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Town Hall · Ruthton

How is Ruthton run?

Ruthton’s city government spent $237,000 on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $1,072 per resident. Water and other utilities ($54,000) are counted separately.

Election Day

Today

General election in Minnesota.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$237,000
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,072
In 2022: $1,072, less than 53% of 619 similar cities
Long-term debt
Not reported
end of 2022, reported
City staff, 2022
2
full-time · 28 part-time · March payroll $21,832
Typical tax bill
$822
1.45% of home value · MN 1.02%

What stands out about how Ruthton is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Runs its own water & sewer41% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares RTR Public Schools with 6+ other towns.Low bills, a higher rateThe typical bill is $822 a year: 1.45% of the home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota.
★ What stands out · Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,072 per resident a year, or $2.94 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 28%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 31%From the state 22%Fees & charges 22%Utility sales 17%Interest, fines & other 4%From the federal government 3%From other local governments 1%Other taxes & licenses 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $30,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $324,000.
Compared with similar places

$1,072 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Ruthton’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,072 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. Ruthton spent less than 53% of them.

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

Includes sewer and trash ($67,000), 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; Ruthton itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $822 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.45% of the home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Minnesota$3,357
Ruthton$822
$822
typical bill a year
1.45%
effective rate
$56,800
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Ruthton

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

Check Ruthton’s own website for current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Ruthton yet.
Who works for Ruthton

One full-time city employee for every 111 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 (221).

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

Fire0 + 23 pt
Administration & buildings1 + 5 pt
Sewer & trash1
2
full-time
28
part-time
$21,832
payroll for March 2022
$261,984
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$30,500
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Ruthton had 9.0 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 3.8: Ruthton had more than 84% 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

RTR Public Schools

Ruthton’s K–12 school district, shared with Aetna Township, Coon Creek Township, Florence, Hope Township, Marshfield Township and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Ruthton →
$14,468
per pupil · MN $17,091
637
students
$31.6 million
long-term debt

Of the $14,468 per pupil, $8,257 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 72%Federal 6%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Ruthton’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Pipestone County’s results4,837 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican73.1%3,537 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat25.1%1,215 votes

Others: 1.8% (85 votes).

Most votes in Pipestone County: Donald J Trump

Minnesota: Harris 50.9%, Trump 46.7%

The county’s page

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

Pipestone 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 Ruthton

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Ruthton.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Minnesota HouseState representatives
    District 21A
  3. 3
    Minnesota SenateState senator
    Bill Weber
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Tim Walz
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Michelle Fischbach
  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 Ruthton’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Ruthton’s government

How much does Ruthton spend per resident?

About $1,072 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 $1,072 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 Ruthton?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $822 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.45% 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 Ruthton’s government?

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

How did Ruthton vote in 2024?

Minnesota counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Ruthton alone. Pipestone County, where 100% of Ruthton lies, voted Trump 73.1%, Harris 25.1% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Ruthton?

2 full-time and 28 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $21,832 (about $261,984 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Ruthton in the state legislature?

State Senate District 21 (Bill Weber) and State House District 21A. The House district also covers 119 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Ruthton’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 →