Photo: Jonnyboyca at English Wikipedia · Public domainBrea spent more per resident in 2022 than 80% of similar cities
Brea’s city government spent $93 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2023, about $1,954 per resident. Water and other utilities ($12.4 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Brea is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$1,926 per resident in 2022: more than 80% of them
Brea’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,926 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–$1,730. Brea spent more than 80% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($2.6 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 →
California cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Brea itself left out).
About $1,954 per resident a year, or $5.35 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 29%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Day-to-day spending is up 8% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Brea reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $1,926 · 2023: $1,954. Per resident it went from $1,926 to $1,954 (up 1%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 44,484 to 47,589.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $6,740 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.73% of the home’s value, vs 0.70% across California.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Brea’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 Brea’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Brea →
Who’s in charge in Brea
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Brea’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on ci.brea.ca.us ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 112 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 2023 finance file (47,589).
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.
Fullerton Joint Union High School District
Brea’s high school district, shared with La Habra, Fullerton, La Habra Heights, Buena Park, La Palma. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $17,606 per pupil, $10,211 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.
California districts overall: 36% local, 52% state, 11% federal.
Brea-Olinda Unified School District · $16,554 per pupil
La Habra City Elementary School District · $20,771 per pupil
Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District · $17,021 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Brea’s votes are counted by county
California reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Brea alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Orange County’s results.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat49.7%691,577 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican47.1%654,494 votesOthers: 3.2% (44,403 votes).
Most votes in Orange County: Kamala D Harris
California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%
100% of Brea lies in Orange County. Every 2024 race in Orange County is on the county’s page.
Orange 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 Brea.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: ci.brea.ca.us ↗
- 2California AssemblyState representatives
- 3California SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseSplit between districts
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of California
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Brea compares with the towns next door
Brea spent $1,926 per resident in 2022; the 4 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $834 to $2,227. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Placentia | $834 | $6,159 |
| Yorba Linda | $947 | $8,367 |
| Fullerton | $1,722 | $5,697 |
| La Habra | $2,227 | $4,892 |
| Brea | $1,926 | $6,740 |
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 Brea’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Brea’s government
How much does Brea spend per resident?
About $1,954 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2023, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,926 was more than 80% of 92 California cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Brea?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $6,740 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.73% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.70% across California. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ci.brea.ca.us.
Who runs Brea’s government?
See ci.brea.ca.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Brea yet.
How did Brea vote in 2024?
California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Brea alone. Orange County, where 100% of Brea lies, voted Harris 49.7%, Trump 47.1% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Brea?
426 full-time and 125 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $4.4M (about $52.2M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.
Who represents Brea in the state legislature?
Brea is split among 2 State Senate districts, so your address decides. The California Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Brea’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 →