Photo: McGhiever · CC BY-SA 4.0Carmel-by-the-Sea spent more per resident in 2022 than 96% of similar cities
Carmel-by-the-Sea’s city government spent $24.1 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $6,429 per resident.
What stands out about how Carmel-by-the-Sea is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$6,429 per resident in 2022: more than 96% of them
Carmel-by-the-Sea’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($6,429 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. Carmel-by-the-Sea spent more than 96% of them.
Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
California cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Carmel-by-the-Sea itself left out).
About $6,429 per resident a year, or $17.61 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 33%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
No trend yet
Carmel-by-the-Sea reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
full-time in March 2025, up from 47 in 2022.
The typical homeowner pays $6,395 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.32% 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 Carmel-by-the-Sea’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 Carmel-by-the-Sea’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Carmel-by-the-Sea →
Who’s in charge in Carmel-by-the-Sea
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Carmel-by-the-Sea’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on ci.carmel.ca.us ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 53 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 (3,744).
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.
Carmel Unified School District
Carmel-by-the-Sea’s K–12 school district. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $37,134 per pupil, $20,959 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.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Carmel-by-the-Sea’s votes are counted by county
California reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Carmel-by-the-Sea alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Monterey County’s results.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat63.4%93,060 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican33.6%49,226 votesOthers: 3.0% (4,432 votes).
Most votes in Monterey County: Kamala D Harris
California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%
100% of Carmel-by-the-Sea lies in Monterey County. Every 2024 race in Monterey County is on the county’s page.
Monterey 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 Carmel-by-the-Sea.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: ci.carmel.ca.us ↗
- 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 Carmel-by-the-Sea compares with the towns next door
Carmel-by-the-Sea spent $6,429 per resident in 2022. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Carmel-by-the-Sea | $6,429 | $6,395 |
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 Carmel-by-the-Sea’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Carmel-by-the-Sea’s government
How much does Carmel-by-the-Sea spend per resident?
About $6,429 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 $6,429 was more than 96% of 76 California cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Carmel-by-the-Sea?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $6,395 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.32% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.70% across California. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ci.carmel.ca.us.
Who runs Carmel-by-the-Sea’s government?
See ci.carmel.ca.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Carmel-by-the-Sea yet.
How did Carmel-by-the-Sea vote in 2024?
California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Carmel-by-the-Sea alone. Monterey County, where 100% of Carmel-by-the-Sea lies, voted Harris 63.4%, Trump 33.6% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Carmel-by-the-Sea?
70 full-time and 16 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $628,359 (about $7.5M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Carmel-by-the-Sea in the state legislature?
State Senate District 17 (John Laird) and Assembly District 30 (Dawn Addis). The Assembly district also covers 15 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Carmel-by-the-Sea’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 →