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Avalon Catalina Island California by Don Ramey LoganPhoto: Don Ramey Logan · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Avalon

Avalon spent more per resident in 2022 than 92% of similar cities

Avalon’s city government spent $15.6 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $4,247 per resident. It also runs a hospital ($723,000) and water utilities ($2.1 million), counted separately. Census Bureau figures.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in California.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$15.6M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$4,247
In 2022: $4,247, more than 92% of 76 similar cities
Long-term debt
$224,000
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
56
full-time, hospital & welfare staff apart (117 in all) · March payroll $839,345
Typical tax bill
$7,039
0.75% of home value · CA 0.70%

What stands out about how Avalon is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

★ What stands out · Your share of the 2022 budget

About $4,247 per resident a year, or $11.64 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 32%.

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 45%Sales taxes 37%Other taxes & licenses 7%Property taxes 4%From the federal government 3%From the state 2%Interest, fines & other 1%Utility sales <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $175,000; interest on debt $8,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $24.5 million.
Why the hospital is apart.The Census Bureau counts the hospital it runs in the city’s books ($723,000, 3% of all operations). Only 135 of the 11,301 towns and cities of 2,500+ run one (Census finance files), so it is shown here and left out of every per-resident comparison.
Compared with similar places

$4,247 per resident in 2022: more than 92% of them

Avalon’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($4,247 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 76 California cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,472, and the middle half spent $1,070–$2,428. Avalon spent more than 92% of them.

Middle half of the group, $1,070–$2,428Median $1,472Avalon

Includes sewer and trash ($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
76

California cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Avalon itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $7,039 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.75% of the home’s value, vs 0.70% across California.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Avalon$7,039
California$5,124
$7,039
typical bill a year
0.75%
effective rate
$936,000
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Avalon

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

See cityofavalon.com for Avalon’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Avalon yet.cityofavalon.com ↗
Agendas

Avalon’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on cityofavalon.com ↗.

Who works for Avalon

One full-time city employee for every 65 residents, not counting hospital, health & welfare staff

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 (3,666).

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

Roads & transportation24 + 3 pt
Administration & buildings16 + 6 pt
Fire10 + 11 pt
Parks & libraries3 + 2 pt
Other3
Run separately
Hospital, health & welfare61 + 10 pt
56
full-time, hospital, health & welfare apart
32
part-time
$839,345
payroll for March 2022
$10.1M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$80,500
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
10
full-time firefighters
The hospital.The 61 full-time hospital, health & welfare staff include the hospital the city runs, so they are counted apart, as the hospitals are in the budget. The payroll figures cover every employee, the hospital’s included: the Census file doesn’t split pay by function.
Compared, 2022.Avalon had 15.3 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022 (hospital, health & welfare left out, and the same for any peer that runs a hospital). The median for the 60 of the 76 California cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 4.9: Avalon had more than 95% 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

Long Beach Unified School District

Avalon’s K–12 school district, shared with Signal Hill, Long Beach, Lakewood. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Avalon →
$21,042
per pupil · CA $21,206
63,966
students
$1.9 billion
long-term debt

Of the $21,042 per pupil, $12,613 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 28%State 57%Federal 16%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Avalon’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Los Angeles County’s results3,727,169 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat64.8%2,416,522 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican31.9%1,189,227 votes

Others: 3.3% (121,420 votes).

Most votes in Los Angeles County: Kamala D Harris

California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%

The county’s page

100% of Avalon lies in Los Angeles County. Every 2024 race in Los Angeles County is on the county’s page.

Los Angeles 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 Avalon

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Avalon.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
  2. 2
    California AssemblyState representatives
  3. 3
    California SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of California

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

Reach Avalon’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Avalon’s government

How much does Avalon spend per resident?

About $4,247 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. Avalon also runs a hospital ($723,000), counted separately. In 2022, the last full count, its $4,247 was more than 92% of 76 California cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Avalon?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $7,039 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.75% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.70% across California. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofavalon.com.

Who runs Avalon’s government?

See cityofavalon.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Avalon yet.

How did Avalon vote in 2024?

California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Avalon alone. Los Angeles County, where 100% of Avalon lies, voted Harris 64.8%, Trump 31.9% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Avalon?

56 full-time and 32 part-time employees in March 2022 (plus 61 full-time hospital, health & welfare staff), with a March payroll of $839,345 (about $10.1M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Avalon in the state legislature?

State Senate District 33 (Lena Gonzalez) and Assembly District 69 (Josh Lowenthal). The Assembly district also covers three neighboring towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Avalon’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 →