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Hanford, California (11774483763) (cropped)Photo: Julie Jordan Scott from Bakersfield, California, USA · CC BY 2.0
Town Hall · Hanford

How is Hanford run?

Hanford’s city government spent $62.1 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $1,062 per resident. Water and other utilities ($5.1 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in California.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$62.1M
year to June 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$1,062
In 2022: $1,357, more than 55% of 101 similar cities
Long-term debt
$50.4M
end of FY2024, reported
City staff, 2022
284
full-time · 33 part-time · March payroll $2.2M
Typical tax bill
$2,736
0.78% of home value · CA 0.70%

What stands out about how Hanford is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Runs its own water & sewer33% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2024).A shared school districtShares Hanford Joint Union High School District with 1 other town.Split between districts2 U.S. House districts cover Hanford; your street decides yours.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Hanford’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 $1,062 per resident a year, or $2.91 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 27%.

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 25%Sales taxes 21%Property taxes 15%Utility sales 12%Interest, fines & other 12%From the state 11%From the federal government 2%Other taxes & licenses 2%From other local governments 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $10.2 million; interest on debt $2.3 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $80 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,357 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Hanford’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,357 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. Hanford spent more than 55% of them.

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

Includes sewer and trash ($12.7 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; Hanford itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is down 22% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$79.2 million
2024$62.1 million

Per resident: 2022: $1,357 · 2024: $1,062.

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 $2,736 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.78% of the home’s value, vs 0.70% across California.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

California$5,124
Hanford$2,736
Home Garden$1,324
$2,736
typical bill a year
0.78%
effective rate
$349,400
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Hanford

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

See cityofhanfordca.com for Hanford’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Hanford yet.cityofhanfordca.com ↗
Who works for Hanford

One full-time city employee for every 206 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 (58,470).

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

Police86 + 3 pt
Sewer & trash51 + 2 pt
Fire34 + 2 pt
Parks & libraries17 + 17 pt
Roads & transportation24 + 2 pt
Water & other utilities25
Administration & buildings16 + 4 pt
Housing & development7
Health & welfare2
Other22 + 3 pt
284
full-time
33
part-time
$2.2M
payroll for March 2022
$25.9M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$89,400
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
67
sworn police officers
33
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Hanford had 4.9 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: Hanford had more than 73% 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

Hanford Joint Union High School District

Hanford’s high school district, shared with Visalia. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Hanford →
$16,994
per pupil · CA $21,206
4,180
students
$86.7 million
long-term debt

Of the $16,994 per pupil, $9,570 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 71%Federal 10%

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

Also serving Hanford

Hanford Elementary School District · $17,712 per pupil

Pioneer Union Elementary School District · $14,431 per pupil

Armona Union Elementary School District · $18,542 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Hanford’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Kings County’s results41,336 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican60.4%24,955 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat37.4%15,480 votes

Others: 2.2% (901 votes).

Most votes in Kings County: Donald J Trump

California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%

The county’s page

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

Kings 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 Hanford

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Hanford.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: cityofhanfordca.com ↗
  2. 2
    California AssemblyState representatives
    Ali Macedo
  3. 3
    California SenateState senator
    Melissa Hurtado
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Gavin Newsom
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseSplit between districts
    David G. ValadaoVince Fong
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of California
    Alex PadillaAdam B. Schiff
Find your House district by ZIP code ↗

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

Next door

How Hanford compares with the towns next door

Hanford spent $1,357 per resident in 2022. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Home Garden: unincorporated, no town budgetHome GardenHanford
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Hanford$1,357$2,736

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 Hanford’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitecityofhanfordca.com ↗

Questions about Hanford’s government

How much does Hanford spend per resident?

About $1,062 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 $1,357 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 Hanford?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,736 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.78% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.70% across California. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofhanfordca.com.

Who runs Hanford’s government?

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

How did Hanford vote in 2024?

California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Hanford alone. Kings County, where 100% of Hanford lies, voted Trump 60.4%, Harris 37.4% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Hanford?

284 full-time and 33 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $2.2M (about $25.9M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Hanford in the state legislature?

State Senate District 16 (Melissa Hurtado) and Assembly District 33 (Ali Macedo). The Assembly district also covers 12 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Hanford?

The next posted meeting is City Council on Tuesday, November 3, at 7:00 pm in 400 N. Douty Street, City Council Chambers, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Hanford’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 →