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Oak Harbor, Whidbey IslandPhoto: brewbooks · CC BY-SA 2.0
Town Hall · Oak Harbor

How is Oak Harbor run?

Oak Harbor’s city government spent $28.8 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $1,216 per resident. Water and other utilities ($4.5 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Next public meeting

City Council (CC)

5:30 pm · Council Chambers, 865 SE Barrington Drive

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$28.8M
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,216
In 2022: $1,216, more than 57% of 40 similar cities
Long-term debt
$128.7M
end of 2022, reported
City staff, 2022
129
full-time · 36 part-time · March payroll $906,514
Typical tax bill
$3,596
0.78% of home value · WA 0.81%

What stands out about how Oak Harbor is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Runs its own water & sewer40% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).Its own police and fire24 sworn officers and 13 full-time firefighters on the payroll.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $3,596 a year: 0.78% of the home’s value, vs 0.81% across Washington.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

Recent meetings

  • Oct27
    City Council (CC)Tuesday · 1:00 pm · Council Chambers, 865 SE Barrington DriveCity Council WorkshopAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct20
    City Council (CC)Tuesday · 5:30 pm · Council Chambers, 865 SE Barrington DriveCity Council Regular MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct13
    City Council (CC)Tuesday · 2:30 pm · Council Chambers, 865 SE Barrington DriveCity Council WorkshopAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct6
    City Council (CC)Tuesday · 5:30 pm · Council Chambers, 865 SE Barrington DriveCity Council Regular MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Sep22
    City Council (CC)Tuesday · 1:00 pm · Council Chambers, 865 SE Barrington DriveCity Council WorkshopAgenda ↗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 2022 budget

About $1,216 per resident a year, or $3.33 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 31%.

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 42%Sales taxes 20%Utility sales 13%Property taxes 9%Interest, fines & other 6%From the state 5%Other taxes & licenses 3%From other local governments <1%From the federal government <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $2.2 million; interest on debt $5.5 million; payments to other governments $3,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $41 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,216 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Oak Harbor’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,216 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 $1,128, and the middle half spent $944–$1,528. Oak Harbor spent more than 57% of them.

Middle half of the group, $944–$1,528Median $1,128Oak Harbor

Includes sewer and trash ($8.8 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; Oak Harbor itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

Oak Harbor reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $3,596 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.78% of the home’s value, vs 0.81% across Washington.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Washington$4,556
Oak Harbor$3,596
$3,596
typical bill a year
0.78%
effective rate
$461,200
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Oak Harbor

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

See oakharbor.gov for Oak Harbor’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Oak Harbor yet.oakharbor.gov ↗
Who works for Oak Harbor

One full-time city employee for every 183 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 (23,643).

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

Police28
Fire14 + 27 pt
Administration & buildings20 + 8 pt
Sewer & trash16
Roads & transportation12
Parks & libraries6
Water & other utilities6
Courts, inspections & corrections4 + 1 pt
Health & welfare2
Other21
129
full-time
36
part-time
$906,514
payroll for March 2022
$10.9M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$79,900
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
24
sworn police officers
13
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Oak Harbor had 5.5 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 5.8: Oak Harbor had fewer than 62% 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

Oak Harbor School District

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

Schools in Oak Harbor →
$18,620
per pupil · WA $18,444
5,814
students
None
long-term debt

Of the $18,620 per pupil, $10,846 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 11%State 69%Federal 20%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Oak Harbor’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Island County’s results52,449 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat56.4%29,595 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican40.0%20,967 votes

Others: 3.6% (1,887 votes).

Most votes in Island County: Kamala D Harris

Washington: Harris 57.2%, Trump 39.0%

The county’s page

100% of Oak Harbor lies in Island County. Every 2024 race in Island County is on the county’s page.

Island 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 Oak Harbor

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Oak Harbor.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: oakharbor.gov ↗
  2. 2
    Washington HouseState representatives
    Clyde ShaversDave Paul
  3. 3
    Washington SenateState senator
    Ron 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

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

Next door

How Oak Harbor compares with the towns next door

Oak Harbor spent $1,216 per resident in 2022. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Whidbey Island Station: unincorporated, no town budgetWhidbey Island StationOak Harbor
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Oak Harbor$1,216$3,596

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 Oak Harbor’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websiteoakharbor.gov ↗

Questions about Oak Harbor’s government

How much does Oak Harbor spend per resident?

About $1,216 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 $1,216 was more than 57% of 40 Washington cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Oak Harbor?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,596 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.78% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.81% across Washington. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see oakharbor.gov.

Who runs Oak Harbor’s government?

See oakharbor.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Oak Harbor yet.

How did Oak Harbor vote in 2024?

Washington counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Oak Harbor alone. Island County, where 100% of Oak Harbor lies, voted Harris 56.4%, Trump 40.0% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Oak Harbor?

129 full-time and 36 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $906,514 (about $10.9M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Oak Harbor in the state legislature?

State Senate District 10 (Ron Muzzall) and State House District 10 (Clyde Shavers and Dave Paul). The House district also covers six other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Oak Harbor?

The next posted meeting is City Council (CC) on Wednesday, November 4, at 5:30 pm in Council Chambers, 865 SE Barrington Drive, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Oak Harbor’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 →