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2009-0725-CA-Porterville-MuseumPhoto: Bobak Ha'Eri · CC BY 3.0
Town Hall · Porterville

How is Porterville run?

Porterville’s city government spent $67.7 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,148 per resident. Water and other utilities ($10.5 million) and the airport ($1.6 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Next public meeting

City Council

5:30 pm · 291 N. Main Street

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$67.7M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,148
In 2022: $1,148, less than 59% of 101 similar cities
Long-term debt
$104.5M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
279
full-time · 52 part-time · March payroll $1.7M
Typical tax bill
$1,946
0.68% of home value · CA 0.70%

What stands out about how Porterville is run

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

Agendas posted online5 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Runs its own water & sewer27% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).Its own police and fire63 sworn officers and 25 full-time firefighters on the payroll.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $1,946 a year: 0.68% of the home’s value, vs 0.70% across California.
★ What stands out · Meetings

5 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

Recent meetings

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 $1,148 per resident a year, or $3.15 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 26%.

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 26%Sales taxes 19%Other taxes & licenses 17%Utility sales 13%From the federal government 8%Property taxes 8%From the state 6%Interest, fines & other 3%From other local governments 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $23.3 million; interest on debt $3.6 million; payments to other governments $1.1 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $107.8 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,148 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Porterville’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,148 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 101 California cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,270, and the middle half spent $889–$1,772. Porterville spent less than 59% of them.

Middle half of the group, $889–$1,772Median $1,270Porterville

Includes sewer and trash ($10.9 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
101

California cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Porterville itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,946 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.68% of the home’s value, vs 0.70% across California.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

California$5,124
Porterville$1,946
East Porterville$1,645
$1,946
typical bill a year
0.68%
effective rate
$285,700
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Porterville

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

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

One full-time city employee for every 211 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 (58,949).

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

Police88 + 7 pt
Parks & libraries35 + 25 pt
Fire28 + 19 pt
Administration & buildings29 + 1 pt
Sewer & trash27
Water & other utilities18
Roads & transportation12
Housing & development10
Health & welfare7
Other25
279
full-time
52
part-time
$1.7M
payroll for March 2022
$20.6M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$70,900
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
63
sworn police officers
25
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Porterville had 4.7 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 79 of the 101 California cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 3.3: Porterville had more than 71% 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

Porterville Unified School District

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

Schools in Porterville →
$19,860
per pupil · CA $21,206
13,963
students
$1.5 million
long-term debt

Of the $19,860 per pupil, $10,952 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 13%State 72%Federal 14%

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

Also serving Porterville

Burton Elementary School District · $19,494 per pupil

Hope Elementary School District · $17,890 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Porterville’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Tulare County’s results138,271 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican59.2%81,854 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat38.5%53,221 votes

Others: 2.3% (3,196 votes).

Most votes in Tulare County: Donald J Trump

California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%

The county’s page

100% of Porterville lies in Tulare County. Every 2024 race in Tulare County is on the county’s page.

Tulare 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 Porterville

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Porterville.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: ci.porterville.ca.us ↗
  2. 2
    California AssemblyState representatives
    Ali Macedo
  3. 3
    California SenateState senator
    Melissa Hurtado
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Gavin Newsom
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    David G. Valadao
  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 Porterville compares with the towns next door

Porterville spent $1,148 per resident in 2022. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

East Porterville: unincorporated, no town budgetEast PortervillePorterville
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Porterville$1,148$1,946

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 Porterville’s government

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

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

Questions about Porterville’s government

How much does Porterville spend per resident?

About $1,148 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 $1,148 was less than 59% of 101 California cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Porterville?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,946 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.68% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.70% across California. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ci.porterville.ca.us.

Who runs Porterville’s government?

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

How did Porterville vote in 2024?

California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Porterville alone. Tulare County, where 100% of Porterville lies, voted Trump 59.2%, Harris 38.5% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Porterville?

279 full-time and 52 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $1.7M (about $20.6M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Porterville in the state legislature?

State Senate District 16 (Melissa Hurtado) and Assembly District 33 (Ali Macedo). The Assembly district also covers 12 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Porterville?

The next posted meeting is City Council on Tuesday, November 17, at 5:30 pm in 291 N. Main Street, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Porterville’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 →