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E.B. Bobb HouseE.B. Bobb House · Photo: Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Mitchell

Mitchell spent more per resident in 2022 than 96% of similar cities

Mitchell’s city government spent $28.6 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, about $1,826 per resident. Water and other utilities ($3 million) and the airport ($362,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Next public meeting

City Council

6:00 pm · 612 N Main

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$28.6M
year to December 31, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$1,826
In 2022: $2,236, more than 96% of 23 similar cities
Long-term debt
$51.7M
end of 2024, reported
City staff, 2025
170
full-time · 129 part-time · March payroll $1.1M
Typical tax bill
$2,482
1.29% of home value · SD 1.06%

What stands out about how Mitchell is run

Read from the city’s budget, meetings and official records.

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $2,236 per resident, more than 96% of 23 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer21% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2024).A shared school districtShares Mitchell School District 17-2 with 6+ other towns.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Mitchell’s own agenda portal, checked daily. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check before you go.

Recent meetings

Go in person

Most meetings are open to the public, and many have a public comment period at the start.

Agenda portal ↗
Your share of the 2024 budget

About $1,826 per resident a year, or $5.00 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: parks & libraries, at 27%.

Where the money comes from
Sales taxes 31%Fees & charges 27%Property taxes 14%Utility sales 10%Interest, fines & other 6%From the state 5%From the federal government 5%From other local governments 2%Other taxes & licenses 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $22 million; interest on debt $1.4 million; payments to other governments $179,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $55.8 million.
Compared with similar places

$2,236 per resident in 2022: more than 96% of them

Mitchell’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($2,236 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 23 South Dakota cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,254, and the middle half spent $836–$1,602. Mitchell spent more than 96% of them.

Middle half of the group, $836–$1,602Median $1,254Mitchell

Includes sewer and trash ($5.8 million), 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
23

South Dakota cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Mitchell itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is down 19% since 2022

Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Mitchell reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$35.1 million
2023$24.8 million
2024$28.6 million

Per resident: 2022: $2,236 · 2023: $1,586 · 2024: $1,826.

City staff
170

full-time in March 2025, up from 164 in 2022.

Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,482 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.29% of the home’s value, vs 1.06% across South Dakota.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Perry Township$2,750
South Dakota$2,724
Mitchell$2,482
Badger Township$1,931
$2,482
typical bill a year
1.29%
effective rate
$192,200
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Mitchell

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

See cityofmitchell.org for Mitchell’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Mitchell yet.cityofmitchell.org ↗
Who works for Mitchell

One full-time city employee for every 92 residents

On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (15,659).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025

Parks & libraries34 + 92 pt
Police39 + 1 pt
Fire26 + 4 pt
Health & welfare12 + 21 pt
Roads & transportation20 + 1 pt
Sewer & trash18
Administration & buildings12 + 10 pt
Water & other utilities5
Courts, inspections & corrections1
Other3
170
full-time
129
part-time
$1.1M
payroll for March 2025
$13.7M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$74,600
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
27
sworn police officers
22
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Mitchell had 10.4 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 16 of the 23 South Dakota cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 9.6: Mitchell had more than 69% 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

Mitchell School District 17-2

Mitchell’s K–12 school district, shared with Perry Township, Plano Township, Prosper Township, Badger Township, Hanson Township and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Mitchell →
$12,703
per pupil · SD $13,040
2,711
students
$61.6 million
long-term debt

Of the $12,703 per pupil, $8,299 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 48%State 35%Federal 16%

South Dakota districts overall: 50% local, 31% state, 19% federal.

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Mitchell’s votes are counted by county

South Dakota reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Mitchell alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Davison County’s results.

President · Davison County’s results9,177 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican67.6%6,208 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat29.9%2,743 votes

Others: 2.5% (226 votes).

Most votes in Davison County: Donald J Trump

South Dakota: Trump 63.4%, Harris 34.2%

The county’s page

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

Davison 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 Mitchell

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Mitchell.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: cityofmitchell.org ↗
  2. 2
    South Dakota HouseState representatives
    Jeff BathkeKaley Nolz
  3. 3
    South Dakota SenateState senator
    Paul Miskimins
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Larry Rhoden
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Dusty Johnson
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of South Dakota
    John ThuneMike Rounds

Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.

Next door

How Mitchell compares with the towns next door

Mitchell spent $2,236 per resident in 2022. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Perry Township: no reported 2022 figuresBadger Township: no reported 2022 figuresPerry TownshipBadger TownshipMitchell
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Perry Townshipestimate$2,750
Badger Townshipestimate$1,931
Mitchell$2,236$2,482

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 Mitchell’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitecityofmitchell.org ↗

Questions about Mitchell’s government

How much does Mitchell spend per resident?

About $1,826 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 $2,236 was more than 96% of 23 South Dakota cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Mitchell?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,482 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.29% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.06% across South Dakota. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofmitchell.org.

Who runs Mitchell’s government?

See cityofmitchell.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Mitchell yet.

How did Mitchell vote in 2024?

South Dakota counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Mitchell alone. Davison County, where 100% of Mitchell lies, voted Trump 67.6%, Harris 29.9% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Mitchell?

170 full-time and 129 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $1.1M (about $13.7M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Mitchell in the state legislature?

State Senate District 20 (Paul Miskimins) and State House District 20 (Jeff Bathke and Kaley Nolz). The House district also covers 51 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Mitchell?

The next posted meeting is City Council on Monday, November 2, at 6:00 pm in 612 N Main, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Mitchell’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 →