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Bernardo Fernandez HouseBernardo Fernandez House · Photo: Sanfranman59 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Pinole

How is Pinole run?

Pinole’s city government spent $32.2 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,675 per resident.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in California.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$32.2M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,675
In 2022: $1,675, more than 62% of 101 similar cities
Long-term debt
$32.9M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2025
98
full-time · 19 part-time · March payroll $1.1M
Typical tax bill
$5,863
0.82% of home value · CA 0.70%

What stands out about how Pinole is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.A shared school districtShares West Contra Costa Unified School District with 4 other towns.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

Recent meetings

  • Oct28
    City CouncilWednesday · 5:00 pm · Pinole City Hall, City Council ChambersCommunity Service CommissionAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct26
    City CouncilMonday · 7:00 pm · Pinole City Hall, City Council Chambers, 2131 Pear StreetPlanning Commission MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct20
    City CouncilTuesday · 5:30 pm · Pinole City Hall, City Council Chambers, 2131 Pear StreetCity Council MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct12
    City CouncilMonday · 5:00 pm · Pinole City Hall, City Council Chambers, 2131 Pear StreetPlanning Commission MeetingMeeting page ↗
  • Oct7
    GeneralWednesday · 6:30 pm · 2131 Pear Street, Council ChambersCANCELED Wastewater Subcommittee MeetingMeeting 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 $1,675 per resident a year, or $4.59 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 31%.

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 30%Sales taxes 25%Other taxes & licenses 18%Property taxes 18%From the state 4%From the federal government 3%Interest, fines & other 2%From other local governments 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $2.6 million; interest on debt $1 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $35.9 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,675 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Pinole’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,675 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 101 California cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,377, and the middle half spent $885–$1,910. Pinole spent more than 62% of them.

Middle half of the group, $885–$1,910Median $1,377Pinole

Includes sewer and trash ($5.6 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
101

California cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Pinole itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

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

City staff
98

full-time in March 2025, up from 93 in 2022.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $5,863 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.82% of the home’s value, vs 0.70% across California.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Hercules$7,580
Richmond$6,291
Pinole$5,863
El Sobrante$5,405
California$5,124
Tara Hills$4,733
Bayview$3,832
$5,863
typical bill a year
0.82%
effective rate
$718,600
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Pinole

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

See ci.pinole.ca.us for Pinole’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Pinole yet.ci.pinole.ca.us ↗
Who works for Pinole

One full-time city employee for every 196 residents

On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (19,207).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025

Police46 + 2 pt
Administration & buildings17 + 11 pt
Roads & transportation16
Sewer & trash11
Parks & libraries5 + 6 pt
Other3
98
full-time
19
part-time
$1.1M
payroll for March 2025
$12.7M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$127,300
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
27
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Pinole had 4.8 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 79 of the 101 California cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 4.6: Pinole had more than 56% 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

West Contra Costa Unified School District

Pinole’s K–12 school district, shared with El Cerrito, San Pablo, Richmond, Hercules. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Pinole →
$21,597
per pupil · CA $21,206
25,575
students
$1.3 billion
long-term debt

Of the $21,597 per pupil, $12,382 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 43%State 48%Federal 9%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Pinole’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Contra Costa County’s results527,759 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat67.4%355,460 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican29.3%154,751 votes

Others: 3.3% (17,548 votes).

Most votes in Contra Costa County: Kamala D Harris

California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%

The county’s page

100% of Pinole lies in Contra Costa County. Every 2024 race in Contra Costa County is on the county’s page.

Contra Costa 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 Pinole

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Pinole.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: ci.pinole.ca.us ↗
  2. 2
    California AssemblyState representatives
    Buffy Wicks
  3. 3
    California SenateState senator
    Jesse Arreguín
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Gavin Newsom
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    John Garamendi
  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 Pinole compares with the towns next door

Pinole spent $1,675 per resident in 2022; the 2 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $875 to $2,090. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

El Sobrante: unincorporated, no town budgetHercules: $875 per resident (2022)Tara Hills: unincorporated, no town budgetBayview: unincorporated, no town budgetRichmond: $2,090 per resident (2022)El SobranteHerculesTara HillsBayviewRichmondPinole
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Hercules$875$7,580
Richmond$2,090$6,291
Pinole$1,675$5,863

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 Pinole’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websiteci.pinole.ca.us ↗

Questions about Pinole’s government

How much does Pinole spend per resident?

About $1,675 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 $1,675 was more than 62% of 101 California cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Pinole?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $5,863 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.82% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.70% across California. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ci.pinole.ca.us.

Who runs Pinole’s government?

See ci.pinole.ca.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Pinole yet.

How did Pinole vote in 2024?

California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Pinole alone. Contra Costa County, where 100% of Pinole lies, voted Harris 67.4%, Trump 29.3% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Pinole?

98 full-time and 19 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $1.1M (about $12.7M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Pinole in the state legislature?

State Senate District 7 (Jesse Arreguín) and Assembly District 14 (Buffy Wicks). The Assembly district also covers eight other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Pinole?

The next posted meeting is City Council on Tuesday, November 3, at 5:30 pm in Pinole City Hall, City Council Chambers, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Pinole’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 →