Town Hall · Centralia

Centralia, WA town hall & government

Centralia spent $61.4 million in the year to December 31, 2024, about $3,269 per resident.

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

Local leadership

Who runs Centralia

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 If a name is out of date, tell us: when two neighbors agree, it's hidden until the records catch up.

Town budget

Where Centralia's money goes

Spent
$61.4 million
fiscal year to December 31, 2024
Per resident
$3,269
typical Washington cities: $2,368
Long-term debt
$31.2 million
$1,660 per resident
Water & other utilities
$32.2 million52%
Sewer & trash
$10 million16%
Police
$6.5 million11%
Roads & transportation
$4.9 million8%
Administration & buildings
$1.7 million3%
Housing & development
$1.5 million2%
Parks & libraries
$1.2 million2%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$1.2 million2%
Fire
$721,0001%
Interest on debt
$402,0001%
Health & welfare
$20,000<1%
Other
$1.1 million2%

Where the money comes from

  • Utility sales 50%
  • Fees & charges 19%
  • Sales taxes 17%
  • Interest, fines & other 7%
  • From the state 4%
  • Property taxes 2%
  • Other taxes & licenses 1%
  • From other local governments <1%
  • From the federal government <1%
Town workforce

Who works for Centralia

Full-time staff
153
9 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$90,400
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
25
full-time, with power of arrest
Water & other utilities
45 full-time
Police
34 full-time1 part
Administration & buildings
23 full-time
Sewer & trash
15 full-time
Roads & transportation
11 full-time
Courts, inspections & corrections
6 full-time1 part
Parks & libraries
3 full-time7 part
Housing & development
6 full-time
Other
10 full-time

Staff on the town's payroll in March 2022. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate.

Schools · school year 2023–24

Centralia School District

Centralia's K–12 school district, shared with Bucoda. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$17,813
Washington: $18,444
Students
3,374
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$59.1 million
at year end

Where the district's money comes from Washington districts overall: 27% local, 66% state, 8% federal

  • Local 14%
  • State 70%
  • Federal 16%

Of the $17,813 per pupil, $10,026 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.

Property tax

What homeowners in Centralia pay

Typical tax bill
$2,146
a year · Washington typical $4,556
Effective rate
0.67%
of home value · Washington 0.81%
Typical home value
$318,200
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 Centralia's government

🏛️ Official websitecityofcentralia.com ↗
Town hall phone360-330-7671

Town hall & decisions in Centralia →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Centralia

Centralia is represented in Congress by Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell and Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. Bob Ferguson is governor.

All of Centralia'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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Centralia

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