Photo: Jelson25 · Public domainFriday Harbor spent more per resident in 2022 than 98% of similar cities
Friday Harbor’s town government spent $6.5 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $2,548 per resident. Water and other utilities ($1.8 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Friday Harbor is run
Read from the town’s budget and official records.
$2,548 per resident in 2022: more than 98% of them
Friday Harbor’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($2,548 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–$1,459. Friday Harbor spent more than 98% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($3.4 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 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Friday Harbor itself left out).
About $2,548 per resident a year, or $6.98 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 52%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
No trend yet
Friday Harbor reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $2,985 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.52% 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 Friday Harbor’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 Friday Harbor’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Friday Harbor →
Who’s in charge in Friday Harbor
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Friday Harbor’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on fridayharbor.org ↗.
One full-time town employee for every 65 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 (2,544).
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.
San Juan Island School District
Friday Harbor’s K–12 school district. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $19,272 per pupil, $10,883 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.
Friday Harbor’s votes are counted by county
Washington reports official results by county and precinct, not by town, so there are no official results for Friday Harbor alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are San Juan County’s results.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat73.3%9,539 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican22.2%2,890 votesOthers: 4.4% (577 votes).
Most votes in San Juan County: Kamala D Harris
Washington: Harris 57.2%, Trump 39.0%
100% of Friday Harbor lies in San Juan County. Every 2024 race in San Juan County is on the county’s page.
San Juan 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 Friday Harbor.
- 1Your townTown governmentOfficials: fridayharbor.org ↗
- 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 Friday Harbor’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Friday Harbor’s government
How much does Friday Harbor spend per resident?
About $2,548 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 $2,548 was more than 98% of 65 Washington cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Friday Harbor?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,985 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.52% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.81% across Washington. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see fridayharbor.org.
Who runs Friday Harbor’s government?
See fridayharbor.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Friday Harbor yet.
How did Friday Harbor vote in 2024?
Washington counts votes by county and precinct, not by town, so there are no official results for Friday Harbor alone. San Juan County, where 100% of Friday Harbor lies, voted Harris 73.3%, Trump 22.2% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Friday Harbor?
39 full-time and 7 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $293,221 (about $3.5M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Friday Harbor in the state legislature?
State Senate District 40 (Liz Lovelett) and State House District 40 (Alex Ramel and Debra Lekanoff). The House district also covers four other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Friday Harbor’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 →