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Downtown ChewelahPhoto: BrandonHansen18 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Chewelah

How is Chewelah run?

Chewelah’s city government spent $3.2 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $1,191 per resident. Water and other utilities ($2.6 million) are counted separately.

Day-to-day spending, 2022
$3.2M
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,191
In 2022: $1,191, more than 51% of 65 similar cities
Long-term debt
$3.5M
end of 2022, reported
City staff, 2022
26
full-time · 25 part-time · March payroll $175,016
Typical tax bill
$1,837
0.69% of home value · WA 0.81%

What stands out about how Chewelah is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

★ What stands out · Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,191 per resident a year, or $3.26 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 40%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 33%Fees & charges 21%From the state 18%Sales taxes 17%Property taxes 6%Interest, fines & other 3%Other taxes & licenses 2%From other local governments 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $1.6 million; interest on debt $117,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $7.6 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,191 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Chewelah’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,191 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 $1,189, and the middle half spent $890–$1,504. Chewelah spent more than 51% of them.

Middle half of the group, $890–$1,504Median $1,189Chewelah

Includes sewer and trash ($1.3 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
65

Washington cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Chewelah itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,837 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.69% of the home’s value, vs 0.81% across Washington.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Washington$4,556
Chewelah$1,837
$1,837
typical bill a year
0.69%
effective rate
$267,400
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Chewelah

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

Check Chewelah’s own website for current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Chewelah yet.
Who works for Chewelah

One full-time city employee for every 103 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 (2,684).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022

Administration & buildings6 + 8 pt
Fire0 + 16 pt
Water & other utilities7
Police6 + 1 pt
Roads & transportation2
Sewer & trash2
Parks & libraries1
Other2
26
full-time
25
part-time
$175,016
payroll for March 2022
$2.1M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$79,200
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
5
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Chewelah had 9.7 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 57 of the 65 Washington cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 6.6: Chewelah had more than 82% 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

Chewelah School District

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

Schools in Chewelah →
$17,122
per pupil · WA $18,444
838
students
None
long-term debt

Of the $17,122 per pupil, $9,297 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 11%State 74%Federal 14%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Chewelah’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Stevens County’s results28,246 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican70.4%19,895 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat26.5%7,492 votes

Others: 3.0% (859 votes).

Most votes in Stevens County: Donald J Trump

Washington: Harris 57.2%, Trump 39.0%

The county’s page

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

Stevens 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 Chewelah

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Chewelah.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Washington HouseState representatives
  3. 3
    Washington SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Washington

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

Reach Chewelah’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Chewelah’s government

How much does Chewelah spend per resident?

About $1,191 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 $1,191 was more than 51% of 65 Washington cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Chewelah?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,837 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.69% 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 runs Chewelah’s government?

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

How did Chewelah vote in 2024?

Washington counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Chewelah alone. Stevens County, where 100% of Chewelah lies, voted Trump 70.4%, Harris 26.5% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Chewelah?

26 full-time and 25 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $175,016 (about $2.1M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Chewelah in the state legislature?

State Senate District 7 (Shelly Short) and State House District 7 (Andrew Engell and Hunter Abell). The House district also covers 30 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Chewelah’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 →