Burien spent less per resident in 2022 than 100% of similar cities
Burien’s city government spent $30.8 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $601 per resident.
What stands out about how Burien is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
Who’s in charge in Burien
From public records with a current term; a name is hidden the day its term ends.
About $601 per resident a year, or $1.65 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 41%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
$601 per resident in 2022: less than 100% of them
Burien’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($601 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 15 Washington cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,147, and the middle half spent $896–$1,638. Burien spent less than 100% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($2.3 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 →
Washington cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Burien itself left out).
No trend yet
Burien reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $6,004 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.94% 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 Burien’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 Burien’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Burien →
One full-time city employee for every 732 residents
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (51,268).
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.
Highline School District
Burien’s K–12 school district, shared with Normandy Park, SeaTac, Des Moines. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $21,280 per pupil, $12,300 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.
Burien’s votes are counted by county
Washington reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Burien alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are King County’s results.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat73.6%832,606 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican22.3%252,193 votesOthers: 4.0% (45,703 votes).
Most votes in King County: Kamala D Harris
Washington: Harris 57.2%, Trump 39.0%
100% of Burien lies in King County. Every 2024 race in King County is on the county’s page.
King 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
Burien sends 4 representatives to the Washington House alone.
- 1Your cityMayorKevin Schillingas listed by Open States, October 9, 2026
- 2Washington HouseBurien is split between 2 districts
- 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.
How Burien compares with the towns next door
Burien spent $601 per resident in 2022; the 5 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $840 to $3,505. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Normandy Park | $840 | $10,000+ |
| Des Moines | $1,011 | $5,640 |
| SeaTac | $1,705 | $5,104 |
| Seattle | $3,122 | $7,337 |
| Tukwila | $3,505 | $4,414 |
| Burien | $601 | $6,004 |
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 Burien’s government
Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.
Questions about Burien’s government
How much does Burien spend per resident?
About $601 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 $601 was less than 100% of 15 Washington cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Burien?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $6,004 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.94% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.81% across Washington. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the city’s assessor.
Who is the mayor of Burien?
Kevin Schilling, as listed by Open States (checked October 9, 2026).
How did Burien vote in 2024?
Washington counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Burien alone. King County, where 100% of Burien lies, voted Harris 73.6%, Trump 22.3% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Burien?
70 full-time and 36 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $651,332 (about $7.8M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.
Who represents Burien in the state legislature?
Burien is split among 2 State House districts and 2 State Senate districts, so your address decides. The Washington Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Burien’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 →