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Louis H. Sullivan - Farmer's National Bank (A), Owatonna, MNPhoto: Bmzuckerman · CC BY 4.0
Town Hall · Owatonna

Owatonna spent more per resident in 2022 than 96% of similar cities

Owatonna’s city government spent $26 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, about $980 per resident. Water and other utilities ($62.2 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Minnesota.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$26.0M
year to December 31, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$980
In 2022: $1,895, more than 96% of 25 similar cities
Long-term debt
$12.6M
end of 2024, reported
City staff, 2025
202
full-time · 98 part-time · March payroll $1.8M
Typical tax bill
$3,222
1.31% of home value · MN 1.02%

What stands out about how Owatonna is run

Read from the city’s budget, meetings and official records.

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,895 per resident, more than 96% of 25 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer72% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2024).A shared school districtShares Owatonna Public School District with 6+ other towns.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Owatonna’s own agenda portal, checked daily. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check before you go.

Recent meetings

Go in person

Most meetings are open to the public, and many have a public comment period at the start.

Agenda portal ↗
Your share of the 2024 budget

About $980 per resident a year, or $2.68 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 24%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 63%Property taxes 13%Fees & charges 11%From the state 6%From the federal government 3%Interest, fines & other 2%Other taxes & licenses 1%Sales taxes 1%From other local governments <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $30.8 million; interest on debt $610,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $120.2 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,895 per resident in 2022: more than 96% of them

Owatonna’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,895 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 25 Minnesota cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,007, and the middle half spent $786–$1,120. Owatonna spent more than 96% of them.

Middle half of the group, $786–$1,120Median $1,007Owatonna

Includes sewer and trash ($2.4 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
25

Minnesota cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Owatonna itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is down 47% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$48.7 million
2023$29.9 million
2024$26 million

Per resident: 2022: $1,895 · 2023: $1,134 · 2024: $980.

City staff
202

full-time in March 2025, up from 187 in 2022. Both are Census estimates.

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 $3,222 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.31% of the home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Clinton Falls Township$3,966
Minnesota$3,357
Owatonna$3,222
Owatonna Township$2,708
$3,222
typical bill a year
1.31%
effective rate
$245,200
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Owatonna

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

See ci.owatonna.mn.us for Owatonna’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Owatonna yet.ci.owatonna.mn.us ↗
Who works for Owatonna

One full-time city employee for every 131 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 (26,470).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025

Water & other utilities60 + 5 pt
Parks & libraries24 + 52 pt
Police38 + 2 pt
Administration & buildings24 + 9 pt
Roads & transportation25 + 4 pt
Fire9 + 24 pt
Sewer & trash10
Housing & development1
Other11 + 2 pt
202
full-time
98
part-time
$1.8M
payroll for March 2025
$22.1M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$103,400
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
33
sworn police officers
8
full-time firefighters
Not compared.Staff are compared with the same group as the budget, and Owatonna’s 2022 budget was a Census estimate, so there is no group to compare with.

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

Owatonna Public School District

Owatonna’s K–12 school district, shared with Meriden Township, Owatonna Township, Havana Township, Somerset Township, Clinton Falls Township and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Owatonna →
$15,325
per pupil · MN $17,091
4,995
students
$168.4 million
long-term debt

Of the $15,325 per pupil, $10,049 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 25%State 67%Federal 8%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Owatonna’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Steele County’s results20,872 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican61.0%12,742 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat36.7%7,650 votes

Others: 2.3% (480 votes).

Most votes in Steele County: Donald J Trump

Minnesota: Harris 50.9%, Trump 46.7%

The county’s page

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

Steele 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 Owatonna

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Owatonna.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: ci.owatonna.mn.us ↗
  2. 2
    Minnesota HouseState representatives
    Tom Sexton
  3. 3
    Minnesota SenateState senator
    John Jasinski
  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.

Next door

How Owatonna compares with the towns next door

Owatonna spent $1,895 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.

Owatonna Township: $215 per resident (2022)Clinton Falls Township: $311 per resident (2022)Owatonna TownshipClinton Falls TownshipOwatonna
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Owatonna Township$215$2,708
Clinton Falls Township$311$3,966
Owatonna$1,895$3,222

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 Owatonna’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websiteci.owatonna.mn.us ↗

Questions about Owatonna’s government

How much does Owatonna spend per resident?

About $980 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 $1,895 was more than 96% of 25 Minnesota cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Owatonna?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,222 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.31% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ci.owatonna.mn.us.

Who runs Owatonna’s government?

See ci.owatonna.mn.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Owatonna yet.

How did Owatonna vote in 2024?

Minnesota counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Owatonna alone. Steele County, where 100% of Owatonna lies, voted Trump 61.0%, Harris 36.7% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Owatonna?

202 full-time and 98 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $1.8M (about $22.1M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Owatonna in the state legislature?

State Senate District 19 (John Jasinski) and State House District 19B (Tom Sexton). The House district also covers 11 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Owatonna?

The next posted meeting is General on Wednesday, November 4, at 5:00 pm in 540 West Hills Circle, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Owatonna’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 →