Otsego spent less per resident in 2022 than 98% of similar cities
Otsego’s city government spent $5.7 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $304 per resident. Water and other utilities ($1.2 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Otsego is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$304 per resident in 2022: less than 98% of them
Otsego’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($304 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. Otsego spent less than 98% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($1.8 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 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Otsego itself left out).
About $304 per resident a year, or $0.83 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 31%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
No trend yet
Otsego reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $3,847 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.97% 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 Otsego’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 Otsego’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Otsego →
Who’s in charge in Otsego
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Otsego’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on ci.otsego.mn.us ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 630 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 (18,887).
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.
Elk River School District
Otsego’s K–12 school district, shared with Elk River, Livonia Township, Zimmerman, Rogers, Nowthen and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $13,652 per pupil, $8,684 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.
St. Michael-Albertville School District · $12,090 per pupil
Monticello Public School District · $16,758 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Otsego’s votes are counted by county
Minnesota reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Otsego alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Wright County’s results.
Donald J TrumpRepublican63.5%57,211 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat34.3%30,883 votesOthers: 2.2% (1,947 votes).
Most votes in Wright County: Donald J Trump
Minnesota: Harris 50.9%, Trump 46.7%
100% of Otsego lies in Wright County. Every 2024 race in Wright County is on the county’s page.
Wright 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 Otsego.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: ci.otsego.mn.us ↗
- 2Minnesota HouseOtsego is split between 2 districts
- 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 Otsego compares with the towns next door
Otsego spent $304 per resident in 2022; the 7 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $122 to $1,052. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Big Lake Township | $122 | $4,145 |
| Monticello Township | $203 | $2,834 |
| St. Michael | $429 | $4,205 |
| Albertville | $618 | $3,889 |
| Elk River | $908 | $4,296 |
| Dayton | $932 | $5,324 |
| Rogers | $1,052 | $4,891 |
| Otsego | $304 | $3,847 |
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 Otsego’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Otsego’s government
How much does Otsego spend per resident?
About $304 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 $304 was less than 98% of 51 Minnesota cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Otsego?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,847 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.97% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ci.otsego.mn.us.
Who runs Otsego’s government?
See ci.otsego.mn.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Otsego yet.
How did Otsego vote in 2024?
Minnesota counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Otsego alone. Wright County, where 100% of Otsego lies, voted Trump 63.5%, Harris 34.3% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Otsego?
30 full-time and 14 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $219,650 (about $2.6M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Otsego in the state legislature?
Otsego is split among 2 State House districts, so your address decides. The Minnesota Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District 30 (Eric Lucero). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Otsego’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 →