North Market Street Historic District · Photo: Tradewinds · CC BY-SA 3.0Washington spent more per resident in 2022 than 89% of similar cities
Washington’s city government spent $20.6 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $2,148 per resident. Water and other utilities ($34.3 million) and the airport ($804,000) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Washington is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$1,955 per resident in 2022: more than 89% of them
Washington’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,955 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 119 North Carolina cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $967, and the middle half spent $462–$1,402. Washington spent more than 89% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($5.1 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 →
North Carolina 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 $2,148 per resident a year, or $5.88 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 37%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Day-to-day spending is up 11% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Washington reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $1,955 · 2023: $2,730 · 2024: $2,148.
full-time in March 2025, up from 223 in 2022. Both are Census estimates.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $1,729 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.84% of the home’s value, vs 0.66% across North Carolina.
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 ci.washington.nc.us ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 38 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (9,579).
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.
Beaufort County Schools
Washington’s K–12 school district, shared with Aurora, Bath, Belhaven, Chocowinity, Pantego and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $13,416 per pupil, $7,631 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.
North Carolina districts overall: 26% local, 57% state, 17% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Washington’s votes are counted by county
North Carolina 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 Beaufort County’s results.
Donald J TrumpRepublican65.1%17,296 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat34.1%9,049 votesOthers: 0.9% (227 votes).
Most votes in Beaufort County: Donald J Trump
North Carolina: Trump 50.9%, Harris 47.6%
100% of Washington lies in Beaufort County. Every 2024 race in Beaufort County is on the county’s page.
Beaufort 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: ci.washington.nc.us ↗
- 2North Carolina HouseState representatives
- 3North Carolina SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of North Carolina
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 $2,148 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,955 was more than 89% of 119 North Carolina 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 $1,729 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.84% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.66% across North Carolina. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ci.washington.nc.us.
Who runs Washington’s government?
See ci.washington.nc.us 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?
North Carolina counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Washington alone. Beaufort County, where 100% of Washington lies, voted Trump 65.1%, Harris 34.1% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Washington?
252 full-time and 64 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $1.5M (about $18.0M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.
Who represents Washington in the state legislature?
State Senate District 3 (Bob Brinson) and State House District 79 (Keith Kidwell). The House district also covers 18 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 →