Town Hall · Elma

Elma, WA town hall & government

Elma spent $6 million in the year to December 31, 2022, about $1,790 per resident.

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

Town budget

Where Elma's money goes

Spent
$6 million
fiscal year to December 31, 2022
Per resident
$1,790
typical Washington cities: $1,978
Long-term debt
$3 million
$874 per resident
Police
$1.7 million29%
Sewer & trash
$1.1 million18%
Water & other utilities
$904,00015%
Fire
$809,00013%
Roads & transportation
$406,0007%
Administration & buildings
$306,0005%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$275,0005%
Parks & libraries
$161,0003%
Interest on debt
$39,0001%
Health & welfare
$3,000<1%
Other
$336,0006%

Where the money comes from

  • Sales taxes 26%
  • Fees & charges 21%
  • Property taxes 17%
  • Utility sales 16%
  • From the state 12%
  • Interest, fines & other 6%
  • Other taxes & licenses 3%
Town workforce · Census estimate

Who works for Elma

Full-time staff
19
11 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$83,500
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
7
full-time, with power of arrest
Police
8 full-time1 part
Administration & buildings
3 full-time7 part
Courts, inspections & corrections
1 full-time2 part
Sewer & trash
2 full-time
Water & other utilities
2 full-time
Roads & transportation
1 full-time
Parks & libraries
1 full-time
Fire
0 full-time1 part
Other
1 full-time

Staff on the town's payroll in March 2022. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate. Elma didn't report its staffing to the Census Bureau, so these are the Bureau's estimates.

Schools · school year 2023–24

Elma School District

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

Spending per pupil
$17,247
Washington: $18,444
Students
1,695
in the whole district
Long-term debt
None
at year end

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

  • Local 14%
  • State 73%
  • Federal 13%

Of the $17,247 per pupil, $10,704 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 Elma pay

Typical tax bill
$2,743
a year · Washington typical $4,556
Effective rate
0.67%
of home value · Washington 0.81%
Typical home value
$409,600
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 Elma's government

🏛️ Official websitecityofelma.com ↗

Town hall & decisions in Elma →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Elma

Elma is represented in Congress by Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell and Representative Emily Randall. Bob Ferguson is governor.

All of Elma'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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