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Cass county MN 200 Walker IMG 1319Photo: Bjoertvedt · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Walker

Walker spent more per resident in 2022 than 98% of similar cities

Walker’s city government spent $4.4 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $4,779 per resident. Water and other utilities ($1.4 million) and the airport ($60,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Minnesota.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$4.4M
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$4,779
In 2022: $4,779, more than 98% of 619 similar cities
Long-term debt
$6.1M
end of 2022, reported
City staff, 2022
14
full-time · 10 part-time · March payroll $80,545 · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$2,333
0.89% of home value · MN 1.02%

What stands out about how Walker is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$4,779 per resident in 2022: more than 98% of them

Walker’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($4,779 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. Walker spent more than 98% of them.

Middle half of the group, $740–$1,504Median $1,111Walker

Includes sewer and trash ($371,000), 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; Walker itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $4,779 per resident a year, or $13.09 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 8%.

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 41%Utility sales 22%Sales taxes 13%Property taxes 13%From the federal government 6%Interest, fines & other 3%From the state 2%Other taxes & licenses 1%From other local governments <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $1.3 million; interest on debt $240,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $7.4 million.
About “Other”.65% of Walker’s day-to-day spending ($2.9 million) 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

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,333 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.89% of the home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Minnesota$3,357
Walker$2,333
$2,333
typical bill a year
0.89%
effective rate
$261,800
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Walker

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

See ci.walker.mn.us for Walker’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Walker yet.ci.walker.mn.us ↗
Agendas

Walker’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on ci.walker.mn.us ↗.

Who works for Walker

One full-time city employee for every 66 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (928).

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

Administration & buildings3 + 6 pt
Police3 + 2 pt
Roads & transportation1
Sewer & trash1
Water & other utilities1
Other5 + 2 pt
14
full-time
10
part-time
$80,545
payroll for March 2022
$966,540
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$62,200
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
3
sworn police officers
Estimates.Walker didn’t report its staff figures; these are the Census Bureau’s estimates, so they aren’t compared with other towns.

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

Walker-Hackensack-Akeley School District

Walker’s K–12 school district, shared with Akeley, Badoura Township, Birch Lake Township, Hackensack, Hiram Township and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Walker →
$21,831
per pupil · MN $17,091
688
students
$5.5 million
long-term debt

Of the $21,831 per pupil, $13,679 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 53%Federal 17%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Walker’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Cass County’s results19,363 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican65.9%12,759 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat32.5%6,300 votes

Others: 1.6% (304 votes).

Most votes in Cass County: Donald J Trump

Minnesota: Harris 50.9%, Trump 46.7%

The county’s page

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

Cass 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 Walker

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Walker.

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.

Reach Walker’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Walker’s government

How much does Walker spend per resident?

About $4,779 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 $4,779 was more than 98% of 619 Minnesota cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Walker?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,333 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.89% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ci.walker.mn.us.

Who runs Walker’s government?

See ci.walker.mn.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Walker yet.

How did Walker vote in 2024?

Minnesota counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Walker alone. Cass County, where 100% of Walker lies, voted Trump 65.9%, Harris 32.5% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Walker?

14 full-time and 10 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $80,545 (about $966,540 a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents Walker in the state legislature?

State Senate District 2 (Steve Green) and State House District 2B (Matt Bliss). The House district also covers 111 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Walker’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 →