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Needles, California (3226903381) (cropped)Photo: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0
Town Hall · Needles

Needles spent more per resident in 2022 than 88% of similar cities

Needles’ city government spent $19.9 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $4,031 per resident. Water and other utilities ($13.9 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in California.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$19.9M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$4,031
In 2022: $4,031, more than 88% of 76 similar cities
Long-term debt
$41.3M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
58
full-time · 11 part-time · March payroll $282,345
Typical tax bill
$1,261
0.80% of home value · CA 0.70%

What stands out about how Needles is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $4,031 per resident, more than 88% of 76 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer52% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).Low bills, a higher rateThe typical bill is $1,261 a year: 0.80% of the home’s value, vs 0.70% across California.
Compared with similar places

$4,031 per resident in 2022: more than 88% of them

Needles’ day-to-day spending in 2022 ($4,031 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 $1,472, and the middle half spent $1,070–$2,428. Needles spent more than 88% of them.

Middle half of the group, $1,070–$2,428Median $1,472Needles

Includes sewer and trash ($3.9 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; Needles itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $4,031 per resident a year, or $11.04 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 22%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 44%Fees & charges 19%Other taxes & licenses 15%Sales taxes 7%Property taxes 5%From other local governments 4%From the state 3%From the federal government 2%Interest, fines & other 2%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $2.7 million; interest on debt $1.8 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $38.5 million.
About “Other”.31% of Needles’ day-to-day spending ($6.2 million) is filed by the Census Bureau outside the named functions above, so the receipt can’t say what it buys.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,261 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.80% of the home’s value, vs 0.70% across California.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

California$5,124
Needles$1,261
$1,261
typical bill a year
0.80%
effective rate
$157,200
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Needles

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

See cityofneedles.com for Needles’ current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Needles yet.cityofneedles.com ↗
Agendas

Needles’ meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on cityofneedles.com ↗.

Who works for Needles

One full-time city employee for every 85 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 (4,942).

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

Administration & buildings45 + 2 pt
Water & other utilities9
Parks & libraries2 + 7 pt
Sewer & trash2
Health & welfare0 + 2 pt
58
full-time
11
part-time
$282,345
payroll for March 2022
$3.4M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$56,000
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Needles had 11.7 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: Needles had more than 90% 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

Needles Unified School District

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

Schools in Needles →
$21,634
per pupil · CA $21,206
930
students
$13.3 million
long-term debt

Of the $21,634 per pupil, $12,549 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 29%State 59%Federal 12%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Needles’ votes are counted by county

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

President · San Bernardino County’s results759,195 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican49.6%376,825 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat47.6%361,256 votes

Others: 2.8% (21,114 votes).

Most votes in San Bernardino County: Donald J Trump

California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%

The county’s page

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

San Bernardino 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 Needles

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Needles.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: cityofneedles.com ↗
  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.

Reach Needles’ government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitecityofneedles.com ↗

Questions about Needles’ government

How much does Needles spend per resident?

About $4,031 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 $4,031 was more than 88% of 76 California cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Needles?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,261 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.80% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.70% across California. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofneedles.com.

Who runs Needles’ government?

See cityofneedles.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Needles yet.

How did Needles vote in 2024?

California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Needles alone. San Bernardino County, where 100% of Needles lies, voted Trump 49.6%, Harris 47.6% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Needles?

58 full-time and 11 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $282,345 (about $3.4M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Needles 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.

Ask neighbors about Needles’ 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 →