Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Savage

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
Dan Patch Banners Savage MNPhoto: Tpdwkouaa · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Savage

Savage spent less per resident in 2022 than 96% of similar cities

Savage’s city government spent $23.2 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, about $706 per resident. Water and other utilities ($16.9 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Minnesota.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$23.2M
year to December 31, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$706
In 2022: $613, less than 96% of 25 similar cities
Long-term debt
$34.1M
end of 2024, reported
City staff, 2025
132
full-time · 85 part-time · March payroll $1.3M · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$4,458
1.03% of home value · MN 1.02%

What stands out about how Savage is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$613 per resident in 2022: less than 96% of them

Savage’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($613 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 $1,016, and the middle half spent $848–$1,129. Savage spent less than 96% of them.

Middle half of the group, $848–$1,129Median $1,016Savage

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; Savage itself left out).

Your share of the 2024 budget

About $706 per resident a year, or $1.93 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 36%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 39%Utility sales 37%From the state 7%Fees & charges 7%Interest, fines & other 6%From the federal government 3%Other taxes & licenses 1%Sales taxes <1%From other local governments <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $14.9 million; interest on debt $1.2 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $56.3 million.
Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 15% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$20.1 million
2023$21.7 million
2024$23.2 million

Per resident: 2022: $613 · 2023: $657 · 2024: $706.

City staff
132

full-time in March 2025, up from 125 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 $4,458 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.03% of the home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Credit River$4,934
Prior Lake$4,467
Savage$4,458
Bloomington$3,881
Shakopee$3,700
Burnsville$3,451
Minnesota$3,357
$4,458
typical bill a year
1.03%
effective rate
$432,300
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Savage

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

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

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

Who works for Savage

One full-time city employee for every 249 residents

On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (32,893).

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

Police46
Fire6 + 42 pt
Administration & buildings18 + 8 pt
Roads & transportation21 + 1 pt
Parks & libraries12 + 14 pt
Water & other utilities12
Housing & development2 + 1 pt
Other15 + 19 pt
132
full-time
85
part-time
$1.3M
payroll for March 2025
$15.6M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$105,600
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
38
sworn police officers
6
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Savage had 3.8 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 16 of the 25 Minnesota cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 4.2: Savage had fewer than 56% 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

Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District

Savage’s K–12 school district, shared with Burnsville. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Savage →
$19,166
per pupil · MN $17,091
7,594
students
$99.3 million
long-term debt

Of the $19,166 per pupil, $11,976 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 32%State 57%Federal 11%

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

Also serving Savage

Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools · $14,061 per pupil

Shakopee Public School District · $15,217 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Savage’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Scott County’s results90,141 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican53.1%47,837 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat44.6%40,214 votes

Others: 2.3% (2,090 votes).

Most votes in Scott County: Donald J Trump

Minnesota: Harris 50.9%, Trump 46.7%

The county’s page

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

Scott 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 Savage

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Savage.

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 Savage compares with the towns next door

Savage spent $613 per resident in 2022; the 5 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $285 to $1,567. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Credit River$285$4,934
Prior Lake$617$4,467
Burnsville$897$3,451
Shakopee$1,017$3,700
Bloomington$1,567$3,881
Savage$613$4,458

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 Savage’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Savage’s government

How much does Savage spend per resident?

About $706 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 $613 was less 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 Savage?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,458 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.03% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofsavage.com.

Who runs Savage’s government?

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

How did Savage vote in 2024?

Minnesota counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Savage alone. Scott County, where 100% of Savage lies, voted Trump 53.1%, Harris 44.6% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Savage?

132 full-time and 85 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $1.3M (about $15.6M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents Savage in the state legislature?

State Senate District 55 (Lindsey Port) and State House District 55A (Jess Hanson). The House district also covers parts of 1 neighboring town. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Savage’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 →