Photo: Mike Greene · CC BY-SA 2.0Signal Hill spent more per resident in 2022 than 83% of similar cities
Signal Hill’s city government spent $24.2 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $2,149 per resident. Water and other utilities ($5 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Signal Hill is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$2,149 per resident in 2022: more than 83% of them
Signal Hill’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($2,149 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. Signal Hill spent more than 83% of them.
Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
California cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Signal Hill itself left out).
About $2,149 per resident a year, or $5.89 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 48%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
No trend yet
Signal Hill reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $6,954 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.89% 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 Signal Hill’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 Signal Hill’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Signal Hill →
Who’s in charge in Signal Hill
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Signal Hill’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on cityofsignalhill.org ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 110 residents
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (11,280).
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.
Long Beach Unified School District
Signal Hill’s K–12 school district, shared with Avalon, Long Beach, Lakewood. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $21,042 per pupil, $12,613 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.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Signal Hill’s votes are counted by county
California reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Signal Hill alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Los Angeles County’s results.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat64.8%2,416,522 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican31.9%1,189,227 votesOthers: 3.3% (121,420 votes).
Most votes in Los Angeles County: Kamala D Harris
California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%
100% of Signal Hill lies in Los Angeles County. Every 2024 race in Los Angeles County is on the county’s page.
Los Angeles 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 Signal Hill.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: cityofsignalhill.org ↗
- 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.
Reach Signal Hill’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Signal Hill’s government
How much does Signal Hill spend per resident?
About $2,149 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 $2,149 was more than 83% of 101 California cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Signal Hill?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $6,954 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.89% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.70% across California. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofsignalhill.org.
Who runs Signal Hill’s government?
See cityofsignalhill.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Signal Hill yet.
How did Signal Hill vote in 2024?
California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Signal Hill alone. Los Angeles County, where 100% of Signal Hill lies, voted Harris 64.8%, Trump 31.9% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Signal Hill?
103 full-time and 43 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $891,686 (about $10.7M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.
Who represents Signal Hill in the state legislature?
State Senate District 33 (Lena Gonzalez) and Assembly District 69 (Josh Lowenthal). The Assembly district also covers three neighboring towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Signal Hill’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 →