Town Hall · Whitefish

Whitefish, MT town hall & government

Whitefish spent $39.5 million in the year to June 30, 2024, about $4,433 per resident.

Where the money goes, where it comes from, property taxes, and how to reach Whitefish's government.

Town budget · Census estimate

Where Whitefish's money goes

Spent
$39.5 million
fiscal year to June 30, 2024
Per resident
$4,433
typical Montana cities: $2,059
Long-term debt
None
none outstanding at year end
Sewer & trash
$13.8 million35%
Roads & transportation
$7 million18%
Parks & libraries
$4.1 million10%
Fire
$4 million10%
Water & other utilities
$3.4 million9%
Police
$3.2 million8%
Administration & buildings
$2.1 million5%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$1.6 million4%
Interest on debt
$264,0001%
Housing & development
$14,000<1%
Other
$18,000<1%

Where the money comes from

  • Property taxes 27%
  • Interest, fines & other 25%
  • Fees & charges 16%
  • Sales taxes 11%
  • Utility sales 9%
  • From the state 6%
  • Other taxes & licenses 5%
  • From the federal government 1%
  • From other local governments <1%

Whitefish didn't report all of its 2024 figures to the Census Bureau, so most of these numbers are the Bureau's estimates.

Town workforce

Who works for Whitefish

Full-time staff
112
17 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$83,500
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
18
and 19 full-time firefighters
Police
21 full-time1 part
Fire
20 full-time
Parks & libraries
12 full-time12 part
Administration & buildings
13 full-time1 part
Roads & transportation
9 full-time
Sewer & trash
6 full-time
Courts, inspections & corrections
5 full-time1 part
Water & other utilities
5 full-time
Other
21 full-time2 part

Staff on the town's payroll in March 2025. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate.

Schools · school year 2023–24

Whitefish Elementary School District

Whitefish's elementary school district. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$12,455
Montana: $13,570
Students
1,333
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$24.4 million
at year end

Where the district's money comes from Montana districts overall: 44% local, 39% state, 17% federal

  • Local 60%
  • State 31%
  • Federal 10%

Of the $12,455 per pupil, $7,952 goes to classroom instruction (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to support services such as buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren't in the per-pupil figure.

Also serving Whitefish: Whitefish High School District ($14,719 per pupil).

Property tax

What homeowners in Whitefish pay

Typical tax bill
$3,735
a year · Montana typical $2,693
Effective rate
0.55%
of home value · Montana 0.72%
Typical home value
$684,300
owner-occupied

The median yearly bill homeowners report, covering every local property tax on the home (town, schools, county). The effective rate is that bill divided by the median home value, so it's a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Local

Contact Whitefish's government

🏛️ Official websitecityofwhitefish.org ↗

Town hall & decisions in Whitefish →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Whitefish

Whitefish is represented in Congress by Senators Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy and Representative Ryan K. Zinke. Greg Gianforte is governor.

All of Whitefish's representatives, with contacts →

Budget: U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Finance (every city and town government's revenue, spending and debt, grouped into plain categories). Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 5-year estimates.

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Whitefish

Montana · MT
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