Spicer spent more per resident in 2022 than 75% of similar cities
Spicer’s city government spent $1.9 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $1,514 per resident. Water and other utilities ($439,000) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Spicer is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$1,514 per resident in 2022: more than 75% of them
Spicer’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,514 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 $1,111, and the middle half spent $740–$1,504. Spicer spent more than 75% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($658,000), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Minnesota cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Spicer itself left out).
About $1,514 per resident a year, or $4.15 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 36%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
No trend yet
Spicer reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $4,000 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.36% of the home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Spicer’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 Spicer’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Spicer →
Who’s in charge in Spicer
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Spicer’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on spicermn.com ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 204 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 (1,224).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
New London-Spicer School District
Spicer’s K–12 school district, shared with Lake Andrew Township, New London, New London Township, Arctander Township, Green Lake Township and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $15,773 per pupil, $9,738 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.
Minnesota districts overall: 30% local, 62% state, 8% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Spicer’s votes are counted by county
Minnesota reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Spicer alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Kandiyohi County’s results.
Donald J TrumpRepublican64.5%15,014 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat33.6%7,814 votesOthers: 2.0% (455 votes).
Most votes in Kandiyohi County: Donald J Trump
Minnesota: Harris 50.9%, Trump 46.7%
100% of Spicer lies in Kandiyohi County. Every 2024 race in Kandiyohi County is on the county’s page.
Kandiyohi County’s 2024 results →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.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Spicer.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: spicermn.com ↗
- 2Minnesota HouseState representatives
- 3Minnesota SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Minnesota
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Spicer compares with the towns next door
Spicer spent $1,514 per resident in 2022; the neighbor that reported 2022 spent $223. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| New London Township | $223 | $2,831 |
| Green Lake Township | estimate | $3,772 |
| Spicer | $1,514 | $4,000 |
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 Spicer’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Spicer’s government
How much does Spicer spend per resident?
About $1,514 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 $1,514 was more than 75% of 619 Minnesota cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Spicer?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,000 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.36% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see spicermn.com.
Who runs Spicer’s government?
See spicermn.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Spicer yet.
How did Spicer vote in 2024?
Minnesota counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Spicer alone. Kandiyohi County, where 100% of Spicer lies, voted Trump 64.5%, Harris 33.6% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Spicer?
6 full-time and 0 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $28,163 (about $337,956 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Spicer in the state legislature?
State Senate District 16 (Andrew Lang) and State House District 16B (Dave Baker). The House district also covers 30 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Spicer’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
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 →