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Atwater towerPhoto: Father of Nehrams2020 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Atwater

How is Atwater run?

Atwater’s city government spent $35.3 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,164 per resident. Water and other utilities ($4.2 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in California.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$35.3M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,164
In 2022: $1,164, more than 51% of 92 similar cities
Long-term debt
$70.2M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
79
full-time · 16 part-time · March payroll $590,523
Typical tax bill
$2,407
0.66% of home value · CA 0.70%

What stands out about how Atwater is run

Read from the city’s budget, meetings and official records.

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Runs its own water & sewer37% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Merced Union High School District with 2 other towns.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $2,407 a year: 0.66% of the home’s value, vs 0.70% across California.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Atwater’s own agenda portal, checked daily. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check before you go.

Recent meetings

  • Oct26
    City CouncilMonday · 6:00 pmOne Time EventMeeting page ↗
  • Oct21
    Planning CommissionWednesday · 6:00 pm · 750 Bellevue RoadOne Time EventMeeting page ↗
  • Oct12
    City CouncilMonday · 6:00 pm · 750 Bellevue RoadCity Council MeetingMeeting page ↗
  • Sep28
    City CouncilMonday · 6:00 pmOne Time EventMeeting page ↗
  • Sep16
    Planning CommissionWednesday · 6:00 pm · 750 Bellevue RoadPlanning Commission MeetingMeeting page ↗
Go in person

Most meetings are open to the public, and many have a public comment period at the start.

Agenda portal ↗
Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,164 per resident a year, or $3.19 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 30%.

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 44%Utility sales 14%Property taxes 12%Other taxes & licenses 11%Sales taxes 10%From the state 5%Interest, fines & other 3%From the federal government <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $3.1 million; interest on debt $2.8 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $45.4 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,164 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Atwater’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,164 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 92 California cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,158, and the middle half spent $831–$1,742. Atwater spent more than 51% of them.

Middle half of the group, $831–$1,742Median $1,158Atwater

Includes sewer and trash ($10.5 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 →

The group
92

California cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Atwater itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

Atwater reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,407 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.66% of the home’s value, vs 0.70% across California.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

California$5,124
McSwain$4,377
Atwater$2,407
Winton$1,818
$2,407
typical bill a year
0.66%
effective rate
$363,400
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Atwater’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 Atwater’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Atwater →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Atwater

Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.

See atwater.org for Atwater’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Atwater yet.atwater.org ↗
Who works for Atwater

One full-time city employee for every 383 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 (30,296).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022

Police34 + 1 pt
Administration & buildings15 + 2 pt
Sewer & trash9
Housing & development8 + 1 pt
Water & other utilities7
Roads & transportation6 + 1 pt
Parks & libraries0 + 7 pt
Other0 + 4 pt
79
full-time
16
part-time
$590,523
payroll for March 2022
$7.1M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$82,700
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
23
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Atwater had 2.6 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 68 of the 92 California cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 3.4: Atwater had fewer than 65% of them. Same group and year as the budget comparison.

The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.

The school district

Merced Union High School District

Atwater’s high school district, shared with Livingston, Merced. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Atwater →
$18,331
per pupil · CA $21,206
11,120
students
$159.1 million
long-term debt

Of the $18,331 per pupil, $10,169 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.

The district: schools, scores and graduation →

Where the district’s money comes from
Local 19%State 69%Federal 12%

California districts overall: 36% local, 52% state, 11% federal.

Also serving Atwater

Atwater Elementary School District · $17,987 per pupil

Merced City Elementary School District · $17,666 per pupil

School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.

Elections · 2024 general election

Atwater’s votes are counted by county

California reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Atwater alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Merced County’s results.

President · Merced County’s results84,994 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican50.6%43,003 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat46.8%39,769 votes

Others: 2.6% (2,222 votes).

Most votes in Merced County: Donald J Trump

California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%

The county’s page

100% of Atwater lies in Merced County. Every 2024 race in Merced County is on the county’s page.

Merced County’s 2024 results →
DemocratRepublicanLibertarianIndependent / other

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.

Who represents Atwater

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Atwater.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: atwater.org ↗
  2. 2
    California AssemblyState representatives
    Esmeralda Soria
  3. 3
    California SenateState senator
    Anna Caballero
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Gavin Newsom
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Adam Gray
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of California
    Alex PadillaAdam B. Schiff

Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.

Next door

How Atwater compares with the towns next door

Atwater spent $1,164 per resident in 2022. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Winton: unincorporated, no town budgetMcSwain: unincorporated, no town budgetWintonMcSwainAtwater
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Atwater$1,164$2,407

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 Atwater’s government

The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.

The Handbook →
Official websiteatwater.org ↗

Questions about Atwater’s government

How much does Atwater spend per resident?

About $1,164 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 $1,164 was more than 51% of 92 California cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Atwater?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,407 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.66% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.70% across California. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see atwater.org.

Who runs Atwater’s government?

See atwater.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Atwater yet.

How did Atwater vote in 2024?

California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Atwater alone. Merced County, where 100% of Atwater lies, voted Trump 50.6%, Harris 46.8% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Atwater?

79 full-time and 16 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $590,523 (about $7.1M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Atwater in the state legislature?

State Senate District 14 (Anna Caballero) and Assembly District 27 (Esmeralda Soria). The Assembly district also covers 13 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Atwater?

The next posted meeting is City Council on Monday, November 9, at 6:00 pm in 750 Bellevue Road, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Atwater’s government

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →
Ask neighbors

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 →