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Town Hall · Rock Creek

Rock Creek spent less per resident in 2022 than 94% of similar cities

Rock Creek’s city government spent $591,000 on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $356 per resident.

Town website
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$591,000
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$356
In 2022: $356, less than 94% of 619 similar cities
Long-term debt
Not reported
end of 2022, reported
City staff, 2022
1
full-time · 8 part-time · March payroll $16,074
Typical tax bill
$2,372
0.75% of home value · MN 1.02%

What stands out about how Rock Creek is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$356 per resident in 2022: less than 94% of them

Rock Creek’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($356 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 $743–$1,505. Rock Creek spent less than 94% of them.

Middle half of the group, $743–$1,505Median $1,112Rock Creek

Includes sewer and trash ($1,000), 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; Rock Creek itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $356 per resident a year, or $0.98 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 58%.

Where the money comes from
From the state 47%Property taxes 27%From the federal government 11%Interest, fines & other 8%Other taxes & licenses 6%Fees & charges 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $47,000. With these, the whole budget was $638,000.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,372 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.75% of the home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Minnesota$3,357
Rushseba Township$2,944
Pine City Township$2,703
Royalton Township$2,552
Rock Creek$2,372
Grantsburg$1,883
$2,372
typical bill a year
0.75%
effective rate
$318,200
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Rock Creek

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

See cityofrockcreekmn.com for Rock Creek’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Rock Creek yet.cityofrockcreekmn.com ↗
Agendas

Rock Creek’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on cityofrockcreekmn.com ↗.

Who works for Rock Creek

One full-time city employee for every 1,658 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 (1,658).

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

Administration & buildings1 + 7 pt
Roads & transportation0 + 1 pt
1
full-time
8
part-time
$16,074
payroll for March 2022
$192,888
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$79,000
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Rock Creek had 0.6 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 457 of the 619 Minnesota cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 3.9: Rock Creek had fewer than 65% 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

Pine City Public School District

Rock Creek’s K–12 school district, shared with Chengwatana Township, Henriette, Pine City, Pine City Township, Pokegama Township and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Rock Creek →
$14,526
per pupil · MN $17,091
1,594
students
$17.3 million
long-term debt

Of the $14,526 per pupil, $9,513 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 22%State 73%Federal 5%

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

Also serving Rock Creek

Rush City Public School District · $15,701 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Rock Creek’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Pine County’s results16,911 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican66.7%11,274 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat31.6%5,339 votes

Others: 1.8% (298 votes).

Most votes in Pine County: Donald J Trump

Minnesota: Harris 50.9%, Trump 46.7%

The county’s page

100% of Rock Creek lies in Pine County. Every 2024 race in Pine County is on the county’s page.

Pine 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 Rock Creek

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Rock Creek.

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 Rock Creek compares with the towns next door

Rock Creek spent $356 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.

Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Rushseba Township$203$2,944
Royalton Township$211$2,552
Pine City Township$342$2,703
Rock Creek$356$2,372

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 Rock Creek’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Rock Creek’s government

How much does Rock Creek spend per resident?

About $356 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 $356 was less than 94% of 619 Minnesota cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Rock Creek?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,372 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.75% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofrockcreekmn.com.

Who runs Rock Creek’s government?

See cityofrockcreekmn.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Rock Creek yet.

How did Rock Creek vote in 2024?

Minnesota counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Rock Creek alone. Pine County, where 100% of Rock Creek lies, voted Trump 66.7%, Harris 31.6% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Rock Creek?

1 full-time and 8 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $16,074 (about $192,888 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Rock Creek in the state legislature?

State Senate District 11 (Jason Rarick) and State House District 11B (Nathan Nelson). The House district also covers 48 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Rock Creek’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 →