Williams spent more per resident in 2022 than 73% of similar cities
Williams’ city government spent $257,000 on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $1,469 per resident.
What stands out about how Williams is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$1,469 per resident in 2022: more than 73% of them
Williams’ day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,469 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. Williams spent more than 73% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($88,000), 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; Williams itself left out).
About $1,469 per resident a year, or $4.02 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 34%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
No trend yet
Williams reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $580 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Williams’ 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 Williams’ Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Williams →
Who’s in charge in Williams
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Lake of the Woods School District
Williams’ K–12 school district, shared with Baudette. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $15,753 per pupil, $8,742 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.
Williams’ votes are counted by county
Minnesota reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Williams alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Lake of the Woods County’s results.
Donald J TrumpRepublican72.9%1,710 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat25.7%604 votesOthers: 1.4% (33 votes).
Most votes in Lake of the Woods County: Donald J Trump
Minnesota: Harris 50.9%, Trump 46.7%
100% of Williams lies in Lake of the Woods County. Every 2024 race in Lake of the Woods County is on the county’s page.
Lake of the Woods 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 Williams.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilLocal officials aren’t on record yet.
- 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.
Reach Williams’ government
Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.
Questions about Williams’ government
How much does Williams spend per resident?
About $1,469 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 $1,469 was more than 73% of 619 Minnesota cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.
Who runs Williams’ government?
We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Williams yet.
How did Williams vote in 2024?
Minnesota counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Williams alone. Lake of the Woods County, where 100% of Williams lies, voted Trump 72.9%, Harris 25.7% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Williams?
0 full-time and 28 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $13,861 (about $166,332 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Williams in the state legislature?
State Senate District 2 (Steve Green) and State House District 2A (Bidal Duran). The House district also covers 38 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Williams’ 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 →