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Washington, UtahPhoto: Raymond Shobe · CC BY 2.0
Town Hall · Washington

Washington spent more per resident in 2022 than 96% of similar cities

Washington’s city government spent $33.2 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2023, about $1,070 per resident. That is its newest year reported to the Census Bureau. Water and other utilities ($27.7 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Utah.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2023
$33.2M
year to June 30, 2023
Per resident, 2023
$1,070
In 2022: $1,986, more than 96% of 23 similar cities
Long-term debt
$18.1M
end of FY2023, reported
City staff, 2025
224
full-time · 263 part-time · March payroll $1.7M
Typical tax bill
$2,351
0.41% of home value · UT 0.52%

What stands out about how Washington is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$1,986 per resident in 2022: more than 96% of them

Washington’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,986 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 23 Utah cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $802, and the middle half spent $603–$1,236. Washington spent more than 96% of them.

Middle half of the group, $603–$1,236Median $802Washington

Includes sewer and trash ($8 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
23

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

Your share of the 2023 budget

About $1,070 per resident a year, or $2.93 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: parks & libraries, at 22%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 38%Fees & charges 19%Sales taxes 17%Interest, fines & other 14%Property taxes 7%From the state 2%Other taxes & licenses 2%From the federal government <1%From other local governments <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $14.4 million; interest on debt $1.3 million; payments to other governments $68,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $77 million.
Over the years

Day-to-day spending is down 48% 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

2022$63.4 million
2023$33.2 million

Per resident: 2022: $1,986 · 2023: $1,070.

City staff
224

full-time in March 2025, up from 192 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 $2,351 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.41% of the home’s value, vs 0.52% across Utah.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Utah$2,525
Washington$2,351
St. George$2,122
Hurricane$1,925
$2,351
typical bill a year
0.41%
effective rate
$570,400
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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 runs it

Who’s in charge in Washington

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

See washingtoncity.org for Washington’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Washington yet.washingtoncity.org ↗
Agendas

Washington’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on washingtoncity.org ↗.

Who works for Washington

One full-time city employee for every 139 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 (31,035).

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

Parks & libraries37 + 212 pt
Police45 + 12 pt
Fire27 + 20 pt
Administration & buildings30 + 2 pt
Water & other utilities28
Roads & transportation10
Sewer & trash8
Courts, inspections & corrections6
Other33 + 17 pt
224
full-time
263
part-time
$1.7M
payroll for March 2025
$20.5M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$80,900
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
39
sworn police officers
23
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Washington had 6.0 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 19 of the 23 Utah cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 4.2: Washington had more than 89% 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

Washington School District

Washington’s K–12 school district, shared with Apple Valley, Enterprise, Hildale, Hurricane, Ivins and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Washington →
$9,667
per pupil · UT $11,467
37,575
students
$170.8 million
long-term debt

Of the $9,667 per pupil, $6,434 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 48%State 47%Federal 6%

Utah districts overall: 42% local, 51% state, 8% federal.

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Washington’s votes are counted by county

Utah 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 Washington County’s results.

President · Washington County’s results97,248 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican75.2%73,160 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat23.0%22,324 votes

Others: 1.8% (1,764 votes).

Most votes in Washington County: Donald J Trump

Utah: Trump 59.4%, Harris 37.8%

The county’s page

100% of Washington 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 Washington

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Washington.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
  2. 2
    Utah HouseWashington is split between 2 districts
  3. 3
    Utah SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Utah

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

Next door

How Washington compares with the towns next door

Washington spent $1,986 per resident in 2022; the 2 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $693 to $999. 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
Hurricane$693$1,925
St. George$999$2,122
Washington$1,986$2,351

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 Washington’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Washington’s government

How much does Washington spend per resident?

About $1,070 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 $1,986 was more than 96% of 23 Utah cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Washington?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,351 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.41% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.52% across Utah. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see washingtoncity.org.

Who runs Washington’s government?

See washingtoncity.org 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?

Utah counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Washington alone. Washington County, where 100% of Washington lies, voted Trump 75.2%, Harris 23.0% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Washington?

224 full-time and 263 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $1.7M (about $20.5M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Washington in the state legislature?

Washington is split among 2 State House districts and 2 State Senate districts, so your address decides. The Utah Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Washington’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 →