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Bellflower, CA City HallPhoto: YonderStone · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Bellflower

Bellflower spent less per resident in 2022 than 87% of similar cities

Bellflower’s city government spent $57.7 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $768 per resident. Water and other utilities ($3.6 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in California.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$57.7M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$768
In 2022: $768, less than 87% of 101 similar cities
Long-term debt
$35.3M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
101
full-time · 73 part-time · March payroll $874,698 · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$4,666
0.66% of home value · CA 0.70%

What stands out about how Bellflower is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$768 per resident in 2022: less than 87% of them

Bellflower’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($768 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 101 California cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,270, and the middle half spent $923–$1,772. Bellflower spent less than 87% of them.

Middle half of the group, $923–$1,772Median $1,270Bellflower

Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
101

California cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Bellflower itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $768 per resident a year, or $2.10 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 27%.

Where the money comes from
Sales taxes 31%Property taxes 19%Other taxes & licenses 19%From the federal government 12%From the state 7%Fees & charges 5%Interest, fines & other 3%Utility sales 3%From other local governments 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $6.9 million; interest on debt $1.6 million; payments to other governments $13.1 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $82.9 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $4,666 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

Cerritos$5,711
Downey$5,323
Lakewood$5,318
California$5,124
Bellflower$4,666
Norwalk$4,424
Paramount$3,681
$4,666
typical bill a year
0.66%
effective rate
$705,700
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Bellflower

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

See bellflower.org for Bellflower’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Bellflower yet.bellflower.org ↗
Agendas

Bellflower’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on bellflower.org ↗.

Who works for Bellflower

One full-time city employee for every 744 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (75,162).

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

Roads & transportation40
Parks & libraries7 + 62 pt
Administration & buildings36 + 3 pt
Police10 + 7 pt
Housing & development8 + 1 pt
101
full-time
73
part-time
$874,698
payroll for March 2022
$10.5M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$87,600
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Estimates.Bellflower didn’t report its staff figures; these are the Census Bureau’s estimates, so they aren’t compared with other towns.

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

Bellflower Unified School District

Bellflower’s K–12 school district. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Bellflower →
$21,569
per pupil · CA $21,206
9,813
students
$75.5 million
long-term debt

Of the $21,569 per pupil, $14,043 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 17%State 71%Federal 12%

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

Also serving Bellflower

Downey Unified School District · $19,524 per pupil

Paramount Unified School District · $23,527 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Bellflower’s votes are counted by county

California reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Bellflower 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 Bellflower 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 Bellflower

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Bellflower.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
  2. 2
    California AssemblyState representatives
  3. 3
    California SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseSplit between districts
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of California

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

Next door

How Bellflower compares with the towns next door

Bellflower spent $768 per resident in 2022; the 5 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $848 to $1,469. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Norwalk$848$4,424
Lakewood$887$5,318
Paramount$1,102$3,681
Downey$1,207$5,323
Cerritos$1,469$5,711
Bellflower$768$4,666

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 Bellflower’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Bellflower’s government

How much does Bellflower spend per resident?

About $768 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 $768 was less than 87% of 101 California cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Bellflower?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,666 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 bellflower.org.

Who runs Bellflower’s government?

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

How did Bellflower vote in 2024?

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

How many people work for Bellflower?

101 full-time and 73 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $874,698 (about $10.5M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents Bellflower in the state legislature?

State Senate District 30 (Bob Archuleta) and Assembly District 62 (José Solache). The Assembly district also covers six other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Bellflower’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 →