Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Sumner

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Ryan HouseRyan House · Photo: Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Sumner

Sumner spent more per resident in 2022 than 88% of similar cities

Sumner’s city government spent $19.8 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $1,880 per resident. Water and other utilities ($2.3 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Next public meeting

City Council

6:00 pm

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$19.8M
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,880
In 2022: $1,880, more than 88% of 40 similar cities
Long-term debt
$19.9M
end of 2022, reported
City staff, 2022
114
full-time · 2 part-time · March payroll $897,585
Typical tax bill
$5,213
1.00% of home value · WA 0.81%

What stands out about how Sumner 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: $1,880 per resident, more than 88% of 40 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer38% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Sumner School District with 1 other town.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Sumner’s 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 2022 budget

About $1,880 per resident a year, or $5.15 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 33%.

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 26%Sales taxes 21%From the state 16%Interest, fines & other 13%Utility sales 8%Property taxes 7%Other taxes & licenses 6%From other local governments 3%From the federal government <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $10 million; interest on debt $943,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $33.8 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,880 per resident in 2022: more than 88% of them

Sumner’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,880 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–$1,514. Sumner spent more than 88% of them.

Middle half of the group, $944–$1,514Median $1,128Sumner

Includes sewer and trash ($6.5 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
40

Washington cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Sumner itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $5,213 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.00% of the home’s value, vs 0.81% across Washington.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Lake Tapps$7,510
Edgewood$6,214
Auburn$5,484
Bonney Lake$5,436
Sumner$5,213
Pacific$5,011
Alderton$4,906
Washington$4,556
North Puyallup$4,294
$5,213
typical bill a year
1.00%
effective rate
$519,900
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Sumner

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

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

One full-time city employee for every 93 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 (10,551).

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

Administration & buildings30
Police25 + 1 pt
Roads & transportation22
Sewer & trash10 + 1 pt
Water & other utilities6
Courts, inspections & corrections5
Parks & libraries5
Other11
114
full-time
2
part-time
$897,585
payroll for March 2022
$10.8M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$93,800
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
17
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Sumner had 10.8 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 5.6: Sumner had more than 97% 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

Sumner School District

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

Schools in Sumner →
$16,190
per pupil · WA $18,444
10,674
students
$168.5 million
long-term debt

Of the $16,190 per pupil, $9,571 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 32%State 64%Federal 4%

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

Also serving Sumner

Dieringer School District · $18,967 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Sumner’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Pierce County’s results439,515 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat53.5%235,151 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican42.8%188,148 votes

Others: 3.7% (16,216 votes).

Most votes in Pierce County: Kamala D Harris

Washington: Harris 57.2%, Trump 39.0%

The county’s page

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

Pierce 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 Sumner

From town hall to Washington

Sumner sends 4 representatives to the Washington House alone.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: ci.sumner.wa.us ↗
  2. 2
    Washington HouseSumner is split between 2 districts
    Drew StokesbaryJosh PennerCyndy JacobsenMichael Keaton
  3. 3
    Washington SenateState senator
    Phil FortunatoChris Gildon
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Bob Ferguson
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Marilyn Strickland
  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 Sumner compares with the towns next door

Sumner spent $1,880 per resident in 2022; the 4 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $812 to $1,454. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Alderton: unincorporated, no town budgetNorth Puyallup: unincorporated, no town budgetEdgewood: $812 per resident (2022)Auburn: $1,454 per resident (2022)Lake Tapps: unincorporated, no town budgetBonney Lake: $1,066 per resident (2022)Pacific: $1,138 per resident (2022)AldertonNorth PuyallupEdgewoodAuburnLake TappsBonney LakePacificSumner
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Edgewood$812$6,214
Bonney Lake$1,066$5,436
Pacific$1,138$5,011
Auburn$1,454$5,484
Sumner$1,880$5,213

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 Sumner’s government

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

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

Questions about Sumner’s government

How much does Sumner spend per resident?

About $1,880 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 $1,880 was more than 88% of 40 Washington cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Sumner?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $5,213 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.00% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.81% across Washington. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ci.sumner.wa.us.

Who runs Sumner’s government?

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

How did Sumner vote in 2024?

Washington counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Sumner alone. Pierce County, where 100% of Sumner lies, voted Harris 53.5%, Trump 42.8% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Sumner?

114 full-time and 2 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $897,585 (about $10.8M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Sumner in the state legislature?

Sumner 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 Sumner?

The next posted meeting is City Council on Monday, November 2, at 6:00 pm, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Sumner’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 →