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A Street in Vader, WashingtonPhoto: SounderBruce · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Vader

Vader spent more per resident in 2022 than 98% of similar cities

Vader’s city government spent $2.7 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $4,041 per resident.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Washington.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$2.7M
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$4,041
In 2022: $4,041, more than 98% of 118 similar cities
Long-term debt
$445,000
end of 2022, reported
City staff, 2022
4
full-time · 2 part-time · March payroll $19,114
Typical tax bill
$1,848
0.58% of home value · WA 0.81%

What stands out about how Vader is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $4,041 per resident, more than 98% of 118 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer83% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Castle Rock School District with 1 other town.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $1,848 a year: 0.58% of the home’s value, vs 0.81% across Washington.
Compared with similar places

$4,041 per resident in 2022: more than 98% of them

Vader’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($4,041 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 118 Washington cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $992, and the middle half spent $713–$1,338. Vader spent more than 98% of them.

Middle half of the group, $713–$1,338Median $992Vader

Includes sewer and trash ($2.3 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
118

Washington cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Vader itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $4,041 per resident a year, or $11.07 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 83%.

Where the money comes from
From the state 77%Fees & charges 9%Sales taxes 6%Property taxes 3%Other taxes & licenses 2%Interest, fines & other 2%From other local governments <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $38,000; interest on debt $11,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $2.8 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,848 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.58% of the home’s value, vs 0.81% across Washington.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Washington$4,556
Vader$1,848
$1,848
typical bill a year
0.58%
effective rate
$317,200
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Vader’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. In a town this small the estimate has a wide margin.

Tax bills are one input to Vader’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Vader →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Vader

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

See vaderwa.org for Vader’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Vader yet.vaderwa.org ↗
Agendas

Vader’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on vaderwa.org ↗.

Who works for Vader

One full-time city employee for every 169 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 (677).

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

Administration & buildings3
Roads & transportation1 + 1 pt
Sewer & trash0 + 1 pt
4
full-time
2
part-time
$19,114
payroll for March 2022
$229,368
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$47,900
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Vader had 5.9 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 100 of the 118 Washington cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 6.4: Vader had fewer than 55% 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

Castle Rock School District

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

Schools in Vader →
$15,855
per pupil · WA $18,444
1,492
students
None
long-term debt

Of the $15,855 per pupil, $9,200 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 15%State 73%Federal 12%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Vader’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Lewis County’s results45,322 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican64.7%29,308 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat31.8%14,431 votes

Others: 3.5% (1,583 votes).

Most votes in Lewis County: Donald J Trump

Washington: Harris 57.2%, Trump 39.0%

The county’s page

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

Lewis 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 Vader

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Vader.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: vaderwa.org ↗
  2. 2
    Washington HouseState representatives
    Jim WalshJoel McEntire
  3. 3
    Washington SenateState senator
    Jeff Wilson
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Bob Ferguson
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Marie Gluesenkamp Perez
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Washington
    Patty MurrayMaria Cantwell

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

Reach Vader’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitevaderwa.org ↗

Questions about Vader’s government

How much does Vader spend per resident?

About $4,041 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 $4,041 was more than 98% of 118 Washington cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Vader?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,848 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.58% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.81% across Washington. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see vaderwa.org.

Who runs Vader’s government?

See vaderwa.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Vader yet.

How did Vader vote in 2024?

Washington counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Vader alone. Lewis County, where 100% of Vader lies, voted Trump 64.7%, Harris 31.8% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Vader?

4 full-time and 2 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $19,114 (about $229,368 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Vader in the state legislature?

State Senate District 19 (Jeff Wilson) and State House District 19 (Jim Walsh and Joel McEntire). The House district also covers 15 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Vader’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 →