Columbia College · Photo: Ian Poellet · CC BY-SA 3.0Milton-Freewater spent more per resident in 2022 than 71% of similar cities
Milton-Freewater’s city government spent $3.4 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $484 per resident. Water and other utilities ($10.8 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Milton-Freewater is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$1,254 per resident in 2022: more than 71% of them
Milton-Freewater’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,254 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 35 Oregon cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $991, and the middle half spent $701–$1,314. Milton-Freewater spent more than 71% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($1.5 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 →
Oregon cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Milton-Freewater itself left out).
About $484 per resident a year, or $1.33 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 38%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Day-to-day spending is down 61% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Milton-Freewater 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: $1,254 · 2024: $484.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $1,952 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.81% of the home’s value, vs 0.81% across Oregon.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Milton-Freewater’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 Milton-Freewater’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Milton-Freewater →
Who’s in charge in Milton-Freewater
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Milton-Freewater’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on milton-freewater-or.gov ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 114 residents
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (7,092).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Milton-Freewater School District 7
Milton-Freewater’s K–12 school district. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $16,941 per pupil, $9,881 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.
Oregon districts overall: 38% local, 52% state, 10% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Milton-Freewater’s votes are counted by county
Oregon reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Milton-Freewater alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Umatilla County’s results.
Donald J TrumpRepublican67.2%20,973 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat29.6%9,251 votesOthers: 3.2% (1,001 votes).
Most votes in Umatilla County: Donald J Trump
Oregon: Harris 55.3%, Trump 41.0%
100% of Milton-Freewater lies in Umatilla County. Every 2024 race in Umatilla County is on the county’s page.
Umatilla 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 Milton-Freewater.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: milton-freewater-or.gov ↗
- 2Oregon HouseMilton-Freewater is split between 2 districts
- 3Oregon SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Oregon
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
Reach Milton-Freewater’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Milton-Freewater’s government
How much does Milton-Freewater spend per resident?
About $484 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 $1,254 was more than 71% of 35 Oregon cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Milton-Freewater?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,952 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.81% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.81% across Oregon. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see milton-freewater-or.gov.
Who runs Milton-Freewater’s government?
See milton-freewater-or.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Milton-Freewater yet.
How did Milton-Freewater vote in 2024?
Oregon counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Milton-Freewater alone. Umatilla County, where 100% of Milton-Freewater lies, voted Trump 67.2%, Harris 29.6% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Milton-Freewater?
62 full-time and 29 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $424,271 (about $5.1M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Milton-Freewater in the state legislature?
Milton-Freewater is split among 2 State House districts, so your address decides. The Oregon Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District 29 (Todd Nash). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Milton-Freewater’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 →