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Town Hall · Watkins

How is Watkins run?

Watkins’ city government spent $1.2 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $1,279 per resident. Water and other utilities ($179,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Minnesota.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$1.2M
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,279
In 2022: $1,279, more than 62% of 619 similar cities
Long-term debt
$3.9M
end of 2022, reported
City staff, 2022
3
full-time · 1 part-time · March payroll $19,958
Typical tax bill
$1,730
1.16% of home value · MN 1.02%

What stands out about how Watkins is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Runs its own water & sewer19% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Eden Valley-Watkins School District with 5 other towns.Low bills, a higher rateThe typical bill is $1,730 a year: 1.16% of the home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota.
★ What stands out · Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,279 per resident a year, or $3.50 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 14%.

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 30%From the state 27%Property taxes 21%Utility sales 12%Interest, fines & other 8%From the federal government 2%Other taxes & licenses <1%Sales taxes <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $202,000; interest on debt $108,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $1.7 million.
About “Other”.37% of Watkins’ day-to-day spending ($458,000) is filed by the Census Bureau outside the named functions above, so the receipt can’t say what it buys.
Compared with similar places

$1,279 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Watkins’ day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,279 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–$1,505. Watkins spent more than 62% of them.

Middle half of the group, $740–$1,505Median $1,111Watkins

Includes sewer and trash ($93,000), 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; Watkins itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,730 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.16% of the home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Minnesota$3,357
Watkins$1,730
$1,730
typical bill a year
1.16%
effective rate
$149,100
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Watkins

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

See cityofwatkins.com for Watkins’ current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Watkins yet.cityofwatkins.com ↗
Agendas

Watkins’ meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on cityofwatkins.com ↗.

Who works for Watkins

One full-time city employee for every 319 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 (958).

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

Roads & transportation2
Administration & buildings1 + 1 pt
3
full-time
1
part-time
$19,958
payroll for March 2022
$239,496
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$79,200
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Watkins had 3.1 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 457 of the 619 Minnesota cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 3.9: Watkins had fewer 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

Eden Valley-Watkins School District

Watkins’ K–12 school district, shared with Eden Valley, Eden Lake Township, Manannah Township, Forest Prairie Township, Luxemburg Township. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Watkins →
$13,657
per pupil · MN $17,091
896
students
$14.6 million
long-term debt

Of the $13,657 per pupil, $8,261 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 23%State 72%Federal 5%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Watkins’ votes are counted by county

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

President · Meeker County’s results13,694 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican70.4%9,645 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat27.8%3,802 votes

Others: 1.8% (247 votes).

Most votes in Meeker County: Donald J Trump

Minnesota: Harris 50.9%, Trump 46.7%

The county’s page

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

Meeker 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 Watkins

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Watkins.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: cityofwatkins.com ↗
  2. 2
    Minnesota HouseState representatives
    Scott Van Binsbergen
  3. 3
    Minnesota SenateState senator
    Andrew Lang
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Tim Walz
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Michelle Fischbach
  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 Watkins’ government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitecityofwatkins.com ↗

Questions about Watkins’ government

How much does Watkins spend per resident?

About $1,279 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 $1,279 was more than 62% of 619 Minnesota cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Watkins?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,730 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.16% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.02% across Minnesota. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofwatkins.com.

Who runs Watkins’ government?

See cityofwatkins.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Watkins yet.

How did Watkins vote in 2024?

Minnesota counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Watkins alone. Meeker County, where 100% of Watkins lies, voted Trump 70.4%, Harris 27.8% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Watkins?

3 full-time and 1 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $19,958 (about $239,496 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Watkins in the state legislature?

State Senate District 16 (Andrew Lang) and State House District 16A (Scott Van Binsbergen). The House district also covers 80 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Watkins’ 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 →