Photo: Billwhittaker at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0Washington spent less per resident in 2022 than 77% of similar cities
Washington’s city government spent $7.3 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,020 per resident. Water and other utilities ($1.3 million) and the airport ($310,000) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Washington is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$1,020 per resident in 2022: less than 77% of them
Washington’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,020 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 91 Iowa cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,177, and the middle half spent $1,030–$1,402. Washington spent less than 77% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($1.9 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 →
Iowa cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Washington itself left out).
About $1,020 per resident a year, or $2.79 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 25%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
No trend yet
Washington reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
full-time in March 2025, down from 51 in 2022.
The typical homeowner pays $2,663 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.75% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Washington’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 Washington’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Washington →
Who’s in charge in Washington
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Washington’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on washingtoniowa.net ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 147 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (7,206).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Washington Community School District
Washington’s K–12 school district, shared with Brighton. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $14,542 per pupil, $9,264 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.
Iowa districts overall: 43% local, 49% state, 8% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Washington’s votes are counted by county
Iowa reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Washington alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Washington County’s results.
Donald J TrumpRepublican61.6%7,119 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat37.2%4,297 votesOthers: 1.2% (135 votes).
Most votes in Washington County: Donald J Trump
Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%
100% of Washington lies in Washington County. Every 2024 race in Washington County is on the county’s page.
Washington County’s 2024 results →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.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Washington.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: washingtoniowa.net ↗
- 2Iowa HouseState representatives
- 3Iowa SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Iowa
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
Reach Washington’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Washington’s government
How much does Washington spend per resident?
About $1,020 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,020 was less than 77% of 91 Iowa cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Washington?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,663 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.75% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see washingtoniowa.net.
Who runs Washington’s government?
See washingtoniowa.net for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Washington yet.
How did Washington vote in 2024?
Iowa counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Washington alone. Washington County, where 100% of Washington lies, voted Trump 61.6%, Harris 37.2% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Washington?
49 full-time and 14 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $303,129 (about $3.6M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Washington in the state legislature?
State Senate District 46 (Dawn Driscoll) and State House District 92 (Heather Hora). The House district also covers 11 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Washington’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
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 →