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Mount Vernon, WashingtonPhoto: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0
Town Hall · Mount Vernon

How is Mount Vernon run?

Mount Vernon’s city government spent $60.3 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, about $1,697 per resident.

Town website
Next public meeting

Public Safety Committee

6:00 pm · Police/Court Campus, 1805 Continental Place

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$60.3M
year to December 31, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$1,697
In 2022: $1,531, more than 56% of 18 similar cities
Long-term debt
$48.4M
end of 2024, reported
City staff, 2022
230
full-time · 19 part-time · March payroll $1.7M
Typical tax bill
$4,268
0.90% of home value · WA 0.81%

What stands out about how Mount Vernon is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Mayor Peter DonovanAs listed by Open States, October 9, 2026.Runs its own water & sewer34% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2024).Split between districts2 State House districts cover Mount Vernon; your street decides yours.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

Recent meetings

  • Oct28
    City CouncilWednesday · 7:00 pm · Police/Court Campus, 1805 Continental PlaceCity Council MeetingMeeting page ↗
  • Oct28
    Finance & Parks and Enrichment Services CommitteeWednesday · 6:00 pm · Police/Court Campus, 1805 Continental PlaceFinance & Parks and Enrichment Services Committee MeetingMeeting page ↗
  • Oct21
    Development Services CommitteeWednesday · 6:00 pm · Police/Court Campus, 1805 Continental PlaceDevelopment Services Committee MeetingMeeting page ↗
  • Oct21
    Civil Service CommissionWednesday · 11:00 am · 910 Cleveland AvenueCivil Service Commission MeetingMeeting page ↗
  • Oct20
    Arts CommissionTuesday · 4:30 pm · 1717 S 13th StreetArts Commission MeetingMeeting 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 $1,697 per resident a year, or $4.65 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 34%.

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 31%Sales taxes 31%From the state 15%Property taxes 11%Interest, fines & other 5%Other taxes & licenses 3%From other local governments 2%From the federal government <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $35 million; interest on debt $1.2 million. With these, the whole budget was $96.5 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,531 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Mount Vernon’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,531 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 $1,353, and the middle half spent $986–$1,615. Mount Vernon spent more than 56% of them.

Middle half of the group, $986–$1,615Median $1,353Mount Vernon

Includes sewer and trash ($17.7 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; Mount Vernon itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 8% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$55.6 million
2023$58 million
2024$60.3 million

Per resident: 2022: $1,531 · 2023: $1,639 · 2024: $1,697.

Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Mount Vernon

From public records with a current term; a name is hidden the day its term ends.

Peter DonovanMayor · as listed by Open States, October 9, 2026Office of the Mayor ↗

Council members and agencies: mountvernonwa.gov ↗

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $4,268 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.90% of the home’s value, vs 0.81% across Washington.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Big Lake$5,643
Washington$4,556
Mount Vernon$4,268
Burlington$3,773
$4,268
typical bill a year
0.90%
effective rate
$472,300
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who works for Mount Vernon

One full-time city employee for every 154 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 (35,527).

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

Police53
Fire47
Sewer & trash40 + 2 pt
Administration & buildings30 + 2 pt
Parks & libraries23 + 9 pt
Roads & transportation13
Courts, inspections & corrections5 + 2 pt
Health & welfare3
Other16 + 4 pt
230
full-time
19
part-time
$1.7M
payroll for March 2022
$20.5M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$87,700
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
40
sworn police officers
45
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Mount Vernon had 6.3 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 5.3: Mount Vernon had more than 54% 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

Mount Vernon School District

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

Schools in Mount Vernon →
$21,103
per pupil · WA $18,444
6,441
students
$86.2 million
long-term debt

Of the $21,103 per pupil, $12,649 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 23%State 65%Federal 11%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Mount Vernon’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Skagit County’s results69,131 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat52.6%36,346 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican43.8%30,278 votes

Others: 3.6% (2,507 votes).

Most votes in Skagit County: Kamala D Harris

Washington: Harris 57.2%, Trump 39.0%

The county’s page

100% of Mount Vernon lies in Skagit County. Every 2024 race in Skagit County is on the county’s page.

Skagit 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 Mount Vernon

From town hall to Washington

Mount Vernon sends 4 representatives to the Washington House alone.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor
    Peter Donovanas listed by Open States, October 9, 2026
  2. 2
    Washington HouseMount Vernon is split between 2 districts
    Alex RamelDebra LekanoffClyde ShaversDave Paul
  3. 3
    Washington SenateState senator
    Liz LovelettRon Muzzall
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Bob Ferguson
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Rick Larsen
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Washington
    Patty MurrayMaria Cantwell
Find your state legislators by address ↗

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

Next door

How Mount Vernon compares with the towns next door

Mount Vernon spent $1,531 per resident in 2022; the neighbor that reported 2022 spent $2,256. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Burlington: $2,256 per resident (2022)Big Lake: unincorporated, no town budgetBurlingtonBig LakeMount Vernon
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Burlington$2,256$3,773
Mount Vernon$1,531$4,268

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 Mount Vernon’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitemountvernonwa.gov ↗

Questions about Mount Vernon’s government

How much does Mount Vernon spend per resident?

About $1,697 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 $1,531 was more than 56% of 18 Washington cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Mount Vernon?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,268 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.90% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.81% across Washington. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see mountvernonwa.gov.

Who is the mayor of Mount Vernon?

Peter Donovan, as listed by Open States (checked October 9, 2026). The council and agencies are listed on mountvernonwa.gov.

How did Mount Vernon vote in 2024?

Washington counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Mount Vernon alone. Skagit County, where 100% of Mount Vernon lies, voted Harris 52.6%, Trump 43.8% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Mount Vernon?

230 full-time and 19 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $1.7M (about $20.5M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Mount Vernon in the state legislature?

Mount Vernon is split among 2 State House districts and 2 State Senate districts, so your address decides. The Washington Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Mount Vernon?

The next posted meeting is Public Safety Committee on Wednesday, November 4, at 6:00 pm in Police/Court Campus, 1805 Continental Place, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Mount Vernon’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 →