Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Anacortes

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
W. T. PRESTON (snagboat)W. T. PRESTON (snagboat) · Photo: Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Anacortes

Anacortes spent more per resident in 2022 than 98% of similar cities

Anacortes’ city government spent $48.7 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, about $2,707 per resident. Water and other utilities ($11.5 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Next public meeting

Forest Advisory Board

6:00 pm · 904 6th Street

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$48.7M
year to December 31, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$2,707
In 2022: $2,388, more than 98% of 40 similar cities
Long-term debt
$56.1M
end of 2024, reported
City staff, 2025
218
full-time · 33 part-time · March payroll $1.9M · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$4,683
0.67% of home value · WA 0.81%

What stands out about how Anacortes is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $2,388 per resident, more than 98% of 40 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer43% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2024).Its own police and fire25 sworn officers and 29 full-time firefighters on the payroll.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

Recent meetings

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 2024 budget

About $2,707 per resident a year, or $7.42 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 31%.

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 29%Sales taxes 22%Utility sales 18%Interest, fines & other 9%From the state 8%Property taxes 8%From other local governments 3%Other taxes & licenses 3%From the federal government <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $14.7 million; interest on debt $2.5 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $78.7 million.
Compared with similar places

$2,388 per resident in 2022: more than 98% of them

Anacortes’ day-to-day spending in 2022 ($2,388 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 40 Washington cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,128, and the middle half spent $944–$1,514. Anacortes spent more than 98% of them.

Middle half of the group, $944–$1,514Median $1,128Anacortes

Includes sewer and trash ($11.3 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
40

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

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 15% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$42.3 million
2024$48.7 million

Per resident: 2022: $2,388 · 2024: $2,707.

City staff
218

full-time in March 2025, up from 187 in 2022. Both are Census estimates.

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 $4,683 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.67% of the home’s value, vs 0.81% across Washington.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Anacortes$4,683
Washington$4,556
$4,683
typical bill a year
0.67%
effective rate
$696,700
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Anacortes

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

See cityofanacortes.org for Anacortes’ current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Anacortes yet.cityofanacortes.org ↗
Who works for Anacortes

One full-time city employee for every 83 residents

On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (18,003).

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

Parks & libraries30 + 21 pt
Police32
Fire30 + 2 pt
Administration & buildings20 + 8 pt
Water & other utilities19
Sewer & trash17
Roads & transportation16
Courts, inspections & corrections10
Housing & development4
Other40 + 2 pt
218
full-time
33
part-time
$1.9M
payroll for March 2025
$22.3M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$99,400
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
25
sworn police officers
29
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Anacortes had 10.6 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 32 of the 40 Washington cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 5.6: Anacortes had more than 91% 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

Anacortes School District

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

Schools in Anacortes →
$18,265
per pupil · WA $18,444
2,621
students
$58.8 million
long-term debt

Of the $18,265 per pupil, $10,320 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 34%State 63%Federal 3%

Washington districts overall: 27% local, 66% state, 8% federal.

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Anacortes’ votes are counted by county

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

President · Skagit County’s results69,131 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat52.6%36,346 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican43.8%30,278 votes

Others: 3.6% (2,507 votes).

Most votes in Skagit County: Kamala D Harris

Washington: Harris 57.2%, Trump 39.0%

The county’s page

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

Skagit 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 Anacortes

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Anacortes.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: cityofanacortes.org ↗
  2. 2
    Washington HouseState representatives
    Alex RamelDebra Lekanoff
  3. 3
    Washington SenateState senator
    Liz Lovelett
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Bob Ferguson
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Rick Larsen
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Washington
    Patty MurrayMaria Cantwell

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

Reach Anacortes’ government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitecityofanacortes.org ↗

Questions about Anacortes’ government

How much does Anacortes spend per resident?

About $2,707 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $2,388 was more than 98% of 40 Washington cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Anacortes?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,683 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.67% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.81% across Washington. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofanacortes.org.

Who runs Anacortes’ government?

See cityofanacortes.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Anacortes yet.

How did Anacortes vote in 2024?

Washington counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Anacortes alone. Skagit County, where 100% of Anacortes lies, voted Harris 52.6%, Trump 43.8% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Anacortes?

218 full-time and 33 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $1.9M (about $22.3M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents Anacortes in the state legislature?

State Senate District 40 (Liz Lovelett) and State House District 40 (Alex Ramel and Debra Lekanoff). The House district also covers four other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Anacortes?

The next posted meeting is Forest Advisory Board on Thursday, November 5, at 6:00 pm in 904 6th Street, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Anacortes’ 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 →