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Virginia Garcia - Cornelius, OregonPhoto: M.O. Stevens · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Cornelius

How is Cornelius run?

Cornelius’ city government spent $13.1 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $999 per resident. Water and other utilities ($4.7 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Oregon.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$13.1M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$999
In 2022: $999, more than 52% of 21 similar cities
Long-term debt
$2.0M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
36
full-time · 26 part-time · March payroll $277,349
Typical tax bill
$3,411
0.75% of home value · OR 0.81%

What stands out about how Cornelius is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

★ What stands out · Your share of the 2022 budget

About $999 per resident a year, or $2.74 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 34%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 26%Fees & charges 22%Property taxes 17%From the state 14%Other taxes & licenses 10%From other local governments 5%Sales taxes 4%Interest, fines & other 2%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $1.5 million; interest on debt $72,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $19.4 million.
Compared with similar places

$999 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Cornelius’ day-to-day spending in 2022 ($999 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 21 Oregon cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $991, and the middle half spent $893–$1,185. Cornelius spent more than 52% of them.

Middle half of the group, $893–$1,185Median $991Cornelius

Includes sewer and trash ($4.4 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 →

The group
21

Oregon cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Cornelius itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $3,411 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.75% of the home’s value, vs 0.81% across Oregon.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Forest Grove$4,047
Oregon$3,876
Cornelius$3,411
$3,411
typical bill a year
0.75%
effective rate
$452,900
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Cornelius

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

See ci.cornelius.or.us for Cornelius’ current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Cornelius yet.ci.cornelius.or.us ↗
Agendas

Cornelius’ meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on ci.cornelius.or.us ↗.

Who works for Cornelius

One full-time city employee for every 364 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 (13,116).

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

Parks & libraries7 + 15 pt
Fire6 + 10 pt
Roads & transportation9
Administration & buildings6 + 1 pt
Sewer & trash3
Housing & development2
Water & other utilities1
Other2
36
full-time
26
part-time
$277,349
payroll for March 2022
$3.3M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$83,500
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
6
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Cornelius had 2.7 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 19 of the 21 Oregon cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 5.8: Cornelius had fewer than 100% 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.

The school district

Forest Grove School District 15

Cornelius’ K–12 school district, shared with Forest Grove. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Cornelius →
$17,570
per pupil · OR $17,749
5,788
students
$139.6 million
long-term debt

Of the $17,570 per pupil, $10,493 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 33%State 58%Federal 9%

Oregon districts overall: 38% local, 52% state, 10% federal.

Also serving Cornelius

Hillsboro School District 1J · $17,759 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Cornelius’ votes are counted by county

Oregon reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Cornelius alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Washington County’s results.

President · Washington County’s results297,949 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat64.8%193,013 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican31.1%92,590 votes

Others: 4.1% (12,346 votes).

Most votes in Washington County: Kamala D Harris

Oregon: Harris 55.3%, Trump 41.0%

The county’s page

100% of Cornelius lies in Washington County. Every 2024 race in Washington County is on the county’s page.

Washington County’s 2024 results →
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 Cornelius

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Cornelius.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
  2. 2
    Oregon HouseState representatives
  3. 3
    Oregon SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Oregon

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

Next door

How Cornelius compares with the towns next door

Cornelius spent $999 per resident in 2022; the neighbor that reported 2022 spent $1,040. 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
Forest Grove$1,040$4,047
Cornelius$999$3,411

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 Cornelius’ government

The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Cornelius’ government

How much does Cornelius spend per resident?

About $999 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 $999 was more than 52% of 21 Oregon cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Cornelius?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,411 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.75% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.81% across Oregon. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ci.cornelius.or.us.

Who runs Cornelius’ government?

See ci.cornelius.or.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Cornelius yet.

How did Cornelius vote in 2024?

Oregon counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Cornelius alone. Washington County, where 100% of Cornelius lies, voted Harris 64.8%, Trump 31.1% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Cornelius?

36 full-time and 26 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $277,349 (about $3.3M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Cornelius in the state legislature?

State Senate District 15 (Janeen Sollman) and State House District 29 (Susan McLain). The House district also covers two neighboring towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Cornelius’ 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 →