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Live Oak on CA 99Photo: User:bobjgalindo · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Live Oak

Live Oak spent less per resident in 2022 than 92% of similar cities

Live Oak’s city government spent $7.1 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $787 per resident. Water and other utilities ($1.3 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in California.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$7.1M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$787
In 2022: $787, less than 92% of 76 similar cities
Long-term debt
$7.9M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
21
full-time · 3 part-time · March payroll $126,672
Typical tax bill
$2,068
0.59% of home value · CA 0.70%

What stands out about how Live Oak is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends less than most similar citiesIn 2022: $787 per resident, less than 92% of 76 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer38% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $2,068 a year: 0.59% of the home’s value, vs 0.70% across California.
Compared with similar places

$787 per resident in 2022: less than 92% of them

Live Oak’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($787 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 $1,078–$2,489. Live Oak spent less than 92% of them.

Middle half of the group, $1,078–$2,489Median $1,562Live Oak

Includes sewer and trash ($1.9 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; Live Oak itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $787 per resident a year, or $2.16 a day

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

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 33%Property taxes 17%Sales taxes 14%Other taxes & licenses 12%Utility sales 12%From the state 6%Interest, fines & other 4%From the federal government 2%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $296,000; interest on debt $228,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $8.9 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,068 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.59% of the home’s value, vs 0.70% across California.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

California$5,124
Live Oak$2,068
$2,068
typical bill a year
0.59%
effective rate
$350,700
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Live Oak

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

See liveoakcity.org for Live Oak’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Live Oak yet.liveoakcity.org ↗
Agendas

Live Oak’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on liveoakcity.org ↗.

Who works for Live Oak

One full-time city employee for every 431 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 (9,048).

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

Administration & buildings7
Parks & libraries5 + 3 pt
Sewer & trash4
Water & other utilities3
Other2
21
full-time
3
part-time
$126,672
payroll for March 2022
$1.5M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$69,700
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Live Oak had 2.3 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: Live Oak had fewer than 83% 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

Live Oak Unified School District

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

Schools in Live Oak →
$18,481
per pupil · CA $21,206
2,026
students
$8 million
long-term debt

Of the $18,481 per pupil, $11,233 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 19%State 72%Federal 9%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Live Oak’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Sutter County’s results39,336 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican64.5%25,372 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat33.1%13,016 votes

Others: 2.4% (948 votes).

Most votes in Sutter County: Donald J Trump

California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%

The county’s page

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

Sutter 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 Live Oak

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Live Oak.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: liveoakcity.org ↗
  2. 2
    California AssemblyState representatives
    District 3
  3. 3
    California SenateState senator
    Megan Dahle
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Gavin Newsom
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    James Gallagher
  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 Live Oak’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websiteliveoakcity.org ↗

Questions about Live Oak’s government

How much does Live Oak spend per resident?

About $787 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 $787 was less than 92% of 76 California cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Live Oak?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,068 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.59% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.70% across California. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see liveoakcity.org.

Who runs Live Oak’s government?

See liveoakcity.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Live Oak yet.

How did Live Oak vote in 2024?

California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Live Oak alone. Sutter County, where 100% of Live Oak lies, voted Trump 64.5%, Harris 33.1% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Live Oak?

21 full-time and 3 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $126,672 (about $1.5M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Live Oak in the state legislature?

State Senate District 1 (Megan Dahle) and Assembly District 3. The Assembly district also covers 14 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Live Oak’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 →