Photo: Catalinaschool · CC BY 4.0Monterey spent more per resident in 2022 than 99% of similar cities
Monterey’s city government spent $165 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $5,579 per resident.
What stands out about how Monterey is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$4,447 per resident in 2022: more than 99% of them
Monterey’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($4,447 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. Monterey spent more than 99% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($1.2 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 →
California cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Monterey itself left out).
About $5,579 per resident a year, or $15.28 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: fire, at 17%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Day-to-day spending is up 30% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Monterey reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $4,447 · 2024: $5,579.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $6,071 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.56% of the home’s value, vs 0.70% across California.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Monterey’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 Monterey’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Monterey →
Who’s in charge in Monterey
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Monterey’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on monterey.gov ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 80 residents
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (29,571).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Monterey Peninsula Unified School District
Monterey’s K–12 school district, shared with Del Rey Oaks, Sand City, Seaside, Marina. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $20,712 per pupil, $10,842 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.
California districts overall: 36% local, 52% state, 11% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Monterey’s votes are counted by county
California reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Monterey alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Monterey County’s results.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat63.4%93,060 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican33.6%49,226 votesOthers: 3.0% (4,432 votes).
Most votes in Monterey County: Kamala D Harris
California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%
100% of Monterey lies in Monterey County. Every 2024 race in Monterey County is on the county’s page.
Monterey County’s 2024 results →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.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Monterey.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: monterey.gov ↗
- 2California AssemblyState representatives
- 3California SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of California
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Monterey compares with the towns next door
Monterey spent $4,447 per resident in 2022; the 3 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $1,279 to $2,387. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Seaside | $1,279 | $4,012 |
| Pacific Grove | $1,801 | $6,942 |
| Del Rey Oaks | $2,387 | $5,378 |
| Monterey | $4,447 | $6,071 |
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 Monterey’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Monterey’s government
How much does Monterey spend per resident?
About $5,579 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $4,447 was more than 99% of 92 California cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Monterey?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $6,071 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.56% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.70% across California. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see monterey.gov.
Who runs Monterey’s government?
See monterey.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Monterey yet.
How did Monterey vote in 2024?
California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Monterey alone. Monterey County, where 100% of Monterey lies, voted Harris 63.4%, Trump 33.6% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Monterey?
369 full-time and 172 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $3.4M (about $40.7M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Monterey in the state legislature?
State Senate District 17 (John Laird) and Assembly District 30 (Dawn Addis). The Assembly district also covers 15 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Monterey’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
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 →