John Marsh House · Photo: Robin Mayoff (RHM Images) · CC BY-SA 3.0Brentwood spent more per resident in 2022 than 74% of similar cities
Brentwood’s city government spent $112.9 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,736 per resident. Water and other utilities ($18.7 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Brentwood is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$1,736 per resident in 2022: more than 74% of them
Brentwood’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,736 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 $1,263, and the middle half spent $889–$1,772. Brentwood spent more than 74% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($22.8 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 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Brentwood itself left out).
About $1,736 per resident a year, or $4.76 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 24%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
No trend yet
Brentwood reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
full-time in March 2025, up from 297 in 2022.
The typical homeowner pays $8,257 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.99% 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 Brentwood’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 Brentwood’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Brentwood →
Who’s in charge in Brentwood
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Brentwood’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on brentwoodca.gov ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 212 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (65,017).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Liberty Union High School District
Brentwood’s high school district, shared with Antioch, Oakley. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $17,861 per pupil, $11,937 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.
Brentwood Union Elementary School District · $14,727 per pupil
Knightsen Elementary School District · $14,203 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Brentwood’s votes are counted by county
California reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Brentwood alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Contra Costa County’s results.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat67.4%355,460 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican29.3%154,751 votesOthers: 3.3% (17,548 votes).
Most votes in Contra Costa County: Kamala D Harris
California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%
100% of Brentwood lies in Contra Costa County. Every 2024 race in Contra Costa County is on the county’s page.
Contra Costa 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 Brentwood.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: brentwoodca.gov ↗
- 2California AssemblyState representatives
- 3California SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of California
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Brentwood compares with the towns next door
Brentwood spent $1,736 per resident in 2022; the 2 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $760 to $847. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
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 Brentwood’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Brentwood’s government
How much does Brentwood spend per resident?
About $1,736 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 $1,736 was more than 74% of 101 California cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Brentwood?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $8,257 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.99% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.70% across California. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see brentwoodca.gov.
Who runs Brentwood’s government?
See brentwoodca.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Brentwood yet.
How did Brentwood vote in 2024?
California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Brentwood alone. Contra Costa County, where 100% of Brentwood lies, voted Harris 67.4%, Trump 29.3% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Brentwood?
307 full-time and 126 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $3.4M (about $41.2M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Brentwood in the state legislature?
State Senate District 3 (Christopher Cabaldon) and Assembly District 15 (Anamarie Avila Farias). The Assembly district also covers six other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Brentwood’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 →