Photo: Williamborg · CC BY-SA 3.0Benton City spent less per resident in 2022 than 94% of similar cities
Benton City’s city government spent $2.2 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $635 per resident. Water and other utilities ($434,000) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Benton City is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$635 per resident in 2022: less than 94% of them
Benton City’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($635 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 65 Washington cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,191, and the middle half spent $895–$1,504. Benton City spent less than 94% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($381,000), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Washington cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Benton City itself left out).
About $635 per resident a year, or $1.74 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 29%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
No trend yet
Benton City reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $2,262 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.64% of the home’s value, vs 0.81% across Washington.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Benton City’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 Benton City’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Benton City →
Who’s in charge in Benton City
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Benton City’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on ci.benton-city.wa.us/index.htm ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 386 residents
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (3,477).
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.
Kiona-Benton City School District
Benton City’s K–12 school district, shared with West Richland. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $16,768 per pupil, $9,326 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.
Washington districts overall: 27% local, 66% state, 8% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Benton City’s votes are counted by county
Washington reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Benton City alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Benton County’s results.
Donald J TrumpRepublican59.1%59,435 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat37.4%37,651 votesOthers: 3.5% (3,474 votes).
Most votes in Benton County: Donald J Trump
Washington: Harris 57.2%, Trump 39.0%
100% of Benton City lies in Benton County. Every 2024 race in Benton County is on the county’s page.
Benton 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 Benton City.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: ci.benton-city.wa.us/index.htm ↗
- 2Washington HouseState representatives
- 3Washington SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Washington
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
Reach Benton City’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Benton City’s government
How much does Benton City spend per resident?
About $635 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $635 was less than 94% of 65 Washington cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Benton City?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,262 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.64% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.81% across Washington. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ci.benton-city.wa.us/index.htm.
Who runs Benton City’s government?
See ci.benton-city.wa.us/index.htm for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Benton City yet.
How did Benton City vote in 2024?
Washington counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Benton City alone. Benton County, where 100% of Benton City lies, voted Trump 59.1%, Harris 37.4% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Benton City?
9 full-time and 8 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $50,932 (about $611,184 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Benton City in the state legislature?
State Senate District 16 (Perry Dozier) and State House District 16 (Mark Klicker and Skyler Rude). The House district also covers 10 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Benton City’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 →