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Shafter FountainPhoto: Brittneal · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Shafter

Shafter spent more per resident in 2022 than 68% of similar cities

Shafter’s city government spent $36.1 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,741 per resident. Water and other utilities ($3.4 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in California.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$36.1M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,741
In 2022: $1,741, more than 68% of 101 similar cities
Long-term debt
$289,000
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
113
full-time · 19 part-time · March payroll $826,025
Typical tax bill
$2,634
0.78% of home value · CA 0.70%

What stands out about how Shafter is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,741 per resident, more than 68% of 101 similar cities.A shared school districtShares Kern High School District with 2 other towns.Low bills, a higher rateThe typical bill is $2,634 a year: 0.78% of the home’s value, vs 0.70% across California.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

Recent meetings

  • Oct20
    City CouncilTuesday · 6:00 pm · 336 Pacific AvenueShafter City CouncilAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct13
    Planning CommissionTuesday · 6:00 pm · 336 Pacific AvenuePlanning Commission MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct6
    City CouncilTuesday · 6:00 pm · 336 Pacific AvenueShafter City CouncilAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct6
    City CouncilTuesday · 5:00 pm · 336 Pacific AvenueOctober 6, 2026 Special Joint Meeting - Shafter City Council & Planning CommissionAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct6
    Planning CommissionTuesday · 5:00 pm · 336 Pacific AvenueOctober 6, 2026 Special Joint Meeting - Shafter City Council & Planning CommissionAgenda ↗Meeting 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 $1,741 per resident a year, or $4.77 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 56%.

Where the money comes from
Sales taxes 47%Fees & charges 12%Other taxes & licenses 11%Property taxes 11%Utility sales 10%Interest, fines & other 4%From the state 2%From other local governments 2%From the federal government 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $3.1 million; interest on debt $20,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $42.7 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,741 per resident in 2022: more than 68% of them

Shafter’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,741 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. Shafter spent more than 68% of them.

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

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; Shafter itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,634 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.78% of the home’s value, vs 0.70% across California.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

California$5,124
Shafter$2,634
$2,634
typical bill a year
0.78%
effective rate
$335,800
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Shafter

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

See shafter.com for Shafter’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Shafter yet.shafter.com ↗
Who works for Shafter

One full-time city employee for every 184 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 (20,739).

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

Police41
Administration & buildings32
Roads & transportation13 + 3 pt
Water & other utilities5
Parks & libraries4 + 1 pt
Sewer & trash4
Health & welfare3
Other11 + 15 pt
113
full-time
19
part-time
$826,025
payroll for March 2022
$9.9M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$85,700
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
32
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Shafter had 5.4 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: Shafter had more than 66% 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

Kern High School District

Shafter’s high school district, shared with Arvin, Bakersfield. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Shafter →
$19,073
per pupil · CA $21,206
43,116
students
$371.6 million
long-term debt

Of the $19,073 per pupil, $9,253 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 24%State 63%Federal 12%

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

Also serving Shafter

Richland Union School District · $22,540 per pupil

Rio Bravo-Greeley Union Elementary School District · $16,285 per pupil

Norris Elementary School District · $13,454 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Shafter’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Kern County’s results282,579 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican59.2%167,414 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat38.2%108,047 votes

Others: 2.5% (7,118 votes).

Most votes in Kern County: Donald J Trump

California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%

The county’s page

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

Kern 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 Shafter

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Shafter.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: shafter.com ↗
  2. 2
    California AssemblyState representatives
    Jasmeet Bains
  3. 3
    California SenateState senator
    Shannon GroveMelissa 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
Find your state legislators by address ↗

Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.

Reach Shafter’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websiteshafter.com ↗

Questions about Shafter’s government

How much does Shafter spend per resident?

About $1,741 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 $1,741 was more than 68% of 101 California cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Shafter?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,634 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.78% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.70% across California. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see shafter.com.

Who runs Shafter’s government?

See shafter.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Shafter yet.

How did Shafter vote in 2024?

California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Shafter alone. Kern County, where 100% of Shafter lies, voted Trump 59.2%, Harris 38.2% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Shafter?

113 full-time and 19 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $826,025 (about $9.9M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Shafter in the state legislature?

Shafter is split among 2 State Senate districts, so your address decides. The California Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Shafter?

The next posted meeting is City Council on Tuesday, November 3, at 6:00 pm in 336 Pacific Avenue, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Shafter’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 →