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Carpinteria, California - panoramio (19)Photo: Thomas Camargo · CC BY 3.0
Town Hall · Carpinteria

Carpinteria spent more per resident in 2022 than 73% of similar cities

Carpinteria’s city government spent $24.6 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,857 per resident.

Town website
Next public meeting

Library Advisory Committee

3:30 pm · Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Avenue

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$24.6M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,857
In 2022: $1,857, more than 73% of 101 similar cities
Long-term debt
$10,000
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
34
full-time · 30 part-time · March payroll $311,482 · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$6,258
0.60% of home value · CA 0.70%

What stands out about how Carpinteria is run

Read from the city’s budget, meetings and official records.

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,857 per resident, more than 73% of 101 similar cities.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Carpinteria’s own agenda portal, checked daily. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check before you go.

Recent meetings

  • Oct29
    Architectural Review BoardThursday · 5:30 pm · Council Chamber, 5775 Carpinteria AvenueArchitectural Review Board MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct26
    City CouncilMonday · 5:30 pm · Council Chamber, 5775 Carpinteria AvenueCity Council MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct22
    Finance CommitteeThursday · 4:00 pm · Council Meeting Room, 5775 Carpinteria AvenueFinance Committee - CANCELLEDMeeting page ↗
  • Oct22
    Carpinteria Open Space Management Advisory BoardThursday · 3:00 pm · Council Chamber, 5775 Carpinteria AvenueCarpinteria Open Space Management Advisory Board MeetingAgenda ↗Minutes ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct20
    Public Engagement CommitteeTuesday · 4:00 pm · Side Conference Meeting Room, 5775 Carpinteria AvenueAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
Go in person

Most meetings are open to the public, and many have a public comment period at the start.

Agenda portal ↗
Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,857 per resident a year, or $5.09 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 28%.

Where the money comes from
Sales taxes 33%Property taxes 21%Other taxes & licenses 20%From the federal government 8%Fees & charges 7%From the state 5%From other local governments 3%Interest, fines & other 3%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $4.3 million; interest on debt $14,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $29.1 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,857 per resident in 2022: more than 73% of them

Carpinteria’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,857 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 101 California cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,377, and the middle half spent $885–$1,910. Carpinteria spent more than 73% of them.

Middle half of the group, $885–$1,910Median $1,377Carpinteria

Includes sewer and trash ($269,000), 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
101

California cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Carpinteria itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $6,258 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.60% of the home’s value, vs 0.70% across California.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Toro Canyon$10,000+
Carpinteria$6,258
California$5,124
$6,258
typical bill a year
0.60%
effective rate
$1,043,100
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Carpinteria

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

See carpinteria.ca.us for Carpinteria’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Carpinteria yet.carpinteria.ca.us ↗
Who works for Carpinteria

One full-time city employee for every 389 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 (13,228).

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

Administration & buildings17 + 1 pt
Parks & libraries4 + 27 pt
Roads & transportation13
Other0 + 2 pt
34
full-time
30
part-time
$311,482
payroll for March 2022
$3.7M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$98,400
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Estimates.Carpinteria 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

Carpinteria Unified School District

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

Schools in Carpinteria →
$23,571
per pupil · CA $21,206
1,920
students
$3.3 million
long-term debt

Of the $23,571 per pupil, $13,033 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 80%State 16%Federal 4%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Carpinteria’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Santa Barbara County’s results184,419 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat61.8%114,002 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican35.1%64,733 votes

Others: 3.1% (5,684 votes).

Most votes in Santa Barbara County: Kamala D Harris

California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%

The county’s page

100% of Carpinteria lies in Santa Barbara County. Every 2024 race in Santa Barbara County is on the county’s page.

Santa Barbara 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 Carpinteria

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Carpinteria.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: carpinteria.ca.us ↗
  2. 2
    California AssemblyState representatives
    Gregg Hart
  3. 3
    California SenateState senator
    Monique Limón
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Gavin Newsom
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Salud O. Carbajal
  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.

Next door

How Carpinteria compares with the towns next door

Carpinteria spent $1,857 per resident in 2022. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Toro Canyon: unincorporated, no town budgetToro CanyonCarpinteria
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Carpinteria$1,857$6,258

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 Carpinteria’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitecarpinteria.ca.us ↗

Questions about Carpinteria’s government

How much does Carpinteria spend per resident?

About $1,857 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 $1,857 was more than 73% of 101 California cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Carpinteria?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $6,258 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.60% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.70% across California. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see carpinteria.ca.us.

Who runs Carpinteria’s government?

See carpinteria.ca.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Carpinteria yet.

How did Carpinteria vote in 2024?

California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Carpinteria alone. Santa Barbara County, where 100% of Carpinteria lies, voted Harris 61.8%, Trump 35.1% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Carpinteria?

34 full-time and 30 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $311,482 (about $3.7M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents Carpinteria in the state legislature?

State Senate District 21 (Monique Limón) and Assembly District 37 (Gregg Hart). The Assembly district also covers seven other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Carpinteria?

The next posted meeting is Library Advisory Committee on Monday, November 2, at 3:30 pm in Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Avenue, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Carpinteria’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 →