Federal Way spent less per resident in 2022 than 80% of similar cities
Federal Way’s city government spent $88.3 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, about $902 per resident.
What stands out about how Federal Way is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
Who’s in charge in Federal Way
From public records with a current term; a name is hidden the day its term ends.
About $902 per resident a year, or $2.47 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 34%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
$743 per resident in 2022: less than 80% of them
Federal Way’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($743 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. Federal Way spent less than 80% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($4.4 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; Federal Way itself left out).
Day-to-day spending is up 23% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Federal Way reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $743 · 2023: $828 · 2024: $902.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $4,706 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.85% 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 Federal Way’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 Federal Way’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Federal Way →
One full-time city employee for every 302 residents
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (97,863).
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.
Federal Way School District
Federal Way’s K–12 school district, shared with Des Moines. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $18,682 per pupil, $10,165 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.
Federal Way’s votes are counted by county
Washington reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Federal Way 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 Federal Way 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
Every level of government that speaks for Federal Way.
- 1Your cityMayorJim Ferrellas listed by Open States, October 9, 2026
- 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.
How Federal Way compares with the towns next door
Federal Way spent $743 per resident in 2022; the 4 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $722 to $2,188. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Milton | $722 | $4,764 |
| Des Moines | $1,011 | $5,640 |
| Auburn | $1,454 | $5,484 |
| Tacoma | $2,188 | $4,482 |
| Federal Way | $743 | $4,706 |
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 Federal Way’s government
Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.
Questions about Federal Way’s government
How much does Federal Way spend per resident?
About $902 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 $743 was less than 80% of 15 Washington cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Federal Way?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,706 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.85% 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 Federal Way?
Jim Ferrell, as listed by Open States (checked October 9, 2026).
How did Federal Way vote in 2024?
Washington counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Federal Way alone. King County, where 100% of Federal Way lies, voted Harris 73.6%, Trump 22.3% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Federal Way?
324 full-time and 112 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $2.9M (about $34.3M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Federal Way in the state legislature?
State Senate District 30 (Claire Wilson) and State House District 30 (Jamila Taylor and Kristine Reeves). The House district also covers four other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Federal Way’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 →