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Town Hall · Twin Lakes

Twin Lakes spent less per resident in 2022 than 89% of similar cities

Twin Lakes’ city government spent $68,000 on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $456 per resident. Water and other utilities ($13,000) are counted separately.

Day-to-day spending, 2022
$68,000
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$456
In 2022: $456, less than 89% of 619 similar cities
Long-term debt
Not reported
end of 2022, reported
City staff, 2022
0
full-time · 23 part-time · March payroll $8,464
Typical tax bill
$421
a year

What stands out about how Twin Lakes is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends less than most similar citiesIn 2022: $456 per resident, less than 89% of 619 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer32% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Albert Lea Public School District with 6+ other towns.
Compared with similar places

$456 per resident in 2022: less than 89% of them

Twin Lakes’ day-to-day spending in 2022 ($456 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. Twin Lakes spent less than 89% of them.

Middle half of the group, $743–$1,505Median $1,112Twin Lakes

Includes sewer and trash ($13,000), 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; Twin Lakes itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $456 per resident a year, or $1.25 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: fire, at 22%.

Where the money comes from
From the state 36%Utility sales 18%Fees & charges 17%Interest, fines & other 17%Property taxes 7%From the federal government 5%Other taxes & licenses 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $7,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $88,000.
About “Other”.29% of Twin Lakes’ day-to-day spending ($20,000) is filed by the Census Bureau outside the named functions above, so the receipt can’t say what it buys.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $421 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Minnesota$3,357
Twin Lakes$421
$421
typical bill a year
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Twin Lakes

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

Check Twin Lakes’ own website for current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Twin Lakes yet.
The school district

Albert Lea Public School District

Twin Lakes’ K–12 school district, shared with Albert Lea, Bancroft Township, Clarks Grove, Hayward, Hollandale and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Twin Lakes →
$17,748
per pupil · MN $17,091
3,338
students
$34 million
long-term debt

Of the $17,748 per pupil, $12,007 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 19%State 73%Federal 8%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Twin Lakes’ votes are counted by county

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

President · Freeborn County’s results16,704 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican59.9%10,003 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat38.6%6,448 votes

Others: 1.5% (253 votes).

Most votes in Freeborn County: Donald J Trump

Minnesota: Harris 50.9%, Trump 46.7%

The county’s page

100% of Twin Lakes lies in Freeborn County. Every 2024 race in Freeborn County is on the county’s page.

Freeborn 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 Twin Lakes

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Twin Lakes.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Minnesota HouseState representatives
    Peggy Bennett
  3. 3
    Minnesota SenateState senator
    Gene Dornink
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Tim Walz
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Brad Finstad
  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 Twin Lakes’ government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Twin Lakes’ government

How much does Twin Lakes spend per resident?

About $456 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 $456 was less than 89% of 619 Minnesota cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

Who runs Twin Lakes’ government?

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

How did Twin Lakes vote in 2024?

Minnesota counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Twin Lakes alone. Freeborn County, where 100% of Twin Lakes lies, voted Trump 59.9%, Harris 38.6% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Twin Lakes?

0 full-time and 23 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $8,464 (about $101,568 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Twin Lakes in the state legislature?

State Senate District 23 (Gene Dornink) and State House District 23A (Peggy Bennett). The House district also covers 60 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Twin Lakes’ 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 →