Des Moines, WA town hall & government
Des Moines spent $43.8 million in the year to December 31, 2024, about $1,352 per resident.
Where the money goes, where it comes from, property taxes, and how to reach Des Moines's government.
Who runs Des Moines
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 If a name is out of date, tell us: when two neighbors agree, it's hidden until the records catch up.
Coming up at Des Moines's town hall
- Sep 30Wed · 6:00 pmCitizens Advisory BoardCitizens Advisory Board MeetingDes Moines City Hall 21630 11th Ave S, Suite C Agenda ↗Meeting page ↗
- Oct 1Thu · 6:00 pmCity Council Regular MeetingDes Moines City Hall, 21630 11th Avenue S, Suite C Agenda ↗Meeting page ↗
- Oct 6Tue · 6:00 pmPlanning Commission21630 11th Ave S., Suite C Meeting page ↗
- Oct 12Mon · 3:00 pmAirport Advisory CommitteeAirport Advisory Committee MeetingDes Moines City Hall 21630 11th Ave S, Suite D - South Conference Room Meeting page ↗
- Oct 12Mon · 4:00 pmAirport Advisory CommitteeAirport Advisory Committee MeetingDes Moines City Hall 21630 11th Ave S, Suite C Meeting page ↗
- Oct 27Tue · 3:30 pm
Recent meetings
- Sep 24Thu · 6:00 pmCity Council Regular MeetingDes Moines City Hall, 21630 11th Avenue S, Suite C Agenda ↗Meeting page ↗
- Sep 22Tue · 3:30 pm
- Sep 12Sat · 9:00 am
- Sep 10Thu · 6:00 pmCity Council Regular MeetingCity Council WorkshopDes Moines City Hall, 21630 11th Avenue S, Suite C Agenda ↗Meeting page ↗
- Sep 3Thu · 5:00 pmCity Council Committee of the Whole and Study SessionCity Council Committee of the Whole and Study Session Joint Meeting with PlanningDes Moines City Hall, 21630 11th Avenue S, Suite C Agenda ↗Meeting page ↗
- Sep 2Wed · 4:00 pmLodging Tax CommitteeSeptember 02, 2026 Lodging Tax Meeting Agenda ↗Meeting page ↗
- Aug 27Thu · 6:00 pmCity Council Regular MeetingDes Moines City Hall, 21630 11th Avenue S, Suite C Agenda ↗Minutes ↗Meeting page ↗
- Aug 26Wed · 6:00 pmCitizens Advisory BoardCitizens Advisory Board MeetingDes Moines City Hall 21630 11th Ave S, Suite C Agenda ↗Meeting page ↗
Official listings from Des Moines's agenda portal ↗, checked daily. Times are local. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check the portal before you go.
Where Des Moines's money goes
Where the money comes from
- Fees & charges 32%
- Sales taxes 29%
- Property taxes 12%
- Other taxes & licenses 11%
- Interest, fines & other 8%
- From the state 6%
- From other local governments 1%
- From the federal government <1%
Who works for Des Moines
Staff on the town's payroll in March 2022. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate.
Highline School District
Des Moines's K–12 school district, shared with Normandy Park, Burien and SeaTac. 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 31%
- State 58%
- Federal 10%
Of the $21,280 per pupil, $12,300 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 Des Moines: Federal Way School District ($18,682 per pupil).
Which schools Des Moines kids attend, test scores and graduation rate →
What homeowners in Des Moines 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 Des Moines's government
Who represents Des Moines
Des Moines is represented in Congress by Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell and Representative Adam Smith. 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.