%4,491 votes

Others: 2.1% (256 votes).

Most votes in Fillmore County: Donald J Trump

Minnesota: Harris 50.9%, Trump 46.7%

The county’s page

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

Fillmore 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 Ostrander

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Ostrander.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Minnesota HouseState representatives
    Greg Davids
  3. 3
    Minnesota SenateState senator
    Jeremy Miller
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Tim Walz
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Brad Finstad
  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 Ostrander’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Ostrander’s government

How much does Ostrander spend per resident?

About $1,073 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 $1,073 was less than 53% of 619 Minnesota cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Ostrander?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,471 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 the city’s assessor.

Who runs Ostrander’s government?

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

How did Ostrander vote in 2024?

Minnesota counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Ostrander alone. Fillmore County, where 100% of Ostrander lies, voted Trump 61.7%, Harris 36.3% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Ostrander?

0 full-time and 2 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $16,865 (about $202,380 a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents Ostrander in the state legislature?

State Senate District 26 (Jeremy Miller) and State House District 26B (Greg Davids). The House district also covers 66 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Ostrander’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 →