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Colton junctionPhoto: Bruce Fingerhood from Springfield, Oregon, US · CC BY 2.0
Town Hall · Colton

How is Colton run?

Colton’s city government spent $86.1 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $1,598 per resident. Water and other utilities ($76.2 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in California.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$86.1M
year to June 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$1,598
In 2022: $1,377, more than 55% of 101 similar cities
Long-term debt
$108.0M
end of FY2024, reported
City staff, 2022
295
full-time · 58 part-time · March payroll $3.2M
Typical tax bill
$2,809
0.63% of home value · CA 0.70%

What stands out about how Colton is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Runs its own water & sewer62% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2024).A shared school districtShares Colton Joint Unified School District with 1 other town.Split between districts2 U.S. House districts cover Colton; your street decides yours.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

Recent meetings

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 2024 budget

About $1,598 per resident a year, or $4.38 a day

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

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 52%Fees & charges 14%Interest, fines & other 8%Sales taxes 8%Property taxes 7%Other taxes & licenses 7%From the state 3%From the federal government 2%From other local governments <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $7.8 million; interest on debt $3.2 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $173.3 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,377 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Colton’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,377 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. Colton spent more than 55% of them.

Middle half of the group, $889–$1,772Median $1,263Colton

Includes sewer and trash ($19.9 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
101

California cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Colton itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 14% since 2022

Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Colton reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$75.2 million
2024$86.1 million

Per resident: 2022: $1,377 · 2024: $1,598.

Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,809 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
Loma Linda$4,603
Grand Terrace$3,921
Rialto$3,374
Colton$2,809
San Bernardino$2,594
$2,809
typical bill a year
0.63%
effective rate
$443,800
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Colton

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

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

One full-time city employee for every 183 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (53,918).

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

Police82 + 3 pt
Administration & buildings59
Water & other utilities49
Fire42
Parks & libraries9 + 44 pt
Sewer & trash21 + 1 pt
Roads & transportation13
Schools6 + 10 pt
Health & welfare1
Other13
295
full-time
58
part-time
$3.2M
payroll for March 2022
$38.1M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$124,600
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
54
sworn police officers
39
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Colton had 5.4 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 79 of the 101 California cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 3.3: Colton had more than 84% 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

Colton Joint Unified School District

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

Schools in Colton →
$21,436
per pupil · CA $21,206
18,912
students
$270 million
long-term debt

Of the $21,436 per pupil, $12,249 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 20%State 64%Federal 16%

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

Also serving Colton

Rialto Unified School District · $20,433 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Colton’s votes are counted by county

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

President · San Bernardino County’s results759,195 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican49.6%376,825 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat47.6%361,256 votes

Others: 2.8% (21,114 votes).

Most votes in San Bernardino County: Donald J Trump

California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%

The county’s page

100% of Colton lies in San Bernardino County. Every 2024 race in San Bernardino County is on the county’s page.

San Bernardino 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 Colton

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Colton.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: ci.colton.ca.us ↗
  2. 2
    California AssemblyState representatives
    Robert Garcia
  3. 3
    California SenateState senator
    Eloise ReyesRosilicie Ochoa Bogh
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Gavin Newsom
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseSplit between districts
    Pete AguilarJay Obernolte
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of California
    Alex PadillaAdam B. Schiff
Find your state legislators by address ↗Find your House district by ZIP code ↗

Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.

Next door

How Colton compares with the towns next door

Colton spent $1,377 per resident in 2022; the 4 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $872 to $1,599. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Grand Terrace: $872 per resident (2022)San Bernardino: $1,110 per resident (2022)Rialto: $1,599 per resident (2022)Loma Linda: $1,207 per resident (2022)Grand TerraceSan BernardinoRialtoLoma LindaColton
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Grand Terrace$872$3,921
San Bernardino$1,110$2,594
Loma Linda$1,207$4,603
Rialto$1,599$3,374
Colton$1,377$2,809

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 Colton’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websiteci.colton.ca.us ↗

Questions about Colton’s government

How much does Colton spend per resident?

About $1,598 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,377 was more than 55% of 101 California cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Colton?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,809 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 ci.colton.ca.us.

Who runs Colton’s government?

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

How did Colton vote in 2024?

California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Colton alone. San Bernardino County, where 100% of Colton lies, voted Trump 49.6%, Harris 47.6% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Colton?

295 full-time and 58 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $3.2M (about $38.1M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Colton in the state legislature?

Colton 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.

When is the next public meeting in Colton?

The next posted meeting is City Council on Tuesday, November 3, at 5:00 pm in Council Chambers, 650 N. La Cadena Drive, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Colton’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 →