Bellingham, WA town hall & government
Bellingham spent $274.4 million in the year to December 31, 2024, about $2,922 per resident.
Where the money goes, where it comes from, property taxes, and how to reach Bellingham's government.
Who runs Bellingham
From public records (Open States and Wikidata), which can lag behind an election. If a name is out of date, tell us: when two neighbors agree, it's hidden until the records catch up.
Where Bellingham's money goes
Where the money comes from
- Fees & charges 27%
- Sales taxes 27%
- Utility sales 12%
- Other taxes & licenses 11%
- Property taxes 10%
- Interest, fines & other 6%
- From the state 5%
- From the federal government 2%
- From other local governments 1%
Who works for Bellingham
Staff on the town's payroll in March 2025. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate.
Bellingham School District
Bellingham's K–12 school district. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.
Where the district's money comes from Washington districts overall: 27% local, 66% state, 8% federal
- Local 36%
- State 58%
- Federal 5%
Of the $18,143 per pupil, $10,897 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 Bellingham: Meridian School District ($16,474 per pupil).
Which schools Bellingham kids attend, test scores and graduation rate →
What homeowners in Bellingham pay
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.
Contact Bellingham's government
Who represents Bellingham
Bellingham is represented in Congress by Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell and Representative Rick Larsen. Bob Ferguson is governor.
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.