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Old City Hall, 7410 Monterey St., Gilroy, CA 9-23-2012 3-25-51 PMPhoto: Sanfranman59 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Gilroy

How is Gilroy run?

Gilroy’s city government spent $74.4 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2023, about $1,281 per resident. Water and other utilities ($10.2 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Next public meeting

City Council

6:00 pm · Gilroy City Council Chambers, 7351 Rosanna Street

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2023
$74.4M
year to June 30, 2023
Per resident, 2023
$1,281
In 2022: $1,325, more than 54% of 101 similar cities
Long-term debt
$110.0M
end of FY2023, reported
City staff, 2022
286
full-time · 81 part-time · March payroll $3.1M · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$8,513
0.83% of home value · CA 0.70%

What stands out about how Gilroy is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Runs its own water & sewer25% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2023).Its own police and fire74 sworn officers and 39 full-time firefighters on the payroll.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Gilroy’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 2023 budget

About $1,281 per resident a year, or $3.51 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 37%.

Where the money comes from
Sales taxes 28%Fees & charges 20%Property taxes 19%Interest, fines & other 13%Utility sales 12%From the state 3%From other local governments 3%From the federal government 2%Other taxes & licenses 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $12.1 million; interest on debt $4.9 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $101.7 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,325 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Gilroy’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,325 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. Gilroy spent more than 54% of them.

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

Includes sewer and trash ($13 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; Gilroy itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 2% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$72.7 million
2023$74.4 million

Per resident: 2022: $1,325 · 2023: $1,281. Per resident it went from $1,325 to $1,281 (down 3%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 54,831 to 58,101.

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 $8,513 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.83% of the home’s value, vs 0.70% across California.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Gilroy$8,513
California$5,124
$8,513
typical bill a year
0.83%
effective rate
$1,027,400
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Gilroy

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

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

One full-time city employee for every 203 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 2023 finance file (58,101).

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

Police106 + 4 pt
Administration & buildings40 + 10 pt
Fire40 + 1 pt
Parks & libraries20 + 35 pt
Roads & transportation25 + 6 pt
Sewer & trash14 + 9 pt
Water & other utilities13 + 9 pt
Health & welfare7 + 2 pt
Housing & development2
Other19 + 5 pt
286
full-time
81
part-time
$3.1M
payroll for March 2022
$37.3M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$122,400
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
74
sworn police officers
39
full-time firefighters
Estimates.Gilroy 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

Gilroy Unified School District

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

Schools in Gilroy →
$17,442
per pupil · CA $21,206
10,244
students
$374 million
long-term debt

Of the $17,442 per pupil, $10,199 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 43%State 48%Federal 9%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Gilroy’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Santa Clara County’s results750,029 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat68.1%510,552 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican28.1%210,732 votes

Others: 3.8% (28,745 votes).

Most votes in Santa Clara County: Kamala D Harris

California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%

The county’s page

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

Santa Clara 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 Gilroy

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Gilroy.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: ci.gilroy.ca.us ↗
  2. 2
    California AssemblyState representatives
    Robert Rivas
  3. 3
    California SenateState senator
    Dave Cortese
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Gavin Newsom
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Zoe Lofgren
  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.

Reach Gilroy’s government

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

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

Questions about Gilroy’s government

How much does Gilroy spend per resident?

About $1,281 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2023, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,325 was more than 54% of 101 California cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Gilroy?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $8,513 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.83% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.70% across California. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ci.gilroy.ca.us.

Who runs Gilroy’s government?

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

How did Gilroy vote in 2024?

California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Gilroy alone. Santa Clara County, where 100% of Gilroy lies, voted Harris 68.1%, Trump 28.1% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Gilroy?

286 full-time and 81 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $3.1M (about $37.3M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents Gilroy in the state legislature?

State Senate District 15 (Dave Cortese) and Assembly District 29 (Robert Rivas). The Assembly district also covers eight other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Gilroy?

The next posted meeting is City Council on Monday, November 2, at 6:00 pm in Gilroy City Council Chambers, 7351 Rosanna Street, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Gilroy’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 →