06/02/2026
Something to remember.
Hermantown, Minnesota, a city of about 10,000 people, is being offered $130 million in roads and pipes for a new Google data center.
At first glance, it sounds like the kind of deal most places dream about: a major private investment, little to no upfront cost, and a global company choosing your community.
But there’s another side to the math.
Hermantown’s public works department reportedly operates on about a $1 million annual budget today. The town already struggles to maintain the infrastructure it has. And as part of this deal, Google will pay reduced property taxes for at least the next 28 years. Google isn’t even that old, by the way.
Now imagine adding another massive system of roads, pipes, and utilities that the city will eventually need to repair, replace, and maintain for decades.
Those responsibilities will still be there long after the press releases and ribbon cuttings are over.
Large corporations have teams of lawyers, analysts, and consultants making these deals across the country. Small towns rarely have the same capacity.
Hermantown shouldn’t have to choose between welcoming growth and asking serious questions about the long-term bill. Residents and local leaders deserve time to understand the tradeoffs:
What will this cost 20 years from now?
Who carries the risk if projections fall short?
What happens when maintenance bills come due?
Because if the project underperforms, Google can move on to the next opportunity.
Hermantown still has to take care of the pipes.
