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City Hall, Mount Vernon, OregonPhoto: Orygun · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon spent more per resident in 2022 than 68% of similar cities

Mount Vernon’s city government spent $442,000 on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $865 per resident. Water and other utilities ($145,000) are counted separately.

Election Day

Today

General election in Oregon.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$442,000
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$865
In 2022: $865, more than 68% of 92 similar cities
Long-term debt
$859,000
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
0
full-time · 6 part-time · March payroll $2,872
Typical tax bill
$1,283
0.90% of home value · OR 0.81%

What stands out about how Mount Vernon is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $865 per resident, more than 68% of 92 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer70% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares John Day School District 3 with 3 other towns.Low bills, a higher rateThe typical bill is $1,283 a year: 0.90% of the home’s value, vs 0.81% across Oregon.
Compared with similar places

$865 per resident in 2022: more than 68% of them

Mount Vernon’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($865 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 92 Oregon cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $694, and the middle half spent $446–$966. Mount Vernon spent more than 68% of them.

Middle half of the group, $446–$966Median $694Mount Vernon

Includes sewer and trash ($265,000), 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
92

Oregon cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Mount Vernon itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $865 per resident a year, or $2.37 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 60%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 27%Fees & charges 25%From the state 21%Property taxes 13%From other local governments 8%Sales taxes 3%Interest, fines & other 3%Other taxes & licenses <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $8,000; interest on debt $33,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $628,000.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,283 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.90% of the home’s value, vs 0.81% across Oregon.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Oregon$3,876
Mount Vernon$1,283
$1,283
typical bill a year
0.90%
effective rate
$143,000
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Mount Vernon’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. In a town this small the estimate has a wide margin.

Tax bills are one input to Mount Vernon’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Mount Vernon →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Mount Vernon

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

Check Mount Vernon’s own website for current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Mount Vernon yet.
The school district

John Day School District 3

Mount Vernon’s K–12 school district, shared with Canyon City, John Day, Seneca. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Mount Vernon →
$21,688
per pupil · OR $17,749
490
students
$1.5 million
long-term debt

Of the $21,688 per pupil, $12,469 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 17%State 71%Federal 11%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Mount Vernon’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Grant County’s results4,456 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican78.3%3,490 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat18.3%816 votes

Others: 3.4% (150 votes).

Most votes in Grant County: Donald J Trump

Oregon: Harris 55.3%, Trump 41.0%

The county’s page

100% of Mount Vernon lies in Grant County. Every 2024 race in Grant County is on the county’s page.

Grant 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 Mount Vernon

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Mount Vernon.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Oregon HouseState representatives
    Mark Owens
  3. 3
    Oregon SenateState senator
    Mike McLane
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Tina Kotek
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Cliff Bentz
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Oregon
    Ron WydenJeff Merkley

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

Reach Mount Vernon’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Mount Vernon’s government

How much does Mount Vernon spend per resident?

About $865 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 $865 was more than 68% of 92 Oregon cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Mount Vernon?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,283 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.90% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.81% across Oregon. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the city’s assessor.

Who runs Mount Vernon’s government?

We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Mount Vernon yet.

How did Mount Vernon vote in 2024?

Oregon counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Mount Vernon alone. Grant County, where 100% of Mount Vernon lies, voted Trump 78.3%, Harris 18.3% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Mount Vernon?

0 full-time and 6 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $2,872 (about $34,464 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Mount Vernon in the state legislature?

State Senate District 30 (Mike McLane) and State House District 60 (Mark Owens). The House district also covers 24 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Mount Vernon’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 →