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Downtown Forest Grove, OregonPhoto: M.O. Stevens · Public domain
Town Hall · Forest Grove

How is Forest Grove run?

Forest Grove’s city government spent $30.1 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2023, about $1,155 per resident. That is its newest year reported to the Census Bureau. Water and other utilities ($30.3 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Next public meeting

City Council

5:30 pm · Community Auditorium, 1915 Main Street

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2023
$30.1M
year to June 30, 2023
Per resident, 2023
$1,155
In 2022: $1,040, more than 55% of 31 similar cities
Long-term debt
$3.7M
end of FY2023, reported
City staff, 2025
190
full-time · 28 part-time · March payroll $1.6M
Typical tax bill
$4,047
0.84% of home value · OR 0.81%

What stands out about how Forest Grove is run

Read from the city’s budget, meetings and official records.

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Runs its own water & sewer54% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2023).A shared school districtShares Forest Grove School District 15 with 1 other town.Its own police and fire28 sworn officers and 34 full-time firefighters on the payroll.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Forest Grove’s own agenda portal, checked daily. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check before you go.

Recent meetings

  • Nov3
    Committee for Community EngagementTuesday · 5:30 pm · Community Auditorium, 1915 Main StreetMeeting page ↗
  • Oct27
    Historic Landmarks BoardTuesday · 6:30 pm · 1915 Main StreetHistoric Landmarks Board 10.27.26Agenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct26
    City CouncilMonday · 7:00 pm · Community Auditorium, 1915 Main StreetCity Council MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct19
    GeneralMonday · 5:00 pm · Community Auditorium Conference RoomSister City Committee MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct15
    Public Arts CommissionThursday · 5:00 pm · Forest Grove Library, 2114 Pacific Avenue, Rogers RoomAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
Go in person

Most meetings are open to the public, and many have a public comment period at the start.

Agenda portal ↗
Your share of the 2023 budget

About $1,155 per resident a year, or $3.16 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 23%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 45%Property taxes 17%Fees & charges 13%Interest, fines & other 8%From the state 5%From the federal government 4%From other local governments 4%Other taxes & licenses 3%Sales taxes 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $15.7 million; interest on debt $112,000; payments to other governments $309,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $76.6 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,040 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Forest Grove’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,040 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 31 Oregon cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,003, and the middle half spent $920–$1,210. Forest Grove spent more than 55% of them.

Middle half of the group, $920–$1,210Median $1,003Forest Grove

Includes sewer and trash ($1.6 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
31

Oregon cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Forest Grove itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 14% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$26.5 million
2023$30.1 million

Per resident: 2022: $1,040 · 2023: $1,155.

City staff
190

full-time in March 2025, up from 167 in 2022.

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 $4,047 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.84% 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
$4,047
typical bill a year
0.84%
effective rate
$479,600
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Forest Grove

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

See forestgrove-or.gov for Forest Grove’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Forest Grove yet.forestgrove-or.gov ↗
Who works for Forest Grove

One full-time city employee for every 137 residents

On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2023 finance file (26,089).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025

Fire40 + 17 pt
Administration & buildings37 + 1 pt
Police36 + 1 pt
Water & other utilities34
Parks & libraries23 + 9 pt
Courts, inspections & corrections2
Sewer & trash2
Roads & transportation1
Other15
190
full-time
28
part-time
$1.6M
payroll for March 2025
$19.3M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$100,300
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
28
sworn police officers
34
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Forest Grove had 6.6 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 27 of the 31 Oregon cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 5.4: Forest Grove had more than 70% 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

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

Schools in Forest Grove →
$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.

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Forest Grove’s votes are counted by county

Oregon reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Forest Grove 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 Forest Grove 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 Forest Grove

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Forest Grove.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: forestgrove-or.gov ↗
  2. 2
    Oregon HouseState representatives
    Susan McLain
  3. 3
    Oregon SenateState senator
    Janeen Sollman
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Tina Kotek
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Suzanne Bonamici
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Oregon
    Ron WydenJeff Merkley

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

Next door

How Forest Grove compares with the towns next door

Forest Grove spent $1,040 per resident in 2022; the neighbor that reported 2022 spent $999. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Cornelius: $999 per resident (2022)CorneliusForest Grove
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Cornelius$999$3,411
Forest Grove$1,040$4,047

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 Forest Grove’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websiteforestgrove-or.gov ↗

Questions about Forest Grove’s government

How much does Forest Grove spend per resident?

About $1,155 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2023, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,040 was more than 55% of 31 Oregon cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Forest Grove?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,047 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.84% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.81% across Oregon. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see forestgrove-or.gov.

Who runs Forest Grove’s government?

See forestgrove-or.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Forest Grove yet.

How did Forest Grove vote in 2024?

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

How many people work for Forest Grove?

190 full-time and 28 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $1.6M (about $19.3M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Forest Grove 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.

When is the next public meeting in Forest Grove?

The next posted meeting is City Council on Monday, November 9, at 5:30 pm in Community Auditorium, 1915 Main Street, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Forest Grove’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 →