Port Washington Downtown Historic District · Photo: Freekee · Public domainIn Port Washington, 83% of adult citizens voted for president in 2024, more than across Wisconsin
Port Washington’s city government spent $15.9 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, about $1,248 per resident. Water and other utilities ($2.9 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Port Washington is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
About $1,248 per resident a year, or $3.42 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 24%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
$1,257 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities
Port Washington’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,257 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 59 Wisconsin cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,152, and the middle half spent $949–$1,409. Port Washington spent more than 58% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($2.9 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 →
Wisconsin cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Port Washington itself left out).
Day-to-day spending is up 5% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Port Washington reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $1,257 · 2023: $1,213 · 2024: $1,248. Per resident it went from $1,257 to $1,248 (down 1%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 12,066 to 12,753.
full-time in March 2025, up from 74 in 2022.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $3,711 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.25% of the home’s value, vs 1.42% across Wisconsin.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Port Washington’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 Washington’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Port Washington →
Who’s in charge in Port Washington
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Port Washington’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on ci.port-washington.wi.us ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 147 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (12,753).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025
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 Washington-Saukville School District
Port Washington’s K–12 school district, shared with Port Washington, Saukville. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $14,544 per pupil, $8,957 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.
Wisconsin districts overall: 39% local, 50% state, 11% federal.
Grafton School District · $13,668 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Port Washington voted in 2024
Official results for Port Washington’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Donald J TrumpRepublican50.8%4,089 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat47.5%3,826 votesOthers: 1.6% (132 votes).
Most votes in Port Washington: Donald J Trump
Ozaukee County: Trump 54.4%, Harris 43.9% · Wisconsin: Trump 49.6%, Harris 48.7%
of Port Washington’s 9,727 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Wisconsin: 76%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Port Washington: Eric Hovde
Ozaukee County: Hovde 55.4%, Baldwin 43.1% · Wisconsin: Baldwin 49.3%, Hovde 48.5%
Most votes in the district: Glenn Grothman
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Port Washington, its county and the state
| Trump | Harris | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port Washington | 50.8% | 47.5% | 1.6% | 8,047 |
| Ozaukee County | 54.4% | 43.9% | 1.7% | 63,472 |
| Wisconsin | 49.6% | 48.7% | 1.7% | 3,422,918 |
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 Washington.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: ci.port-washington.wi.us ↗
- 2Wisconsin AssemblyState representatives
- 3Wisconsin SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Wisconsin
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Port Washington compares with the towns next door
Port Washington spent $1,257 per resident in 2022. Most of its neighbors are townships, a different kind of government, so the like-for-like comparison is with similar cities, above. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Grafton | $420 | $4,758 |
| Port Washington | $1,257 | $3,711 |
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 Port Washington’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Port Washington’s government
How much does Port Washington spend per resident?
About $1,248 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 $1,257 was more than 58% of 59 Wisconsin cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Port Washington?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,711 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.25% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.42% across Wisconsin. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ci.port-washington.wi.us.
Who runs Port Washington’s government?
See ci.port-washington.wi.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Port Washington yet.
How did Port Washington vote in 2024?
For president, Donald J Trump 50.8%, Kamala D Harris 47.5% (8,047 votes, official results). Ozaukee County: Trump 54.4%, Harris 43.9%. Wisconsin: Trump 49.6%, Harris 48.7%.
How many people work for Port Washington?
87 full-time and 67 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $632,467 (about $7.6M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Port Washington in the state legislature?
State Senate District 8 (Jodi Habush Sinykin) and Assembly District 22 (Paul Melotik). The Assembly district also covers eight other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Port Washington’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 →