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2008-1019-01-Ellensburg01Photo: Bobak Ha'Eri · CC BY 3.0
Town Hall · Ellensburg

How is Ellensburg run?

Ellensburg’s city government spent $29.4 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, about $1,571 per resident. Water and other utilities ($30.6 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Next public meeting

Access, Advocacy, Equity, and Engagement Commission

3:00 pm · 501 N Anderson Street, Council Chambers

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$29.4M
year to December 31, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$1,571
In 2022: $1,106, less than 55% of 40 similar cities
Long-term debt
$41.9M
end of 2024, reported
City staff, 2025
179
full-time · 78 part-time · March payroll $1.5M
Typical tax bill
$3,323
0.82% of home value · WA 0.81%

What stands out about how Ellensburg is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Runs its own water & sewer60% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2024).Low bills, a higher rateThe typical bill is $3,323 a year: 0.82% of the home’s value, vs 0.81% across Washington.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

Recent meetings

  • Nov4
    Affordable Housing CommissionWednesday · 4:30 pm · 501 N Anderson Street, Council ChambersAffordable Housing Commission MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Nov4
    Lodging Tax Advisory CommitteeWednesday · 2:00 pm · 501 N Anderson Street, Council Conference RoomLodging Tax Advisory Committee MeetingMeeting page ↗
  • Nov3
    Landmarks & Design CommissionTuesday · 5:45 pm · 501 N Anderson Street, Council ChambersLandmarks & Design Commission Meeting - CANCELEDAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Nov3
    Civil Service CommissionTuesday · 4:00 pm · 501 N Anderson Street, Council Conference RoomCivil Service Commission Meeting - CancelledAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Nov2
    City CouncilMonday · 7:00 pm · 501 N Anderson Street, Council ChambersCity Council MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
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 $1,571 per resident a year, or $4.30 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 23%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 43%Sales taxes 20%Fees & charges 12%Interest, fines & other 11%From the state 8%Property taxes 4%Other taxes & licenses 2%From other local governments <1%From the federal government <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $13.9 million; interest on debt $955,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $75 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,106 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Ellensburg’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,106 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 $1,136, and the middle half spent $944–$1,528. Ellensburg spent less than 55% of them.

Middle half of the group, $944–$1,528Median $1,136Ellensburg

Includes sewer and trash ($5.3 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; Ellensburg itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 23% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$23.9 million
2023$26.4 million
2024$29.4 million

Per resident: 2022: $1,106 · 2023: $1,345 · 2024: $1,571. Per resident it went from $1,106 to $1,571 (up 42%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 21,576 to 18,703.

City staff
179

full-time in March 2025, up from 169 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 $3,323 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.82% of the home’s value, vs 0.81% across Washington.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Washington$4,556
Ellensburg$3,323
$3,323
typical bill a year
0.82%
effective rate
$404,100
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Ellensburg

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

See ci.ellensburg.wa.us for Ellensburg’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Ellensburg yet.ci.ellensburg.wa.us ↗
Who works for Ellensburg

One full-time city employee for every 104 residents

On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (18,703).

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

Parks & libraries16 + 73 pt
Administration & buildings41 + 5 pt
Police39
Water & other utilities19
Sewer & trash11
Housing & development9
Roads & transportation8
Courts, inspections & corrections2
Other34
179
full-time
78
part-time
$1.5M
payroll for March 2025
$17.4M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$91,100
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
32
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Ellensburg had 7.8 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: Ellensburg had more than 69% 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

Ellensburg School District

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

Schools in Ellensburg →
$16,572
per pupil · WA $18,444
3,339
students
$66.3 million
long-term debt

Of the $16,572 per pupil, $9,777 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 28%State 64%Federal 8%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Ellensburg’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Kittitas County’s results26,499 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican55.3%14,645 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat40.8%10,810 votes

Others: 3.9% (1,044 votes).

Most votes in Kittitas County: Donald J Trump

Washington: Harris 57.2%, Trump 39.0%

The county’s page

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

Kittitas 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 Ellensburg

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Ellensburg.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: ci.ellensburg.wa.us ↗
  2. 2
    Washington HouseState representatives
    Alex YbarraTom Dent
  3. 3
    Washington SenateState senator
    Judy Warnick
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Bob Ferguson
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Kim Schrier
  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 Ellensburg’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websiteci.ellensburg.wa.us ↗

Questions about Ellensburg’s government

How much does Ellensburg spend per resident?

About $1,571 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 $1,106 was less than 55% of 40 Washington cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Ellensburg?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,323 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.82% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.81% across Washington. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ci.ellensburg.wa.us.

Who runs Ellensburg’s government?

See ci.ellensburg.wa.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Ellensburg yet.

How did Ellensburg vote in 2024?

Washington counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Ellensburg alone. Kittitas County, where 100% of Ellensburg lies, voted Trump 55.3%, Harris 40.8% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Ellensburg?

179 full-time and 78 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $1.5M (about $17.4M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Ellensburg in the state legislature?

State Senate District 13 (Judy Warnick) and State House District 13 (Alex Ybarra and Tom Dent). The House district also covers 21 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Ellensburg?

The next posted meeting is Access, Advocacy, Equity, and Engagement Commission on Tuesday, November 10, at 3:00 pm in 501 N Anderson Street, Council Chambers, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Ellensburg’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 →