Photo: Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 3.0Port Townsend spent more per resident in 2022 than 78% of similar cities
Port Townsend’s city government spent $15.7 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $1,576 per resident. Water and other utilities ($3.5 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Port Townsend is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$1,576 per resident in 2022: more than 78% of them
Port Townsend’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,576 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. Port Townsend spent more than 78% 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; Port Townsend itself left out).
About $1,576 per resident a year, or $4.32 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: parks & libraries, at 38%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
No trend yet
Port Townsend reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $3,969 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.73% 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 Port Townsend’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 Port Townsend’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Port Townsend →
Who’s in charge in Port Townsend
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Port Townsend’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on cityofpt.us ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 135 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 (9,973).
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.
Port Townsend School District
Port Townsend’s K–12 school district. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $19,945 per pupil, $11,564 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.
Port Townsend’s votes are counted by county
Washington reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Port Townsend alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Jefferson County’s results.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat70.7%17,459 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican25.6%6,324 votesOthers: 3.7% (915 votes).
Most votes in Jefferson County: Kamala D Harris
Washington: Harris 57.2%, Trump 39.0%
100% of Port Townsend lies in Jefferson County. Every 2024 race in Jefferson County is on the county’s page.
Jefferson 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 Port Townsend.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: cityofpt.us ↗
- 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 Port Townsend’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Port Townsend’s government
How much does Port Townsend spend per resident?
About $1,576 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 $1,576 was more than 78% of 65 Washington cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Port Townsend?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,969 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.73% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.81% across Washington. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofpt.us.
Who runs Port Townsend’s government?
See cityofpt.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Port Townsend yet.
How did Port Townsend vote in 2024?
Washington counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Port Townsend alone. Jefferson County, where 100% of Port Townsend lies, voted Harris 70.7%, Trump 25.6% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Port Townsend?
74 full-time and 20 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $470,739 (about $5.6M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Port Townsend in the state legislature?
State Senate District 24 (Mike Chapman) and State House District 24 (Adam Bernbaum and Steve Tharinger). The House district also covers eight other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Port Townsend’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 →