Lake Havasu City spent more per resident in 2022 than 68% of similar cities
Lake Havasu City’s city government spent $100.7 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $1,709 per resident. Water and other utilities ($16.2 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Lake Havasu City is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$1,410 per resident in 2022: more than 68% of them
Lake Havasu City’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,410 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 19 Arizona cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,043, and the middle half spent $880–$1,574. Lake Havasu City spent more than 68% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($17 million), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Arizona cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Lake Havasu City itself left out).
About $1,709 per resident a year, or $4.68 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 24%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Day-to-day spending is up 25% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Lake Havasu City reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $1,410 · 2023: $1,581 · 2024: $1,709.
full-time in March 2025, up from 420 in 2022. Both are Census estimates.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $1,754 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.39% of the home’s value, vs 0.48% across Arizona.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Lake Havasu City’s rate.
Can I afford it? →The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.
Tax bills are one input to Lake Havasu City’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Lake Havasu City →
Who’s in charge in Lake Havasu City
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Lake Havasu City’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on lhcaz.gov ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 117 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (58,926).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Lake Havasu Unified District
Lake Havasu City’s K–12 school district. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $10,220 per pupil, $5,654 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.
Arizona districts overall: 35% local, 47% state, 18% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Lake Havasu City’s votes are counted by county
Arizona reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Lake Havasu City alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Mohave County’s results.
Donald J TrumpRepublican77.4%85,653 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat21.8%24,072 votesOthers: 0.8% (935 votes).
Most votes in Mohave County: Donald J Trump
100% of Lake Havasu City lies in Mohave County. Every 2024 race in Mohave County is on the county’s page.
Mohave County’s 2024 results →Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.
Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Lake Havasu City.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: lhcaz.gov ↗
- 2Arizona HouseState representatives
- 3Arizona SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Arizona
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Lake Havasu City compares with the towns next door
Lake Havasu City spent $1,410 per resident in 2022. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Havasu City | $1,410 | $1,754 |
Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).
Reach Lake Havasu City’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Lake Havasu City’s government
How much does Lake Havasu City spend per resident?
About $1,709 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,410 was more than 68% of 19 Arizona cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Lake Havasu City?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,754 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.39% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.48% across Arizona. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see lhcaz.gov.
Who runs Lake Havasu City’s government?
See lhcaz.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Lake Havasu City yet.
How did Lake Havasu City vote in 2024?
Arizona counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Lake Havasu City alone. Mohave County, where 100% of Lake Havasu City lies, voted Trump 77.4%, Harris 21.8% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Lake Havasu City?
505 full-time and 161 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $3.7M (about $44.6M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Lake Havasu City in the state legislature?
State Senate District 30 (Hildy Angius) and State House District 30 (John Gillette and Leo Biasiucci). The House district also covers six other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Lake Havasu City’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →