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Town Hall · South St. Paul

How is South St. Paul run?

South St. Paul’s city government spent $27.8 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, about $1,356 per resident. Water and other utilities ($1.1 million) and the airport ($2.1 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Next public meeting

Worksession

6:45 pm · 125 3rd Ave N, Training Room

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$27.8M
year to December 31, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$1,356
In 2022: $1,061, more than 61% of 51 similar cities
Long-term debt
$20.4M
end of 2024, reported
City staff, 2025
101
full-time · 32 part-time · March payroll $899,501
Typical tax bill
$3,347
1.19% of home value · MN 1.02%

What stands out about how South St. Paul is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Mayor Jimmy FrancisAs listed by Open States, October 9, 2026.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From South St. Paul’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 $1,356 per resident a year, or $3.72 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 25%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 39%Fees & charges 23%From the state 11%From other local governments 8%Interest, fines & other 7%Utility sales 6%Sales taxes 3%From the federal government 1%Other taxes & licenses 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $10.4 million; interest on debt $847,000; payments to other governments $3.5 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $46.9 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,061 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

South St. Paul’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,061 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 $971, and the middle half spent $700–$1,242. South St. Paul spent more than 61% of them.

Middle half of the group, $700–$1,242Median $971South St. Paul

Includes sewer and trash ($621,000), 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
51

Minnesota cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; South St. Paul itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 32% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$21.1 million
2023$25.4 million
2024$27.8 million

Per resident: 2022: $1,061 · 2023: $1,238 · 2024: $1,356.

City staff
101

full-time in March 2025, up from 92 in 2022.

Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in South St. Paul

From public records with a current term; a name is hidden the day its term ends.

Jimmy FrancisMayor · as listed by Open States, October 9, 2026Office of the Mayor ↗

Council members and agencies: southstpaul.org ↗

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $3,347 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.19% of the home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Newport$3,974
St. Paul$3,822
Inver Grove Heights$3,464
Minnesota$3,357
South St. Paul$3,347
West St. Paul$3,142
$3,347
typical bill a year
1.19%
effective rate
$281,600
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who works for South St. Paul

One full-time city employee for every 203 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 (20,506).

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

Police37 + 5 pt
Parks & libraries16 + 17 pt
Administration & buildings15 + 8 pt
Roads & transportation14 + 2 pt
Sewer & trash2
Water & other utilities2
Other15
101
full-time
32
part-time
$899,501
payroll for March 2025
$10.8M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$102,000
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
33
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.South St. Paul had 4.6 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 35 of the 51 Minnesota cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 4.5: South St. Paul had more than 54% 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

South St. Paul Public School District

South St. Paul’s K–12 school district. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in South St. Paul →
$16,839
per pupil · MN $17,091
2,917
students
$24.6 million
long-term debt

Of the $16,839 per pupil, $10,748 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 30%State 62%Federal 8%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

South St. Paul’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Dakota County’s results259,805 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat55.1%143,267 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican42.3%109,995 votes

Others: 2.5% (6,543 votes).

Most votes in Dakota County: Kamala D Harris

Minnesota: Harris 50.9%, Trump 46.7%

The county’s page

100% of South St. Paul lies in Dakota County. Every 2024 race in Dakota County is on the county’s page.

Dakota 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 South St. Paul

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for South St. Paul.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor
    Jimmy Francisas listed by Open States, October 9, 2026
  2. 2
    Minnesota HouseState representatives
    Rick Hansen
  3. 3
    Minnesota SenateState senator
    Matt Klein
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Tim Walz
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Angie Craig
  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 South St. Paul compares with the towns next door

South St. Paul spent $1,061 per resident in 2022; the 4 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $971 to $2,078. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Inver Grove Heights: $1,000 per resident (2022)West St. Paul: $971 per resident (2022)St. Paul: $2,078 per resident (2022)Newport: $978 per resident (2022)Inver Grove HeightsWest St. PaulSt. PaulNewportSouth St. Paul
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
West St. Paul$971$3,142
Newport$978$3,974
Inver Grove Heights$1,000$3,464
St. Paul$2,078$3,822
South St. Paul$1,061$3,347

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 South St. Paul’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitesouthstpaul.org ↗

Questions about South St. Paul’s government

How much does South St. Paul spend per resident?

About $1,356 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 $1,061 was more than 61% of 51 Minnesota cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in South St. Paul?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,347 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.19% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see southstpaul.org.

Who is the mayor of South St. Paul?

Jimmy Francis, as listed by Open States (checked October 9, 2026). The council and agencies are listed on southstpaul.org.

How did South St. Paul vote in 2024?

Minnesota counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for South St. Paul alone. Dakota County, where 100% of South St. Paul lies, voted Harris 55.1%, Trump 42.3% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for South St. Paul?

101 full-time and 32 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $899,501 (about $10.8M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents South St. Paul in the state legislature?

State Senate District 53 (Matt Klein) and State House District 53B (Rick Hansen). The House district also covers five other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in South St. Paul?

The next posted meeting is Worksession on Monday, November 9, at 6:45 pm in 125 3rd Ave N, Training Room, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about South St. Paul’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 →