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Downtown RichlandPhoto: Corbin Harder · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Richland

Richland spent more per resident in 2022 than 87% of similar cities

Richland’s city government spent $116.9 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, about $1,860 per resident. Water and other utilities ($68.6 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Next public meeting

Hearing Examiner

6:00 pm · Richland City Hall - Council Chambers, 625 Swift Boulevard

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$116.9M
year to December 31, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$1,860
In 2022: $1,727, more than 87% of 15 similar cities
Long-term debt
$176.9M
end of 2024, reported
City staff, 2022
495
full-time · 43 part-time · March payroll $4.0M
Typical tax bill
$3,558
0.81% of home value · WA 0.81%

What stands out about how Richland is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,727 per resident, more than 87% of 15 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer47% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2024).A shared school districtShares Richland School District with 1 other town.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

Recent meetings

  • Oct29
    Planning CommissionThursday · 6:00 pm · Richland City Hall - Council Chambers, 625 Swift BlvdPlanning Commission Special Meeting - CANCELEDAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct28
    Planning CommissionWednesday · 6:00 pm · Richland City Hall ~ Council Chambers, 625 Swift BoulevardPlanning Commission MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct27
    City CouncilTuesday · 6:00 pm · Richland City Hall ~ Council Chambers, 625 Swift BoulevardCity Council Workshop MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct22
    Parks & Recreation CommissionThursday · 6:00 pm · Richland Community Center, 500 Amon Park DriveParks and Recreation Commission WorkshopAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct22
    Personnel CommitteeThursday · 11:45 am · 625 Swift BlvdPersonnel Committee MeetingAgenda ↗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 2024 budget

About $1,860 per resident a year, or $5.10 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 16%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 38%Fees & charges 22%Sales taxes 16%Property taxes 8%Interest, fines & other 6%From the state 5%Other taxes & licenses 3%From other local governments 2%From the federal government <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $48.6 million; interest on debt $6 million; payments to other governments $4,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $240.1 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,727 per resident in 2022: more than 87% of them

Richland’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,727 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 15 Washington cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,121, and the middle half spent $809–$1,530. Richland spent more than 87% of them.

Middle half of the group, $809–$1,530Median $1,121Richland

Includes sewer and trash ($18.6 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
15

Washington cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Richland itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 14% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$102.7 million
2023$111.8 million
2024$116.9 million

Per resident: 2022: $1,727 · 2023: $1,806 · 2024: $1,860. Per resident it went from $1,727 to $1,860 (up 8%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 59,439 to 62,821.

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 $3,558 a year

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

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Washington$4,556
West Richland$4,140
Richland$3,558
Pasco$2,708
Kennewick$2,661
$3,558
typical bill a year
0.81%
effective rate
$436,700
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Richland

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

See ci.richland.wa.us for Richland’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Richland yet.ci.richland.wa.us ↗
Who works for Richland

One full-time city employee for every 127 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 (62,821).

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

Fire78
Police75
Water & other utilities73
Parks & libraries53 + 35 pt
Administration & buildings64
Sewer & trash49 + 2 pt
Roads & transportation9
Housing & development6
Courts, inspections & corrections4
Other84 + 6 pt
495
full-time
43
part-time
$4.0M
payroll for March 2022
$48.4M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$95,800
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
58
sworn police officers
75
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Richland had 8.3 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 11 of the 15 Washington cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 5.4: Richland had more than 73% 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

Richland School District

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

Schools in Richland →
$16,240
per pupil · WA $18,444
14,305
students
$153.5 million
long-term debt

Of the $16,240 per pupil, $9,745 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 26%State 69%Federal 5%

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

Also serving Richland

Kennewick School District · $16,404 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Richland’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Benton County’s results100,560 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican59.1%59,435 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat37.4%37,651 votes

Others: 3.5% (3,474 votes).

Most votes in Benton County: Donald J Trump

Washington: Harris 57.2%, Trump 39.0%

The county’s page

100% of Richland lies in Benton County. Every 2024 race in Benton County is on the county’s page.

Benton 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 Richland

From town hall to Washington

Richland sends 4 representatives to the Washington House alone.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: ci.richland.wa.us ↗
  2. 2
    Washington HouseRichland is split between 2 districts
    Mark KlickerSkyler RudeApril ConnorsStephanie Barnard
  3. 3
    Washington SenateState senator
    Perry DozierMatt Boehnke
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Bob Ferguson
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Dan Newhouse
  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 Richland compares with the towns next door

Richland spent $1,727 per resident in 2022; the 3 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $861 to $1,121. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Kennewick: $917 per resident (2022)West Richland: $861 per resident (2022)Pasco: $1,121 per resident (2022)KennewickWest RichlandPascoRichland
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
West Richland$861$4,140
Kennewick$917$2,661
Pasco$1,121$2,708
Richland$1,727$3,558

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 Richland’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websiteci.richland.wa.us ↗

Questions about Richland’s government

How much does Richland spend per resident?

About $1,860 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 $1,727 was more than 87% of 15 Washington cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Richland?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,558 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.81% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.81% across Washington. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ci.richland.wa.us.

Who runs Richland’s government?

See ci.richland.wa.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Richland yet.

How did Richland vote in 2024?

Washington counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Richland alone. Benton County, where 100% of Richland lies, voted Trump 59.1%, Harris 37.4% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Richland?

495 full-time and 43 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $4.0M (about $48.4M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Richland in the state legislature?

Richland 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 Richland?

The next posted meeting is Hearing Examiner on Monday, November 2, at 6:00 pm in Richland City Hall - Council Chambers, 625 Swift Boulevard, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Richland’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 →