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Town Hall · Gustine

Gustine spent less per resident in 2022 than 68% of similar cities

Gustine’s city government spent $7 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,220 per resident. Water and other utilities ($1 million) and the airport ($206,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in California.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$7.0M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,220
In 2022: $1,220, less than 68% of 76 similar cities
Long-term debt
$2.3M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
26
full-time · 4 part-time · March payroll $152,733
Typical tax bill
$2,275
0.52% of home value · CA 0.70%

What stands out about how Gustine is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends less than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,220 per resident, less than 68% of 76 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer37% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $2,275 a year: 0.52% of the home’s value, vs 0.70% across California.
Compared with similar places

$1,220 per resident in 2022: less than 68% of them

Gustine’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,220 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. Gustine spent less than 68% of them.

Middle half of the group, $1,070–$2,489Median $1,562Gustine

Includes sewer and trash ($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
76

California cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Gustine itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,220 per resident a year, or $3.34 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 29%.

Where the money comes from
From the federal government 26%Fees & charges 25%Sales taxes 13%From the state 10%Utility sales 10%Property taxes 10%Other taxes & licenses 3%Interest, fines & other 2%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $203,000; interest on debt $83,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $8.5 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,275 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.52% of the home’s value, vs 0.70% across California.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

California$5,124
Gustine$2,275
$2,275
typical bill a year
0.52%
effective rate
$441,700
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Gustine

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

See cityofgustine.com for Gustine’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Gustine yet.cityofgustine.com ↗
Agendas

Gustine’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on cityofgustine.com ↗.

Who works for Gustine

One full-time city employee for every 220 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 (5,709).

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

Police11 + 1 pt
Parks & libraries6 + 1 pt
Administration & buildings4 + 2 pt
Roads & transportation4
Housing & development1
26
full-time
4
part-time
$152,733
payroll for March 2022
$1.8M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$66,300
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
8
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Gustine had 4.6 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 60 of the 76 California cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 4.9: Gustine had fewer than 55% 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

Gustine Unified School District

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

Schools in Gustine →
$19,506
per pupil · CA $21,206
1,679
students
$19.3 million
long-term debt

Of the $19,506 per pupil, $10,829 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 17%State 69%Federal 14%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Gustine’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Merced County’s results84,994 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican50.6%43,003 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat46.8%39,769 votes

Others: 2.6% (2,222 votes).

Most votes in Merced County: Donald J Trump

California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%

The county’s page

100% of Gustine lies in Merced County. Every 2024 race in Merced County is on the county’s page.

Merced 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 Gustine

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Gustine.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: cityofgustine.com ↗
  2. 2
    California AssemblyState representatives
    Juan Alanis
  3. 3
    California SenateState senator
    Anna Caballero
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Gavin Newsom
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Adam Gray
  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 Gustine’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitecityofgustine.com ↗

Questions about Gustine’s government

How much does Gustine spend per resident?

About $1,220 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 $1,220 was less than 68% of 76 California cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Gustine?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,275 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.52% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.70% across California. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofgustine.com.

Who runs Gustine’s government?

See cityofgustine.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Gustine yet.

How did Gustine vote in 2024?

California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Gustine alone. Merced County, where 100% of Gustine lies, voted Trump 50.6%, Harris 46.8% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Gustine?

26 full-time and 4 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $152,733 (about $1.8M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Gustine in the state legislature?

State Senate District 14 (Anna Caballero) and Assembly District 22 (Juan Alanis). The Assembly district also covers five other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Gustine’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 →