Photo: Ellin Beltz · Public domainRio Dell spent less per resident in 2022 than 78% of similar cities
Rio Dell’s city government spent $3.3 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $966 per resident. Water and other utilities ($825,000) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Rio Dell is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$966 per resident in 2022: less than 78% of them
Rio Dell’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($966 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 $1,562, and the middle half spent $1,078–$2,489. Rio Dell spent less than 78% 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 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Rio Dell itself left out).
About $966 per resident a year, or $2.65 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 35%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
No trend yet
Rio Dell reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $1,637 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.54% 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 Rio Dell’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 Rio Dell’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Rio Dell →
Who’s in charge in Rio Dell
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Rio Dell’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on riodellcity.com ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 164 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 (3,439).
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.
Fortuna Union High School District
Rio Dell’s high school district, shared with Fortuna. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $16,689 per pupil, $9,196 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.
Rio Dell Elementary School District · $20,098 per pupil
Fortuna Elementary School District · $19,546 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Rio Dell’s votes are counted by county
California reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Rio Dell alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Humboldt County’s results.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat62.0%39,764 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican33.5%21,520 votesOthers: 4.5% (2,863 votes).
Most votes in Humboldt County: Kamala D Harris
California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%
100% of Rio Dell lies in Humboldt County. Every 2024 race in Humboldt County is on the county’s page.
Humboldt 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 Rio Dell.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: riodellcity.com ↗
- 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 Rio Dell compares with the towns next door
Rio Dell spent $966 per resident in 2022. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Rio Dell | $966 | $1,637 |
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 Rio Dell’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Rio Dell’s government
How much does Rio Dell spend per resident?
About $966 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 $966 was less than 78% of 76 California cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Rio Dell?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,637 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.54% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.70% across California. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see riodellcity.com.
Who runs Rio Dell’s government?
See riodellcity.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Rio Dell yet.
How did Rio Dell vote in 2024?
California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Rio Dell alone. Humboldt County, where 100% of Rio Dell lies, voted Harris 62.0%, Trump 33.5% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Rio Dell?
21 full-time and 3 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $125,086 (about $1.5M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Rio Dell in the state legislature?
State Senate District 2 (Mike McGuire) and Assembly District 2 (Chris Rogers). The Assembly district also covers 16 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Rio Dell’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 →