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Los Altos entrance sign 2aPhoto: Coolcaesar at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Los Altos

Los Altos spent more per resident in 2022 than 82% of similar cities

Los Altos’ city government spent $59.3 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,959 per resident.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in California.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$59.3M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,959
In 2022: $1,959, more than 82% of 92 similar cities
Long-term debt
$10.3M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
131
full-time · 18 part-time · March payroll $1.4M
Typical tax bill
$10,000+
a year

What stands out about how Los Altos is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,959 per resident, more than 82% of 92 similar cities.A shared school districtShares Mountain View-Los Altos Union School District with 3 other towns.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

Recent meetings

  • Nov2
    Senior CommissionMonday · 3:30 pm · 97 Hillview AvenueSenior Services CommitteeAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct28
    Historical CommissionWednesday · 6:00 pm · 97 Hillview Avenue, Manzanita Conference RoomHistorical Commission MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct28
    Complete Streets CommissionWednesday · 6:00 pm · Los Altos Community Center - Sequoia Room, 97 Hillview AveComplete Streets Commission MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct27
    City CouncilTuesday · 7:00 pm · City Council Chambers, 1 N. San Antonio Rd.City Council Regular MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct27
    City CouncilTuesday · 6:30 pm · 1 N. San Antonio RoadCity Council Closed Session 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 $1,959 per resident a year, or $5.37 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 23%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 44%Fees & charges 19%Sales taxes 16%Other taxes & licenses 12%Interest, fines & other 4%From the state 4%From other local governments <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $6.7 million; interest on debt $434,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $66.7 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,959 per resident in 2022: more than 82% of them

Los Altos’ day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,959 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 $1,158, and the middle half spent $831–$1,730. Los Altos spent more than 82% of them.

Middle half of the group, $831–$1,730Median $1,158Los Altos

Includes sewer and trash ($7.7 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
92

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

Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

Typical bills top $10,000 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Los Altos$10,000+
Palo Alto$10,000+
Los Altos Hills$10,000+
Loyola$10,000+
Mountain View$10,000+
Cupertino$10,000+
Sunnyvale$9,220
California$5,124
$10,000+
typical bill a year
$2,000,001
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Los Altos

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

See losaltosca.gov for Los Altos’ current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Los Altos yet.losaltosca.gov ↗
Who works for Los Altos

One full-time city employee for every 231 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 (30,281).

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

Police47
Parks & libraries21 + 16 pt
Administration & buildings23 + 2 pt
Roads & transportation12
Sewer & trash8
Housing & development7
Other13
131
full-time
18
part-time
$1.4M
payroll for March 2022
$16.6M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$123,800
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
28
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Los Altos had 4.3 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 3.3: Los Altos had more than 68% 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

Mountain View-Los Altos Union School District

Los Altos’ high school district, shared with Los Altos Hills, Mountain View, Palo Alto. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Los Altos →
$33,926
per pupil · CA $21,206
4,406
students
$226 million
long-term debt

Of the $33,926 per pupil, $21,358 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 88%State 11%Federal 1%

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

Also serving Los Altos

Los Altos Elementary School District · $23,589 per pupil

Cupertino Union Elementary School District · $18,329 per pupil

Fremont Union High School District · $24,927 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Los Altos’ votes are counted by county

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

President · Santa Clara County’s results750,029 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat68.1%510,552 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican28.1%210,732 votes

Others: 3.8% (28,745 votes).

Most votes in Santa Clara County: Kamala D Harris

California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%

The county’s page

100% of Los Altos lies in Santa Clara County. Every 2024 race in Santa Clara County is on the county’s page.

Santa Clara 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 Los Altos

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Los Altos.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: losaltosca.gov ↗
  2. 2
    California AssemblyState representatives
    Marc Berman
  3. 3
    California SenateState senator
    Josh Becker
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Gavin Newsom
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Sam T. Liccardo
  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 Los Altos compares with the towns next door

Los Altos spent $1,959 per resident in 2022; the 5 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $1,696 to $3,898. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Palo Alto: $3,898 per resident (2022)Los Altos Hills: $2,374 per resident (2022)Loyola: unincorporated, no town budgetMountain View: $3,304 per resident (2022)Sunnyvale: $2,097 per resident (2022)Cupertino: $1,696 per resident (2022)Palo AltoLos Altos HillsLoyolaMountain ViewSunnyvaleCupertinoLos Altos
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Cupertino$1,696$10,000+
Sunnyvale$2,097$9,220
Los Altos Hills$2,374$10,000+
Mountain View$3,304$10,000+
Palo Alto$3,898$10,000+
Los Altos$1,959$10,000+

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 Los Altos’ government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitelosaltosca.gov ↗

Questions about Los Altos’ government

How much does Los Altos spend per resident?

About $1,959 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 $1,959 was more than 82% of 92 California cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools.

Who runs Los Altos’ government?

See losaltosca.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Los Altos yet.

How did Los Altos vote in 2024?

California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Los Altos alone. Santa Clara County, where 100% of Los Altos lies, voted Harris 68.1%, Trump 28.1% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Los Altos?

131 full-time and 18 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $1.4M (about $16.6M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Los Altos in the state legislature?

State Senate District 13 (Josh Becker) and Assembly District 23 (Marc Berman). The Assembly district also covers 12 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Los Altos?

The next posted meeting is Zoning Administrator on Wednesday, November 4, at 4:00 pm in City Council Chambers, 1 N. San Antonio Rd, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Los Altos’ 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 →