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Clarke EstateClarke Estate · Photo: Northwalker · CC0
Town Hall · Santa Fe Springs

Santa Fe Springs spent more per resident in 2022 than 98% of similar cities

Santa Fe Springs’ city government spent $87.6 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $5,049 per resident. Water and other utilities ($22.1 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$87.6M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$5,049
In 2022: $5,049, more than 98% of 101 similar cities
Long-term debt
$18.3M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
175
full-time · 97 part-time · March payroll $1.4M
Typical tax bill
$4,523
0.69% of home value · CA 0.70%

What stands out about how Santa Fe Springs is run

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

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $5,049 per resident, more than 98% of 101 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer22% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).Agendas posted onlineMeetings, agendas and minutes from the city’s own portal.A shared school districtShares Whittier Union High School District with 6+ other towns.
Compared with similar places

$5,049 per resident in 2022: more than 98% of them

Santa Fe Springs’ day-to-day spending in 2022 ($5,049 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–$1,875. Santa Fe Springs spent more than 98% of them.

Middle half of the group, $885–$1,875Median $1,377Santa Fe Springs

Includes sewer and trash ($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 →

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; Santa Fe Springs itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $5,049 per resident a year, or $13.83 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 20%.

Where the money comes from
Sales taxes 41%Utility sales 25%Other taxes & licenses 17%Property taxes 6%Fees & charges 6%From other local governments 3%From the state 1%Interest, fines & other 1%From the federal government <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $5.8 million; interest on debt $618,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $116.1 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

Santa Fe Springs reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $4,523 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.69% of the home’s value, vs 0.70% across California.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Cerritos$5,711
La Mirada$5,422
Downey$5,323
Whittier$5,246
California$5,124
Santa Fe Springs$4,523
Norwalk$4,424
South Whittier$4,414
Pico Rivera$4,278
West Whittier-Los Nietos$3,890
$4,523
typical bill a year
0.69%
effective rate
$659,900
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Meetings

Recent meetings

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

No upcoming meetings are posted yet.

Recent meetings

  • Aug10
    Planning CommissionMonday · 6:00 pm · City Hall Council Chambers, 11710 Telegraph RdMonthly Planning Commission MeetingMeeting page ↗
  • Jul13
    Planning CommissionMonday · 6:00 pm · City Hall Council Chambers, 11710 Telegraph RdMonthly Planning Commission MeetingMeeting page ↗
  • Jun8
    Planning CommissionMonday · 6:00 pm · City Hall Council Chambers, 11710 Telegraph RdMonthly Planning Commission MeetingMeeting page ↗
Go in person

Most meetings are open to the public, and many have a public comment period at the start.

Agenda portal ↗
Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Santa Fe Springs

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

See california.com/city/santa-fe-springs for Santa Fe Springs’ current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Santa Fe Springs yet.california.com/city/santa-fe-springs ↗
Who works for Santa Fe Springs

One full-time city employee for every 99 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 (17,349).

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

Fire52
Parks & libraries18 + 56 pt
Administration & buildings36 + 2 pt
Roads & transportation22 + 13 pt
Health & welfare7 + 18 pt
Police11 + 7 pt
Water & other utilities9
Housing & development8 + 1 pt
Other12
175
full-time
97
part-time
$1.4M
payroll for March 2022
$17.1M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$84,700
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
51
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Santa Fe Springs had 10.1 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: Santa Fe Springs had more than 95% 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

Whittier Union High School District

Santa Fe Springs’ high school district, shared with Downey, Norwalk, La Mirada, Pico Rivera, Whittier and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Santa Fe Springs →
$23,421
per pupil · CA $21,206
10,223
students
$178.6 million
long-term debt

Of the $23,421 per pupil, $13,371 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 34%State 61%Federal 5%

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

Also serving Santa Fe Springs

Little Lake City Elementary School District · $23,106 per pupil

Los Nietos Elementary School District · $23,591 per pupil

Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District · $20,749 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Santa Fe Springs’ votes are counted by county

California reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Santa Fe Springs alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Los Angeles County’s results.

President · Los Angeles County’s results3,727,169 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat64.8%2,416,522 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican31.9%1,189,227 votes

Others: 3.3% (121,420 votes).

Most votes in Los Angeles County: Kamala D Harris

California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%

The county’s page

100% of Santa Fe Springs lies in Los Angeles County. Every 2024 race in Los Angeles County is on the county’s page.

Los Angeles 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 Santa Fe Springs

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Santa Fe Springs.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: california.com/city/santa-fe-springs ↗
  2. 2
    California AssemblyState representatives
    Blanca Pacheco
  3. 3
    California SenateState senator
    Bob Archuleta
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Gavin Newsom
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Linda T. Sánchez
  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 Santa Fe Springs compares with the towns next door

Santa Fe Springs spent $5,049 per resident in 2022; the 6 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $809 to $2,832. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

West Whittier-Los Nietos: unincorporated, no town budgetSouth Whittier: unincorporated, no town budgetNorwalk: $848 per resident (2022)Pico Rivera: $1,787 per resident (2022)Whittier: $2,832 per resident (2022)La Mirada: $809 per resident (2022)Downey: $1,207 per resident (2022)Cerritos: $1,469 per resident (2022)West Whittier-Los NietosSouth WhittierNorwalkPico RiveraWhittierLa MiradaDowneyCerritosSanta Fe Springs
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
La Mirada$809$5,422
Norwalk$848$4,424
Downey$1,207$5,323
Cerritos$1,469$5,711
Pico Rivera$1,787$4,278
Whittier$2,832$5,246
Santa Fe Springs$5,049$4,523

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 Santa Fe Springs’ government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitecalifornia.com/city/santa-fe-springs ↗

Questions about Santa Fe Springs’ government

How much does Santa Fe Springs spend per resident?

About $5,049 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 $5,049 was more than 98% of 101 California cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Santa Fe Springs?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,523 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.69% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.70% across California. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see california.com/city/santa-fe-springs.

Who runs Santa Fe Springs’ government?

See california.com/city/santa-fe-springs for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Santa Fe Springs yet.

How did Santa Fe Springs vote in 2024?

California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Santa Fe Springs alone. Los Angeles County, where 100% of Santa Fe Springs lies, voted Harris 64.8%, Trump 31.9% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Santa Fe Springs?

175 full-time and 97 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $1.4M (about $17.1M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Santa Fe Springs in the state legislature?

State Senate District 30 (Bob Archuleta) and Assembly District 64 (Blanca Pacheco). The Assembly district also covers seven other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Santa Fe Springs’ 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 →