Town Hall · Kent

Kent, WA town hall & government

Kent spent $261.2 million in the year to December 31, 2024, about $1,944 per resident.

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

Local leadership

Who runs Kent

Dana RalphMayorSince 2018 · Term ends 2029 253-856-5700Email Source ↗ Out of date? Sign in to tell us

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 If a name is out of date, tell us: when two neighbors agree, it's hidden until the records catch up.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

Spent
$261.2 million
fiscal year to December 31, 2024
Per resident
$1,944
typical Washington cities: $2,368
Long-term debt
$118.9 million
$885 per resident
Sewer & trash
$54.7 million21%
Police
$52.5 million20%
Roads & transportation
$33.8 million13%
Parks & libraries
$28.3 million11%
Water & other utilities
$25.2 million10%
Administration & buildings
$13.3 million5%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$12.3 million5%
Health & welfare
$10.8 million4%
Housing & development
$3.4 million1%
Fire
$2.9 million1%
Interest on debt
$2.8 million1%
Other
$21.1 million8%

Where the money comes from

  • Sales taxes 27%
  • Fees & charges 24%
  • Property taxes 11%
  • Other taxes & licenses 10%
  • Utility sales 9%
  • Interest, fines & other 7%
  • From the state 7%
  • From other local governments 2%
  • From the federal government 2%
Town workforce

Who works for Kent

Full-time staff
644
149 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$124,400
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
157
full-time, with power of arrest
Police
182 full-time2 part
Parks & libraries
73 full-time107 part
Administration & buildings
93 full-time16 part
Roads & transportation
68 full-time8 part
Courts, inspections & corrections
54 full-time3 part
Sewer & trash
37 full-time3 part
Water & other utilities
26 full-time3 part
Health & welfare
8 full-time
Other
103 full-time7 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

Kent School District

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

Spending per pupil
$20,051
Washington: $18,444
Students
25,700
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$166.1 million
at year end

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

  • Local 25%
  • State 64%
  • Federal 11%

Of the $20,051 per pupil, $11,642 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 Kent: Federal Way School District ($18,682 per pupil) · Renton School District ($19,788 per pupil).

Property tax

What homeowners in Kent pay

Typical tax bill
$5,446
a year · Washington typical $4,556
Effective rate
0.93%
of home value · Washington 0.81%
Typical home value
$587,800
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 Kent's government

🏛️ Official websitekentwa.gov ↗

Town hall & decisions in Kent →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Kent

Kent is represented in Congress by Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell and Representatives Adam Smith and Kim Schrier. Bob Ferguson is governor.

All of Kent'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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Kent

Washington · WA
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