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Brawley city hallPhoto: en:User:Epolk Eric Polk · CC BY-SA 2.5
Town Hall · Brawley

Brawley spent less per resident in 2022 than 72% of similar cities

Brawley’s city government spent $22 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $847 per resident. Water and other utilities ($3.7 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in California.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$22.0M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$847
In 2022: $847, less than 72% of 92 similar cities
Long-term debt
$21.3M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
120
full-time · 23 part-time · March payroll $751,186
Typical tax bill
$1,829
0.63% of home value · CA 0.70%

What stands out about how Brawley is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends less than most similar citiesIn 2022: $847 per resident, less than 72% of 92 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer32% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).Its own police and fire25 sworn officers and 20 full-time firefighters on the payroll.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $1,829 a year: 0.63% of the home’s value, vs 0.70% across California.
Compared with similar places

$847 per resident in 2022: less than 72% of them

Brawley’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($847 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 $1,164, and the middle half spent $831–$1,742. Brawley spent less than 72% of them.

Middle half of the group, $831–$1,742Median $1,164Brawley

Includes sewer and trash ($4.6 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; Brawley itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $847 per resident a year, or $2.32 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 26%.

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 29%Sales taxes 23%Utility sales 19%Property taxes 11%Interest, fines & other 6%From the state 5%From other local governments 2%From the federal government 2%Other taxes & licenses 2%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $1.3 million; interest on debt $938,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $28.1 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,829 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.63% of the home’s value, vs 0.70% across California.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

California$5,124
Brawley$1,829
$1,829
typical bill a year
0.63%
effective rate
$290,700
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Brawley

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

See brawley-ca.gov for Brawley’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Brawley yet.brawley-ca.gov ↗
Agendas

Brawley’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on brawley-ca.gov ↗.

Who works for Brawley

One full-time city employee for every 217 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 (26,015).

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

Police38
Fire21
Parks & libraries13 + 16 pt
Administration & buildings13 + 6 pt
Roads & transportation14
Sewer & trash8 + 1 pt
Water & other utilities8
Health & welfare1
Housing & development1
Other3
120
full-time
23
part-time
$751,186
payroll for March 2022
$9.0M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$72,200
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
25
sworn police officers
20
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Brawley had 4.6 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 3.3: Brawley had more than 72% 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

Brawley Elementary School District

Brawley’s elementary school district. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Brawley →
$19,407
per pupil · CA $21,206
3,901
students
$13.9 million
long-term debt

Of the $19,407 per pupil, $12,299 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 9%State 70%Federal 22%

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

Also serving Brawley

Brawley Union High School District · $19,327 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Brawley’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Imperial County’s results53,610 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican49.1%26,302 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat48.4%25,926 votes

Others: 2.6% (1,382 votes).

Most votes in Imperial County: Donald J Trump

California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%

The county’s page

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

Imperial 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 Brawley

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Brawley.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: brawley-ca.gov ↗
  2. 2
    California AssemblyState representatives
    Jeff Gonzalez
  3. 3
    California SenateState senator
    Steve Padilla
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Gavin Newsom
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Raul Ruiz
  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.

Reach Brawley’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitebrawley-ca.gov ↗

Questions about Brawley’s government

How much does Brawley spend per resident?

About $847 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 $847 was less than 72% of 92 California cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Brawley?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,829 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.63% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.70% across California. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see brawley-ca.gov.

Who runs Brawley’s government?

See brawley-ca.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Brawley yet.

How did Brawley vote in 2024?

California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Brawley alone. Imperial County, where 100% of Brawley lies, voted Trump 49.1%, Harris 48.4% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Brawley?

120 full-time and 23 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $751,186 (about $9.0M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Brawley in the state legislature?

State Senate District 18 (Steve Padilla) and Assembly District 36 (Jeff Gonzalez). The Assembly district also covers 11 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Brawley’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 →