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Laguna Hills Civic Center from westPhoto: Beyond My Ken · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Laguna Hills

Laguna Hills spent less per resident in 2022 than 78% of similar cities

Laguna Hills’ city government spent $25.3 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $810 per resident.

Town website
Next public meeting

Events, Communication and Beautification Committee

10:00 am · City Council Chamber, 24035 El Toro Road

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$25.3M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$810
In 2022: $810, less than 78% of 92 similar cities
Long-term debt
$1.6M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
24
full-time · 12 part-time · March payroll $228,072
Typical tax bill
$6,454
0.64% of home value · CA 0.70%

What stands out about how Laguna Hills 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: $810 per resident, less than 78% of 92 similar cities.A shared school districtShares Saddleback Valley Unified School District with 4 other towns.Split between districts2 U.S. House districts cover Laguna Hills; your street decides yours.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

  • Nov9
    Events, Communication and Beautification CommitteeMonday · 10:00 am · City Council Chamber, 24035 El Toro RoadEvents, Communication and Beautification Committee MeetingMeeting page ↗Add to calendar
  • Nov10
    City Council / Planning AgencyTuesday · 6:00 pm · City Council Chamber, 24035 El Toro RoadCity Council / Planning Agency Regular MeetingMeeting page ↗Add to calendar
  • Nov18
    Traffic CommissionWednesday · 6:00 pm · City Council Chamber, 24035 El Toro RoadTraffic Commission MeetingMeeting page ↗Add to calendar
  • Nov24
    City Council / Planning AgencyTuesday · 6:00 pm · City Council Chamber, 24035 El Toro RoadCity Council / Planning Agency Regular Meeting - CANCELLEDMeeting page ↗Add to calendar
  • Dec2
    Parks and Recreation CommissionWednesday · 6:00 pm · City Council Chamber, 24035 El Toro RoadParks and Recreation Commission MeetingMeeting page ↗Add to calendar
  • Dec2
    Parks and Recreation CommissionWednesday · 6:00 pm · City Council Chamber, 24035 El Toro RoadParks and Recreation Commission MeetingMeeting page ↗Add to calendar

Recent meetings

  • Oct27
    City Council / Planning AgencyTuesday · 6:00 pm · City Council Chamber, 24035 El Toro RoadCity Council / Planning Agency Regular MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct20
    GeneralTuesday · 6:30 pm · Laguna Hills Community Center, 25555 Alicia PKWYQuorum Notice - Laguna Hills City Council Candidate Forum District 1 & 4Meeting page ↗
  • Oct13
    City Council / Planning AgencyTuesday · 6:00 pm · City Council Chamber, 24035 El Toro RoadCity Council / Planning Agency Regular MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct12
    Events, Communication and Beautification CommitteeMonday · 10:00 am · City Council Chamber, 24035 El Toro RoadEvents, Communication and Beautification Committee Meeting - CancelledMeeting page ↗
  • Oct7
    Parks and Recreation CommissionWednesday · 6:00 pm · City Council Chamber, 24035 El Toro RoadParks and Recreation Commission 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 $810 per resident a year, or $2.22 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 35%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 38%Sales taxes 32%From the federal government 12%Fees & charges 6%From the state 6%Other taxes & licenses 4%Interest, fines & other 1%From other local governments 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $3.5 million; interest on debt $208,000. With these, the whole budget was $29 million.
Compared with similar places

$810 per resident in 2022: less than 78% of them

Laguna Hills’ day-to-day spending in 2022 ($810 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 92 California cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,164, and the middle half spent $840–$1,742. Laguna Hills spent less than 78% of them.

Middle half of the group, $840–$1,742Median $1,164Laguna Hills

Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
92

California cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Laguna Hills itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $6,454 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.64% of the home’s value, vs 0.70% across California.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Irvine$9,543
Laguna Niguel$7,206
Laguna Hills$6,454
Aliso Viejo$6,034
Mission Viejo$5,876
Lake Forest$5,812
California$5,124
Laguna Woods$2,713
$6,454
typical bill a year
0.64%
effective rate
$1,012,300
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Laguna Hills

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

See ci.laguna-hills.ca.us for Laguna Hills’ current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Laguna Hills yet.ci.laguna-hills.ca.us ↗
Who works for Laguna Hills

One full-time city employee for every 1,300 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 (31,197).

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

Administration & buildings10
Parks & libraries5 + 10 pt
Housing & development5 + 2 pt
Roads & transportation4
24
full-time
12
part-time
$228,072
payroll for March 2022
$2.7M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$103,000
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Laguna Hills had 0.8 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 68 of the 92 California cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 3.4: Laguna Hills had fewer than 97% 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

Saddleback Valley Unified School District

Laguna Hills’ K–12 school district, shared with Lake Forest, Laguna Woods, Rancho Santa Margarita, Mission Viejo. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Laguna Hills →
$17,411
per pupil · CA $21,206
23,199
students
$76.3 million
long-term debt

Of the $17,411 per pupil, $11,440 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 64%State 31%Federal 5%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Laguna Hills’ votes are counted by county

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

President · Orange County’s results1,390,474 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat49.7%691,577 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican47.1%654,494 votes

Others: 3.2% (44,403 votes).

Most votes in Orange County: Kamala D Harris

California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%

The county’s page

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

Orange 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 Laguna Hills

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Laguna Hills.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: ci.laguna-hills.ca.us ↗
  2. 2
    California AssemblyState representatives
    Diane Dixon
  3. 3
    California SenateState senator
    Catherine Blakespear
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Gavin Newsom
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseSplit between districts
    Young KimDave Min
  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 Laguna Hills compares with the towns next door

Laguna Hills spent $810 per resident in 2022; the 6 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $474 to $1,216. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Laguna Woods: $474 per resident (2022)Laguna Niguel: $923 per resident (2022)Aliso Viejo: $528 per resident (2022)Mission Viejo: $818 per resident (2022)Irvine: $1,216 per resident (2022)Lake Forest: $583 per resident (2022)Laguna WoodsLaguna NiguelAliso ViejoMission ViejoIrvineLake ForestLaguna Hills
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Laguna Woods$474$2,713
Aliso Viejo$528$6,034
Lake Forest$583$5,812
Mission Viejo$818$5,876
Laguna Niguel$923$7,206
Irvine$1,216$9,543
Laguna Hills$810$6,454

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 Laguna Hills’ government

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

The Handbook →
Official websiteci.laguna-hills.ca.us ↗

Questions about Laguna Hills’ government

How much does Laguna Hills spend per resident?

About $810 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 $810 was less than 78% of 92 California cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Laguna Hills?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $6,454 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.64% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.70% across California. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ci.laguna-hills.ca.us.

Who runs Laguna Hills’ government?

See ci.laguna-hills.ca.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Laguna Hills yet.

How did Laguna Hills vote in 2024?

California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Laguna Hills alone. Orange County, where 100% of Laguna Hills lies, voted Harris 49.7%, Trump 47.1% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Laguna Hills?

24 full-time and 12 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $228,072 (about $2.7M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Laguna Hills in the state legislature?

State Senate District 38 (Catherine Blakespear) and Assembly District 72 (Diane Dixon). The Assembly district also covers seven other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Laguna Hills?

The next posted meeting is Events, Communication and Beautification Committee on Monday, November 9, at 10:00 am in City Council Chamber, 24035 El Toro Road, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Laguna Hills’ 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 →