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Town Hall · Pine River

In Pine River, 84% of adult citizens voted for president in 2024, more than across Wisconsin

Pine River’s town government spent $720,000 on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, about $389 per resident.

Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Wisconsin.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$720,000
year to December 31, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$389
In 2022: $362, less than 77% of 1113 similar towns
Long-term debt
$201,000
end of 2024, reported
Town staff, 2022
8
full-time · 0 part-time · March payroll $16,048 · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$2,995
1.07% of home value · WI 1.42%

What stands out about how Pine River is run

Read from the town’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$362 per resident in 2022: less than 77% of them

Pine River’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($362 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 $373–$727. Pine River spent less than 77% of them.

Middle half of the group, $373–$727Median $511Pine River

Includes sewer and trash ($4,000), 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; Pine River itself left out).

Your share of the 2024 budget

About $389 per resident a year, or $1.07 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 68%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 52%From the state 42%Fees & charges 4%Other taxes & licenses 1%Interest, fines & other 1%From the federal government 1%From other local governments 1%Sales taxes <1%
Not in the receipt.Interest on debt $7,000. With these, the whole budget was $727,000.
Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 12% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$641,000
2024$720,000

Per resident: 2022: $362 · 2024: $389.

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 $2,995 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.07% of the home’s value, vs 1.42% across Wisconsin.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Wisconsin$3,792
Pine River$2,995
Texas$2,992
Scott$2,860
Merrill$2,415
Schley$2,329
Merrill$2,275
Ackley$1,983
$2,995
typical bill a year
1.07%
effective rate
$280,000
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Pine River

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

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

One full-time town employee for every 231 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (1,851).

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

Administration & buildings6
Roads & transportation2
8
full-time
0
part-time
$16,048
payroll for March 2022
$192,576
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$24,100
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Estimates.Pine River didn’t report its staff figures; these are the Census Bureau’s estimates, so they aren’t compared with other towns.

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

Merrill Area School District

Pine River’s K–12 school district, shared with Corning, Harding, Merrill, Merrill, Russell and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Pine River →
$13,948
per pupil · WI $16,459
2,798
students
None
long-term debt

Of the $13,948 per pupil, $7,545 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 35%State 54%Federal 11%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

How Pine River voted in 2024

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

President1,201 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican66.7%801 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat31.8%382 votes

Others: 1.5% (18 votes).

Most votes in Pine River: Donald J Trump

Lincoln County: Trump 61.8%, Harris 36.6% · Wisconsin: Trump 49.6%, Harris 48.7%

Turnout
84%

of Pine River’s 1,423 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Wisconsin: 76%.

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

U.S. Senate1,199 votes
Eric HovdeRepublican65.7%
Tammy BaldwinDemocrat32.4%
Others1.8%

Most votes in Pine River: Eric Hovde

Lincoln County: Hovde 59.2%, Baldwin 38.5% · 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: Pine River, its county and the state

TrumpHarrisOthersVotes
Pine River66.7%31.8%1.5%1,201
Lincoln County61.8%36.6%1.6%17,209
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 Pine River

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Pine River.

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 Pine River compares with the towns next door

Pine River spent $362 per resident in 2022; the 6 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $179 to $1,739. 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
Merrill$179$2,275
Scott$317$2,860
Schley$402$2,329
Texas$505$2,992
Ackley$646$1,983
Merrill$1,739$2,415
Pine River$362$2,995

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 Pine River’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Pine River’s government

How much does Pine River spend per resident?

About $389 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 $362 was less than 77% of 1113 Wisconsin towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Pine River?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,995 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.07% 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 Pine River’s government?

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

How did Pine River vote in 2024?

For president, Donald J Trump 66.7%, Kamala D Harris 31.8% (1,201 votes, official results). Lincoln County: Trump 61.8%, Harris 36.6%. Wisconsin: Trump 49.6%, Harris 48.7%.

How many people work for Pine River?

8 full-time and 0 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $16,048 (about $192,576 a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents Pine River in the state legislature?

State Senate District 12 (Mary Felzkowski) and Assembly District 35 (Calvin Callahan). The Assembly district also covers 49 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Pine River’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 →