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Spink County CourthouseSpink County Courthouse · Photo: JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Redfield

Redfield runs its own hospital

Redfield’s city government spent $2.9 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, about $1,339 per resident. It also runs a hospital ($16.7 million) and water utilities ($762,000), counted separately. Census Bureau figures.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in South Dakota.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$2.9M
year to December 31, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$1,339
In 2022: $776, more than 51% of 124 similar cities
Long-term debt
$19.5M
end of 2024, reported
City staff, 2025
15
full-time, hospital & welfare staff apart (96 in all) · March payroll $708,696
Typical tax bill
$2,064
1.72% of home value · SD 1.06%

What stands out about how Redfield is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

★ What stands out · Your share of the 2024 budget

About $1,339 per resident a year, or $3.67 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: parks & libraries, at 24%.

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 82%Sales taxes 6%Property taxes 6%Utility sales 3%Interest, fines & other 3%Other taxes & licenses <1%From the state <1%From the federal government <1%From other local governments <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $6.6 million; interest on debt $949,000; payments to other governments $35,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $28.1 million.
Why the hospital is apart.The Census Bureau counts the hospital it runs in the city’s books ($16.7 million, 82% of all operations). Only 135 of the 11,301 towns and cities of 2,500+ run one (Census finance files), so it is shown here and left out of every per-resident comparison.
Compared with similar places

$776 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Redfield’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($776 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 124 South Dakota cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $747, and the middle half spent $370–$1,182. Redfield spent more than 51% of them.

Middle half of the group, $370–$1,182Median $747Redfield

Includes sewer and trash ($309,000), 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
124

South Dakota cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Redfield itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 66% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$1.7 million
2023$2.3 million
2024$2.9 million

Per resident: 2022: $776 · 2023: $1,060 · 2024: $1,339. Per resident it went from $776 to $1,339 (up 73%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 2,249 to 2,167.

City staff
15

full-time in March 2025 (hospital, health & welfare left out), up from 11 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 $2,064 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.72% of the home’s value, vs 1.06% across South Dakota.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

South Dakota$2,724
Redfield$2,064
$2,064
typical bill a year
1.72%
effective rate
$120,200
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Redfield

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

See redfield-sd.com for Redfield’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Redfield yet.redfield-sd.com ↗
Agendas

Redfield’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on redfield-sd.com ↗.

Who works for Redfield

One full-time city employee for every 144 residents, not counting hospital, health & welfare staff

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 (2,167).

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

Administration & buildings4 + 9 pt
Parks & libraries4 + 9 pt
Roads & transportation4
Sewer & trash2
Water & other utilities1
Courts, inspections & corrections0 + 1 pt
Other0 + 1 pt
Run separately
Hospital, health & welfare81 + 37 pt
15
full-time, hospital, health & welfare apart
57
part-time
$708,696
payroll for March 2025
$8.5M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$63,500
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
The hospital.The 81 full-time hospital, health & welfare staff include the hospital the city runs, so they are counted apart, as the hospitals are in the budget. The payroll figures cover every employee, the hospital’s included: the Census file doesn’t split pay by function.
Compared, 2022.Redfield had 4.9 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022 (hospital, health & welfare left out, and the same for any peer that runs a hospital). The median for the 100 of the 124 South Dakota cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 0.0: Redfield had more than 64% 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

Redfield School District 56-4

Redfield’s K–12 school district, shared with Exline Township, Frankfort, Lodi Township, Plato Township, Great Bend Township and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Redfield →
$13,408
per pupil · SD $13,040
534
students
$18.8 million
long-term debt

Of the $13,408 per pupil, $8,547 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 59%State 32%Federal 9%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Redfield’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 Redfield alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Spink County’s results.

President · Spink County’s results3,139 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican68.3%2,145 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat29.3%921 votes

Others: 2.3% (73 votes).

Most votes in Spink County: Donald J Trump

South Dakota: Trump 63.4%, Harris 34.2%

The county’s page

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

Spink 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 Redfield

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Redfield.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
  2. 2
    South Dakota HouseState representatives
  3. 3
    South Dakota SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of South Dakota

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

Reach Redfield’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Redfield’s government

How much does Redfield spend per resident?

About $1,339 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. Redfield also runs a hospital ($16.7 million), counted separately. In 2022, the last full count, its $776 was more than 51% of 124 South Dakota cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Redfield?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,064 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.72% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.06% across South Dakota. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see redfield-sd.com.

Who runs Redfield’s government?

See redfield-sd.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Redfield yet.

How did Redfield vote in 2024?

South Dakota counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Redfield alone. Spink County, where 100% of Redfield lies, voted Trump 68.3%, Harris 29.3% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Redfield?

15 full-time and 57 part-time employees in March 2025 (plus 81 full-time hospital, health & welfare staff), with a March payroll of $708,696 (about $8.5M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Redfield in the state legislature?

State Senate District 22 (Brandon Wipf) and State House District 22 (Kevin Van Diepen and Lana Greenfield). The House district also covers 96 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Redfield’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 →