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Town Hall · Lake Stevens

Lake Stevens spent less per resident in 2022 than 94% of similar cities

Lake Stevens’ city government spent $25.2 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, about $633 per resident.

Town website
Next public meeting

Park Board

6:00 pm

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$25.2M
year to December 31, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$633
In 2022: $563, less than 94% of 18 similar cities
Long-term debt
$25.2M
end of 2024, reported
City staff, 2022
102
full-time · 3 part-time · March payroll $786,790
Typical tax bill
$5,259
0.83% of home value · WA 0.81%

What stands out about how Lake Stevens is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends less than most similar citiesIn 2022: $563 per resident, less than 94% of 18 similar cities.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

Recent meetings

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 $633 per resident a year, or $1.73 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 32%.

Where the money comes from
Sales taxes 33%Property taxes 17%Fees & charges 16%Other taxes & licenses 12%From the state 10%Interest, fines & other 9%From other local governments 2%From the federal government <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $3.9 million; interest on debt $625,000; payments to other governments $1 million. With these, the whole budget was $30.8 million.
Compared with similar places

$563 per resident in 2022: less than 94% of them

Lake Stevens’ day-to-day spending in 2022 ($563 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 18 Washington cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,450, and the middle half spent $1,060–$1,615. Lake Stevens spent less than 94% of them.

Middle half of the group, $1,060–$1,615Median $1,450Lake Stevens

Includes sewer and trash ($2.5 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
18

Washington cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Lake Stevens itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 29% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$19.6 million
2024$25.2 million

Per resident: 2022: $563 · 2024: $633. Per resident it went from $563 to $633 (up 12%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 34,794 to 39,848.

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 $5,259 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.83% of the home’s value, vs 0.81% across Washington.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Bunk Foss$6,941
Cavalero$6,916
Machias$5,893
Lake Cassidy$5,460
Lake Stevens$5,259
Washington$4,556
$5,259
typical bill a year
0.83%
effective rate
$635,600
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Lake Stevens

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

See lakestevenswa.gov for Lake Stevens’ current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Lake Stevens yet.lakestevenswa.gov ↗
Who works for Lake Stevens

One full-time city employee for every 391 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 (39,848).

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

Police39
Administration & buildings35 + 3 pt
Roads & transportation26
Parks & libraries2
102
full-time
3
part-time
$786,790
payroll for March 2022
$9.4M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$91,800
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
32
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Lake Stevens had 2.9 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 13 of the 18 Washington cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 6.3: Lake Stevens had fewer than 85% 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

Lake Stevens School District

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

Schools in Lake Stevens →
$16,777
per pupil · WA $18,444
9,788
students
$88.3 million
long-term debt

Of the $16,777 per pupil, $10,334 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 25%State 72%Federal 3%

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

Also serving Lake Stevens

Snohomish School District · $17,713 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Lake Stevens’ votes are counted by county

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

President · Snohomish County’s results417,713 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat57.4%239,843 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican38.6%161,142 votes

Others: 4.0% (16,728 votes).

Most votes in Snohomish County: Kamala D Harris

Washington: Harris 57.2%, Trump 39.0%

The county’s page

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

Snohomish 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 Lake Stevens

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Lake Stevens.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: lakestevenswa.gov ↗
  2. 2
    Washington HouseState representatives
    Carolyn EslickSam Low
  3. 3
    Washington SenateState senator
    Keith Wagoner
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Bob Ferguson
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Suzan K. DelBene
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Washington
    Patty MurrayMaria Cantwell

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

Next door

How Lake Stevens compares with the towns next door

Lake Stevens spent $563 per resident in 2022. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Machias: unincorporated, no town budgetCavalero: unincorporated, no town budgetBunk Foss: unincorporated, no town budgetLake Cassidy: unincorporated, no town budgetMachiasCavaleroBunk FossLake CassidyLake Stevens
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Lake Stevens$563$5,259

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 Lake Stevens’ government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitelakestevenswa.gov ↗

Questions about Lake Stevens’ government

How much does Lake Stevens spend per resident?

About $633 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 $563 was less than 94% of 18 Washington cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Lake Stevens?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $5,259 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.83% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.81% across Washington. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see lakestevenswa.gov.

Who runs Lake Stevens’ government?

See lakestevenswa.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Lake Stevens yet.

How did Lake Stevens vote in 2024?

Washington counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Lake Stevens alone. Snohomish County, where 100% of Lake Stevens lies, voted Harris 57.4%, Trump 38.6% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Lake Stevens?

102 full-time and 3 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $786,790 (about $9.4M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Lake Stevens in the state legislature?

State Senate District 39 (Keith Wagoner) and State House District 39 (Carolyn Eslick and Sam Low). The House district also covers nine other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Lake Stevens?

The next posted meeting is Park Board on Monday, November 9, at 6:00 pm, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Lake Stevens’ 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 →