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US Post Office-El Centro MainUS Post Office-El Centro Main · Photo: Cbl62 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · El Centro

El Centro runs its own hospital

El Centro’s city government spent $41.9 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $961 per resident. It also runs a hospital ($175.7 million) and water utilities ($5.7 million), counted separately. Census Bureau figures.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in California.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$41.9M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$961
In 2022: $961, less than 64% of 92 similar cities
Long-term debt
$384.9M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2025
236
full-time, hospital & welfare staff apart (994 in all) · March payroll $7.2M
Typical tax bill
$2,567
0.79% of home value · CA 0.70%

What stands out about how El Centro is run

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

Runs a hospital$175.7 million for a hospital the city runs in 2022, shown apart from day-to-day spending.Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.A shared school districtShares Central Union High School District with 1 other town.Its own police and fire45 sworn officers and 31 full-time firefighters on the payroll.
★ What stands out · Your share of the 2022 budget

About $961 per resident a year, or $2.63 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 25%.

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 71%Sales taxes 11%From the federal government 6%Utility sales 4%From the state 4%Property taxes 3%Interest, fines & other 1%Other taxes & licenses <1%From other local governments <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $22.1 million; interest on debt $12.2 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $257.6 million.
Why the hospital is apart.The Census Bureau counts the hospital it runs in the city’s books ($175.7 million, 79% of all operations). Only 135 of the 11,301 towns and cities of 2,500+ run one (Census finance files), so it is shown here and left out of every per-resident comparison.
Compared with similar places

$961 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

El Centro’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($961 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 $1,164, and the middle half spent $831–$1,742. El Centro spent less than 64% of them.

Middle half of the group, $831–$1,742Median $1,164El Centro

Includes sewer and trash ($7.2 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
92

California cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; El Centro itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

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

City staff
236

full-time in March 2025 (hospital, health & welfare left out), up from 219 in 2022. Both are Census estimates.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,567 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.79% of the home’s value, vs 0.70% across California.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

California$5,124
Imperial$3,605
El Centro$2,567
$2,567
typical bill a year
0.79%
effective rate
$323,100
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

Recent meetings

  • Oct20
    City CouncilTuesday · 3:30 pm · City Hall Council Chambers, 1275 Main StreetCity Council MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct13
    Planning CommissionTuesday · 5:30 pm · Council Chambers, 1275 W. Main StreetAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct13
    City CouncilTuesday · 2:30 pm · 1275 W Main StreetSpecial City Council MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct13
    Financing AuthorityTuesday · 2:30 pm · 1275 W Main St.Financing Authority Special MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct6
    City CouncilTuesday · 3:30 pm · City Hall Council Chambers, 1275 Main StreetCANCELLED - City Council MeetingMeeting page ↗
Go in person

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

Agenda portal ↗
Who runs it

Who’s in charge in El Centro

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

See cityofelcentro.org for El Centro’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for El Centro yet.cityofelcentro.org ↗
Who works for El Centro

One full-time city employee for every 185 residents, not counting hospital, health & welfare staff

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 (43,601).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025

Police69
Parks & libraries27 + 39 pt
Fire34
Administration & buildings31 + 3 pt
Roads & transportation22 + 2 pt
Water & other utilities17
Sewer & trash16 + 1 pt
Housing & development5
Other15 + 3 pt
Run separately
Hospital, health & welfare758 + 140 pt
236
full-time, hospital, health & welfare apart
188
part-time
$7.2M
payroll for March 2025
$86.9M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$80,100
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
45
sworn police officers
31
full-time firefighters
The hospital.The 758 full-time hospital, health & welfare staff include the hospital the city runs, so they are counted apart, as the hospitals are in the budget. The payroll figures cover every employee, the hospital’s included: the Census file doesn’t split pay by function.
Not compared.Staff are compared with the same group as the budget, and El Centro’s 2022 budget was a Census estimate, so there is no group to compare with.

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

Central Union High School District

El Centro’s high school district, shared with Imperial. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in El Centro →
$20,868
per pupil · CA $21,206
4,023
students
$4.4 million
long-term debt

Of the $20,868 per pupil, $12,223 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 15%State 74%Federal 11%

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

Also serving El Centro

El Centro Elementary School District · $20,338 per pupil

McCabe Union Elementary School District · $15,312 per pupil

Meadows Union Elementary School District · $23,395 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

El Centro’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Imperial County’s results53,610 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican49.1%26,302 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat48.4%25,926 votes

Others: 2.6% (1,382 votes).

Most votes in Imperial County: Donald J Trump

California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%

The county’s page

100% of El Centro lies in Imperial County. Every 2024 race in Imperial County is on the county’s page.

Imperial 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 El Centro

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for El Centro.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: cityofelcentro.org ↗
  2. 2
    California AssemblyState representatives
    Jeff Gonzalez
  3. 3
    California SenateState senator
    Steve Padilla
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Gavin Newsom
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Raul Ruiz
  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 El Centro compares with the towns next door

El Centro spent $961 per resident in 2022; the neighbor that reported 2022 spent $1,007. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Imperial: $1,007 per resident (2022)ImperialEl Centro
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Imperial$1,007$3,605
El Centro$961$2,567

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 El Centro’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitecityofelcentro.org ↗

Questions about El Centro’s government

How much does El Centro spend per resident?

About $961 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. El Centro also runs a hospital ($175.7 million), counted separately. In 2022, the last full count, its $961 was less than 64% of 92 California cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in El Centro?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,567 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.79% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.70% across California. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofelcentro.org.

Who runs El Centro’s government?

See cityofelcentro.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for El Centro yet.

How did El Centro vote in 2024?

California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for El Centro alone. Imperial County, where 100% of El Centro lies, voted Trump 49.1%, Harris 48.4% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for El Centro?

236 full-time and 188 part-time employees in March 2025 (plus 758 full-time hospital, health & welfare staff), with a March payroll of $7.2M (about $86.9M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents El Centro in the state legislature?

State Senate District 18 (Steve Padilla) and Assembly District 36 (Jeff Gonzalez). The Assembly district also covers 11 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in El Centro?

The next posted meeting is City Council on Tuesday, November 3, at 3:30 pm in City Hall Council Chambers, 1275 Main Street, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about El Centro’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 →