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Town Hall · Highland

Highland spent less per resident in 2022 than 99% of similar cities

Highland’s city government spent $28.8 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $517 per resident.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in California.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$28.8M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$517
In 2022: $517, less than 99% of 101 similar cities
Long-term debt
Not reported
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
37
full-time · 7 part-time · March payroll $357,550
Typical tax bill
$3,843
0.79% of home value · CA 0.70%

What stands out about how Highland is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends less than most similar citiesIn 2022: $517 per resident, less than 99% of 101 similar cities.A shared school districtShares Redlands Unified School District with 2 other towns.Split between districts3 Assembly and 2 U.S. House districts cover Highland; your street decides yours.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

Recent meetings

  • Nov2
    Finance/Personnel SubcommitteeMonday · 5:30 pm · 27215 Base Line, Upright Conference RoomFinance/Personnel Subcommittee Special MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct22
    City CouncilThursday · 6:00 pm · Sterling Natural Resource Center, 25318 5th StreetCity Council Special Meeting (State of the City Address)Agenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct20
    Planning CommissionTuesday · 6:00 pm · 27215 Base LinePlanning Commission Regular MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct19
    Finance/Personnel SubcommitteeMonday · 5:30 pm · 27215 Base Line, Upright Conference RoomFinance/Personnel Subcommittee Special MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct13
    City CouncilTuesday · 6:00 pm · Donahue Council Chambers, 27215 Base LineJoint City Council Regular Meeting & Housing Authority Special MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
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 2022 budget

About $517 per resident a year, or $1.42 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 38%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 35%From the federal government 17%Sales taxes 15%Interest, fines & other 9%Fees & charges 7%From the state 7%Other taxes & licenses 6%From other local governments 3%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $15.4 million; interest on debt $121,000. With these, the whole budget was $44.3 million.
Compared with similar places

$517 per resident in 2022: less than 99% of them

Highland’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($517 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 $1,270, and the middle half spent $923–$1,772. Highland spent less than 99% of them.

Middle half of the group, $923–$1,772Median $1,270Highland

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; Highland itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $3,843 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
Redlands$4,541
Highland$3,843
San Bernardino$2,594
$3,843
typical bill a year
0.79%
effective rate
$485,600
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Highland

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

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

One full-time city employee for every 1,505 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 (55,696).

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

Administration & buildings16
Roads & transportation11
Housing & development0 + 7 pt
Parks & libraries2
Other8
37
full-time
7
part-time
$357,550
payroll for March 2022
$4.3M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$112,200
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Highland had 0.7 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 3.5: Highland had fewer than 99% 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

Redlands Unified School District

Highland’s K–12 school district, shared with Loma Linda, Redlands. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Highland →
$18,357
per pupil · CA $21,206
19,673
students
$66 million
long-term debt

Of the $18,357 per pupil, $10,678 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 28%State 63%Federal 9%

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

Also serving Highland

San Bernardino City Unified School District · $23,886 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Highland’s votes are counted by county

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

President · San Bernardino County’s results759,195 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican49.6%376,825 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat47.6%361,256 votes

Others: 2.8% (21,114 votes).

Most votes in San Bernardino County: Donald J Trump

California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%

The county’s page

100% of Highland lies in San Bernardino County. Every 2024 race in San Bernardino County is on the county’s page.

San Bernardino 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 Highland

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Highland.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: ci.highland.ca.us ↗
  2. 2
    California AssemblyHighland is split between 3 districts
    Greg WallisTom LackeyJames Ramos
  3. 3
    California SenateState senator
    Rosilicie Ochoa BoghEloise Reyes
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Gavin Newsom
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseSplit between districts
    Pete AguilarJay Obernolte
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of California
    Alex PadillaAdam B. Schiff
Find your state legislators by address ↗Find your House district by ZIP code ↗

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

Next door

How Highland compares with the towns next door

Highland spent $517 per resident in 2022; the 2 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $1,110 to $1,828. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

San Bernardino: $1,110 per resident (2022)Redlands: $1,828 per resident (2022)San BernardinoRedlandsHighland
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
San Bernardino$1,110$2,594
Redlands$1,828$4,541
Highland$517$3,843

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 Highland’s government

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

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

Questions about Highland’s government

How much does Highland spend per resident?

About $517 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 $517 was less than 99% of 101 California cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Highland?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,843 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 ci.highland.ca.us.

Who runs Highland’s government?

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

How did Highland vote in 2024?

California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Highland alone. San Bernardino County, where 100% of Highland lies, voted Trump 49.6%, Harris 47.6% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Highland?

37 full-time and 7 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $357,550 (about $4.3M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Highland in the state legislature?

Highland is split among 3 Assembly districts and 2 State Senate districts, so your address decides. The California Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Highland?

The next posted meeting is Planning Commission on Tuesday, November 3, at 6:00 pm in 27215 Base Line, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Highland’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 →