Photo: Marine 69-71 · CC BY-SA 4.0Somerton spent less per resident in 2022 than 81% of similar cities
Somerton’s city government spent $14.4 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $859 per resident. Water and other utilities ($1.2 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Somerton is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$859 per resident in 2022: less than 81% of them
Somerton’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($859 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 31 Arizona cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,246, and the middle half spent $960–$1,802. Somerton spent less than 81% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($2.3 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 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Somerton itself left out).
About $859 per resident a year, or $2.35 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 22%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
No trend yet
Somerton reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $1,304 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.56% 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 Somerton’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 Somerton’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Somerton →
Who’s in charge in Somerton
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Somerton’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on cityofsomerton.com ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 138 residents
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (16,716).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Yuma Union High School District
Somerton’s high school district, shared with San Luis, Yuma. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $10,484 per pupil, $4,925 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.
Somerton Elementary District · $10,854 per pupil
Crane Elementary District · $10,138 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Somerton’s votes are counted by county
Arizona reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Somerton alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Yuma County’s results.
Donald J TrumpRepublican59.7%40,745 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat39.3%26,823 votesOthers: 0.9% (627 votes).
Most votes in Yuma County: Donald J Trump
100% of Somerton lies in Yuma County. Every 2024 race in Yuma County is on the county’s page.
Yuma 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 Somerton.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: cityofsomerton.com ↗
- 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.
Reach Somerton’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Somerton’s government
How much does Somerton spend per resident?
About $859 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $859 was less than 81% of 31 Arizona cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Somerton?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,304 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.56% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.48% across Arizona. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofsomerton.com.
Who runs Somerton’s government?
See cityofsomerton.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Somerton yet.
How did Somerton vote in 2024?
Arizona counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Somerton alone. Yuma County, where 100% of Somerton lies, voted Trump 59.7%, Harris 39.3% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Somerton?
121 full-time and 9 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $552,753 (about $6.6M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Somerton in the state legislature?
State Senate District 23 (Brian Fernandez) and State House District 23 (Mariana Sandoval and Michele Peña). The House district also covers six other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Somerton’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 →