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Town Hall · Garfield

In Garfield, 86% of adult citizens voted for president in 2024, more than across Wisconsin

Garfield’s town government spent $734,000 on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $446 per resident.

Day-to-day spending, 2022
$734,000
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$446
In 2022: $446, less than 61% of 1113 similar towns
Long-term debt
$700,000
end of 2022, reported
Town staff, 2022
9
full-time · 5 part-time · March payroll $23,690
Typical tax bill
$2,953
0.94% of home value · WI 1.42%

What stands out about how Garfield is run

Read from the town’s budget and official records.

The school district

Amery School District

Garfield’s K–12 school district, shared with Amery, Deer Park, Lincoln, Apple River, Alden and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Garfield →
$16,449
per pupil · WI $16,459
1,326
students
$45.2 million
long-term debt

Of the $16,449 per pupil, $9,984 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 50%State 44%Federal 6%

Wisconsin districts overall: 39% local, 50% state, 11% federal.

Also serving Garfield

St. Croix Falls School District · $15,166 per pupil

Osceola School District · $18,246 per pupil

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

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $446 per resident a year, or $1.22 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 48%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 57%From the state 22%From the federal government 10%Other taxes & licenses 7%Fees & charges 3%From other local governments 2%Interest, fines & other <1%
Not in the receipt.Interest on debt $43,000. With these, the whole budget was $777,000.
Compared with similar places

$446 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar towns

Garfield’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($446 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 1113 Wisconsin towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $511, and the middle half spent $371–$727. Garfield spent less than 61% of them.

Middle half of the group, $371–$727Median $511Garfield

Includes sewer and trash ($1,000), 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
1113

Wisconsin towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Garfield itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,953 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.94% of the home’s value, vs 1.42% across Wisconsin.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Wisconsin$3,792
Alden$3,736
Osceola$3,461
Lincoln$3,263
Garfield$2,953
$2,953
typical bill a year
0.94%
effective rate
$315,200
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Garfield

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

Check Garfield’s own website for current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Garfield yet.
Who works for Garfield

One full-time town employee for every 183 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 (1,645).

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

Administration & buildings5 + 5 pt
Roads & transportation4
9
full-time
5
part-time
$23,690
payroll for March 2022
$284,280
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$27,200
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Garfield had 5.5 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 835 of the 1113 Wisconsin towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 0.4: Garfield had more than 93% 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.

Elections · 2024 general election

How Garfield voted in 2024

Official results for Garfield’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.

President1,094 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican68.1%745 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat30.9%338 votes

Others: 1.0% (11 votes).

Most votes in Garfield: Donald J Trump

Polk County: Trump 64.8%, Harris 33.9% · Wisconsin: Trump 49.6%, Harris 48.7%

Turnout
86%

of Garfield’s 1,268 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Wisconsin: 76%.

Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).

U.S. Senate1,088 votes
Eric HovdeRepublican66.6%
Tammy BaldwinDemocrat31.2%
Others2.1%

Most votes in Garfield: Eric Hovde

Polk County: Hovde 62.5%, Baldwin 34.8% · Wisconsin: Baldwin 49.3%, Hovde 48.5%

U.S. House · Wisconsin’s 7th District430,384 votes
Tom TiffanyRepublican63.6%
Kyle KilbournDemocrat36.4%
Others0.1%

Most votes in the district: Tom Tiffany

Whole-district result

President, 2024: Garfield, its county and the state

TrumpHarrisOthersVotes
Garfield68.1%30.9%1.0%1,094
Polk County64.8%33.9%1.3%28,222
Wisconsin49.6%48.7%1.7%3,422,918
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 Garfield

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Garfield.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your townTown government
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Wisconsin AssemblyState representatives
  3. 3
    Wisconsin SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Wisconsin

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

Next door

How Garfield compares with the towns next door

Garfield spent $446 per resident in 2022; the 3 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $298 to $366. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Osceola$298$3,461
Lincoln$306$3,263
Alden$366$3,736
Garfield$446$2,953

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 Garfield’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Garfield’s government

How much does Garfield spend per resident?

About $446 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 $446 was less than 61% of 1113 Wisconsin towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Garfield?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,953 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.94% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.42% across Wisconsin. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the town’s assessor.

Who runs Garfield’s government?

We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Garfield yet.

How did Garfield vote in 2024?

For president, Donald J Trump 68.1%, Kamala D Harris 30.9% (1,094 votes, official results). Polk County: Trump 64.8%, Harris 33.9%. Wisconsin: Trump 49.6%, Harris 48.7%.

How many people work for Garfield?

9 full-time and 5 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $23,690 (about $284,280 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Garfield in the state legislature?

State Senate District 25 (Romaine Quinn) and Assembly District 75 (Duke Tucker). The Assembly district also covers 56 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Garfield’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 →