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City Hall for ImperialPhoto: JacobSA2019 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Imperial

Imperial spent less per resident in 2022 than 70% of similar cities

Imperial’s city government spent $16.2 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2023, about $770 per resident. Water and other utilities ($3.6 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in California.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2023
$16.2M
year to June 30, 2023
Per resident, 2023
$770
In 2022: $1,007, less than 70% of 101 similar cities
Long-term debt
$31.7M
end of FY2023, reported
City staff, 2022
84
full-time · 20 part-time · March payroll $550,174
Typical tax bill
$3,605
1.00% of home value · CA 0.70%

What stands out about how Imperial 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: $1,007 per resident, less than 70% of 101 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer35% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2023).A shared school districtShares Central Union High School District with 1 other town.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Imperial’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 $770 per resident a year, or $2.11 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 24%.

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 34%Utility sales 19%Sales taxes 18%Property taxes 13%From the federal government 7%Other taxes & licenses 6%Interest, fines & other 2%From the state 2%
Not in the receipt.Interest on debt $1.3 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $21 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,007 per resident in 2022: less than 70% of them

Imperial’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,007 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 101 California cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,385, and the middle half spent $885–$1,910. Imperial spent less than 70% of them.

Middle half of the group, $885–$1,910Median $1,385Imperial

Includes sewer and trash ($4.4 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 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Imperial itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is down 18% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$19.8 million
2023$16.2 million

Per resident: 2022: $1,007 · 2023: $770. Per resident it went from $1,007 to $770 (down 24%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 19,663 to 21,017.

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 $3,605 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.00% of the home’s value, vs 0.70% across California.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

California$5,124
Imperial$3,605
El Centro$2,567
$3,605
typical bill a year
1.00%
effective rate
$360,900
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Imperial

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

See imperial.ca.gov for Imperial’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Imperial yet.imperial.ca.gov ↗
Who works for Imperial

One full-time city employee for every 250 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2023 finance file (21,017).

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

Police22
Administration & buildings14 + 9 pt
Roads & transportation16
Parks & libraries10 + 11 pt
Water & other utilities12
Sewer & trash7
Other3
84
full-time
20
part-time
$550,174
payroll for March 2022
$6.6M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$75,700
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
19
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Imperial had 4.3 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 79 of the 101 California cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 4.7: Imperial had fewer than 58% 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

Central Union High School District

Imperial’s high school district, shared with El Centro. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Imperial →
$20,868
per pupil · CA $21,206
4,023
students
$4.4 million
long-term debt

Of the $20,868 per pupil, $12,223 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 15%State 74%Federal 11%

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

Also serving Imperial

Imperial Unified School District · $16,288 per pupil

El Centro Elementary School District · $20,338 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Imperial’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Imperial County’s results53,610 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican49.1%26,302 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat48.4%25,926 votes

Others: 2.6% (1,382 votes).

Most votes in Imperial County: Donald J Trump

California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%

The county’s page

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

Imperial 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 Imperial

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Imperial.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: imperial.ca.gov ↗
  2. 2
    California AssemblyState representatives
    Jeff Gonzalez
  3. 3
    California SenateState senator
    Steve Padilla
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Gavin Newsom
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Raul Ruiz
  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.

Next door

How Imperial compares with the towns next door

Imperial spent $1,007 per resident in 2022; the neighbor that reported 2022 spent $961. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

El Centro: $961 per resident (2022)El CentroImperial
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
El Centro$961$2,567
Imperial$1,007$3,605

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 Imperial’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websiteimperial.ca.gov ↗

Questions about Imperial’s government

How much does Imperial spend per resident?

About $770 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 $1,007 was less than 70% of 101 California cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Imperial?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,605 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.00% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.70% across California. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see imperial.ca.gov.

Who runs Imperial’s government?

See imperial.ca.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Imperial yet.

How did Imperial vote in 2024?

California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Imperial alone. Imperial County, where 100% of Imperial lies, voted Trump 49.1%, Harris 48.4% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Imperial?

84 full-time and 20 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $550,174 (about $6.6M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Imperial in the state legislature?

State Senate District 18 (Steve Padilla) and Assembly District 36 (Jeff Gonzalez). The Assembly district also covers 11 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Imperial?

The next posted meeting is City Council on Wednesday, November 4, at 6:00 pm in City Council Chambers, 220 West 9th Street, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Imperial’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 →