Photo: Myotus · CC BY 4.0Watertown spent less per resident in 2022 than 86% of similar cities
Watertown’s city government spent $4.1 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, about $855 per resident. Water and other utilities ($829,000) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Watertown is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$691 per resident in 2022: less than 86% of them
Watertown’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($691 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 133 Minnesota cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,081, and the middle half spent $827–$1,405. Watertown spent less than 86% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($677,000), 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 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Watertown itself left out).
About $855 per resident a year, or $2.34 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 28%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Day-to-day spending is up 30% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Watertown reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $691 · 2024: $855. Per resident it went from $691 to $855 (up 24%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 4,608 to 4,842.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $3,438 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.02% 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 Watertown’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 Watertown’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Watertown →
Who’s in charge in Watertown
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Watertown’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on ci.watertown.mn.us ↗.
Watertown-Mayer Public School District
Watertown’s K–12 school district, shared with Mayer, Hollywood Township, Watertown Township, Minnetrista, Woodland Township. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $13,431 per pupil, $8,371 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.
Watertown’s votes are counted by county
Minnesota reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Watertown alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Carver County’s results.
Donald J TrumpRepublican51.5%35,586 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat46.1%31,869 votesOthers: 2.5% (1,705 votes).
Most votes in Carver County: Donald J Trump
Minnesota: Harris 50.9%, Trump 46.7%
100% of Watertown lies in Carver County. Every 2024 race in Carver County is on the county’s page.
Carver 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 Watertown.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: ci.watertown.mn.us ↗
- 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 Watertown compares with the towns next door
Watertown spent $691 per resident in 2022. Most of its neighbors are townships, a different kind of government, so the like-for-like comparison is with similar cities, above. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Watertown Township | $342 | $4,129 |
| Watertown | $691 | $3,438 |
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 Watertown’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Watertown’s government
How much does Watertown spend per resident?
About $855 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 $691 was less than 86% of 133 Minnesota cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Watertown?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,438 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.02% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ci.watertown.mn.us.
Who runs Watertown’s government?
See ci.watertown.mn.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Watertown yet.
How did Watertown vote in 2024?
Minnesota counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Watertown alone. Carver County, where 100% of Watertown lies, voted Trump 51.5%, Harris 46.1% for president; its page has every race.
Who represents Watertown in the state legislature?
State Senate District 17 (Glenn Gruenhagen) and State House District 17B (Bobbie Harder). The House district also covers 39 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Watertown’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 →