Photo: Eric Polk · CC BY 3.0Guadalupe spent less per resident in 2022 than 74% of similar cities
Guadalupe’s city government spent $8.8 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,080 per resident. Water and other utilities ($2.1 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Guadalupe is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$1,080 per resident in 2022: less than 74% of them
Guadalupe’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,080 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 $1,562, and the middle half spent $1,070–$2,489. Guadalupe spent less than 74% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($1 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 →
California cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Guadalupe itself left out).
About $1,080 per resident a year, or $2.96 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 32%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
No trend yet
Guadalupe reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $2,690 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.54% 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 Guadalupe’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 Guadalupe’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Guadalupe →
Who’s in charge in Guadalupe
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Guadalupe’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on ci.guadalupe.ca.us ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 194 residents
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (8,140).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Santa Maria Joint Union High School District
Guadalupe’s high school district, shared with Santa Maria. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $19,746 per pupil, $10,630 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.
Guadalupe Union Elementary School District · $21,198 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Guadalupe’s votes are counted by county
California reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Guadalupe alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Santa Barbara County’s results.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat61.8%114,002 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican35.1%64,733 votesOthers: 3.1% (5,684 votes).
Most votes in Santa Barbara County: Kamala D Harris
California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%
100% of Guadalupe lies in Santa Barbara County. Every 2024 race in Santa Barbara County is on the county’s page.
Santa Barbara 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 Guadalupe.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: ci.guadalupe.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.
Reach Guadalupe’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Guadalupe’s government
How much does Guadalupe spend per resident?
About $1,080 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 $1,080 was less than 74% of 76 California cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Guadalupe?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,690 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.54% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.70% across California. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ci.guadalupe.ca.us.
Who runs Guadalupe’s government?
See ci.guadalupe.ca.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Guadalupe yet.
How did Guadalupe vote in 2024?
California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Guadalupe alone. Santa Barbara County, where 100% of Guadalupe lies, voted Harris 61.8%, Trump 35.1% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Guadalupe?
42 full-time and 0 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $408,082 (about $4.9M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Guadalupe 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.
Ask neighbors about Guadalupe’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 →