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Town Hall · Seaside

How is Seaside run?

Seaside’s city government spent $43.6 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,279 per resident. Water and other utilities ($820,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in California.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$43.6M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,279
In 2022: $1,279, more than 54% of 92 similar cities
Long-term debt
$39.5M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
134
full-time · 91 part-time · March payroll $1.4M
Typical tax bill
$4,012
0.51% of home value · CA 0.70%

What stands out about how Seaside is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.A shared school districtShares Monterey Peninsula Unified School District with 4 other towns.Its own police and fire30 sworn officers and 22 full-time firefighters on the payroll.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $4,012 a year: 0.51% of the home’s value, vs 0.70% across California.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Seaside’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 $1,279 per resident a year, or $3.50 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 34%.

Where the money comes from
Sales taxes 48%From the federal government 17%Property taxes 16%Interest, fines & other 6%Fees & charges 4%Other taxes & licenses 4%From the state 4%Utility sales 2%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $3.1 million; interest on debt $1 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $48.6 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,279 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Seaside’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,279 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 92 California cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,158, and the middle half spent $831–$1,742. Seaside spent more than 54% of them.

Middle half of the group, $831–$1,742Median $1,158Seaside

Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
92

California cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Seaside itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $4,012 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.51% of the home’s value, vs 0.70% across California.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Sand City$6,094
Monterey$6,071
Marina$5,568
Del Rey Oaks$5,378
California$5,124
Seaside$4,012
$4,012
typical bill a year
0.51%
effective rate
$787,100
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Seaside

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

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

One full-time city employee for every 255 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 (34,115).

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

Parks & libraries12 + 80 pt
Police39
Fire22 + 1 pt
Roads & transportation21
Administration & buildings16 + 7 pt
Sewer & trash6
Housing & development5
Courts, inspections & corrections2
Other11 + 3 pt
134
full-time
91
part-time
$1.4M
payroll for March 2022
$17.2M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$117,000
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
30
sworn police officers
22
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Seaside had 3.9 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 68 of the 92 California cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 3.3: Seaside had more than 62% 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

Monterey Peninsula Unified School District

Seaside’s K–12 school district, shared with Del Rey Oaks, Sand City, Monterey, Marina. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Seaside →
$20,712
per pupil · CA $21,206
9,252
students
$319.2 million
long-term debt

Of the $20,712 per pupil, $10,842 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 48%State 43%Federal 10%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Seaside’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Monterey County’s results146,718 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat63.4%93,060 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican33.6%49,226 votes

Others: 3.0% (4,432 votes).

Most votes in Monterey County: Kamala D Harris

California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%

The county’s page

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

Monterey 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 Seaside

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Seaside.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: ci.seaside.ca.us ↗
  2. 2
    California AssemblyState representatives
    Dawn Addis
  3. 3
    California SenateState senator
    John Laird
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Gavin Newsom
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Jimmy Panetta
  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 Seaside compares with the towns next door

Seaside spent $1,279 per resident in 2022; the 4 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $1,702 to $15,934. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Monterey: $4,447 per resident (2022)Sand City: $15,934 per resident (2022)Del Rey Oaks: $2,387 per resident (2022)Marina: $1,702 per resident (2022)MontereySand CityDel Rey OaksMarinaSeaside
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Marina$1,702$5,568
Del Rey Oaks$2,387$5,378
Monterey$4,447$6,071
Sand City$15,934$6,094
Seaside$1,279$4,012

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 Seaside’s government

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

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

Questions about Seaside’s government

How much does Seaside spend per resident?

About $1,279 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 $1,279 was more than 54% of 92 California cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Seaside?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,012 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.51% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.70% across California. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ci.seaside.ca.us.

Who runs Seaside’s government?

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

How did Seaside vote in 2024?

California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Seaside alone. Monterey County, where 100% of Seaside lies, voted Harris 63.4%, Trump 33.6% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Seaside?

134 full-time and 91 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $1.4M (about $17.2M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Seaside in the state legislature?

State Senate District 17 (John Laird) and Assembly District 30 (Dawn Addis). The Assembly district also covers 15 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Seaside?

The next posted meeting is Neighborhood Improvement Commission on Tuesday, November 3, at 5:00 pm, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Seaside’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 →