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Downtown Susanville 1Photo: ShakataGaNai · CC BY 3.0
Town Hall · Susanville

Susanville spent less per resident in 2022 than 94% of similar cities

Susanville’s city government spent $9.5 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $694 per resident. Water and other utilities ($3.7 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Next public meeting

City Council

4:30 pm · City Council Chambers, 66 N. Lassen Street

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$9.5M
year to June 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$694
In 2022: $607, less than 94% of 101 similar cities
Long-term debt
$62.8M
end of FY2024, reported
City staff, 2022
55
full-time · 17 part-time · March payroll $386,924
Typical tax bill
$1,785
0.76% of home value · CA 0.70%

What stands out about how Susanville is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends less than most similar citiesIn 2022: $607 per resident, less than 94% of 101 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer28% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2024).Its own police and fire12 sworn officers and 7 full-time firefighters on the payroll.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

Recent meetings

  • Oct21
    City CouncilWednesday · 4:30 pm · City Council Chambers, 66 N. Lassen StreetCity Council MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct20
    Honey Lake Valley Recreation AuthorityTuesday · 4:00 pm · City Council Chambers, 66 N. Lassen StreetHoney Lake Valley Recreation Authority Regular MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct15
    City CouncilThursday · 10:00 am · City Council Chambers, 66 N. Lassen StreetSpecial City Council MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct13
    Air Pollution Control DistrictTuesday · 3:00 pm · City Council Chambers, 66 N. Lassen StreetAir Pollution Control District MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct8
    Municipal Airport CommissionThursday · 4:00 pm · City Council Chambers, 66 N. Lassen StreetMunicipal Airport Commission MeetingAgenda ↗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 2024 budget

About $694 per resident a year, or $1.90 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 44%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 33%Fees & charges 14%Property taxes 13%Other taxes & licenses 13%Sales taxes 12%From the state 8%Interest, fines & other 6%From the federal government 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $521,000; interest on debt $1.8 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $15.7 million.
Compared with similar places

$607 per resident in 2022: less than 94% of them

Susanville’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($607 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 $1,385, and the middle half spent $906–$1,910. Susanville spent less than 94% of them.

Middle half of the group, $906–$1,910Median $1,385Susanville

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; Susanville itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 9% since 2022

Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Susanville reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$8.8 million
2024$9.5 million

Per resident: 2022: $607 · 2024: $694. Per resident it went from $607 to $694 (up 14%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 14,425 to 13,707.

Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,785 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.76% of the home’s value, vs 0.70% across California.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

California$5,124
Susanville$1,785
$1,785
typical bill a year
0.76%
effective rate
$235,500
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Susanville

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

See cityofsusanville.net/rooptown for Susanville’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Susanville yet.cityofsusanville.net/rooptown ↗
Who works for Susanville

One full-time city employee for every 249 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (13,707).

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

Police15 + 3 pt
Administration & buildings10 + 10 pt
Water & other utilities10
Fire8
Parks & libraries3 + 2 pt
Roads & transportation2 + 1 pt
Other7 + 1 pt
55
full-time
17
part-time
$386,924
payroll for March 2022
$4.6M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$81,600
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
12
sworn police officers
7
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Susanville had 3.8 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 4.7: Susanville had fewer than 65% 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

Lassen Union High School District

Susanville’s high school district. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Susanville →
$16,968
per pupil · CA $21,206
845
students
None
long-term debt

Of the $16,968 per pupil, $9,659 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 38%State 56%Federal 7%

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

Also serving Susanville

Susanville Elementary School District · $15,176 per pupil

Shaffer Union Elementary School District · $15,000 per pupil

Richmond Elementary School District · $14,481 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Susanville’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Lassen County’s results11,244 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican75.7%8,517 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat21.8%2,455 votes

Others: 2.4% (272 votes).

Most votes in Lassen County: Donald J Trump

California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%

The county’s page

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

Lassen 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 Susanville

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Susanville.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: cityofsusanville.net/rooptown ↗
  2. 2
    California AssemblyState representatives
    Heather Hadwick
  3. 3
    California SenateState senator
    Megan Dahle
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Gavin Newsom
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    James Gallagher
  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.

Reach Susanville’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitecityofsusanville.net/rooptown ↗

Questions about Susanville’s government

How much does Susanville spend per resident?

About $694 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $607 was less than 94% of 101 California cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Susanville?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,785 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.76% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.70% across California. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofsusanville.net/rooptown.

Who runs Susanville’s government?

See cityofsusanville.net/rooptown for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Susanville yet.

How did Susanville vote in 2024?

California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Susanville alone. Lassen County, where 100% of Susanville lies, voted Trump 75.7%, Harris 21.8% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Susanville?

55 full-time and 17 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $386,924 (about $4.6M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Susanville in the state legislature?

State Senate District 1 (Megan Dahle) and Assembly District 1 (Heather Hadwick). The Assembly district also covers 24 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Susanville?

The next posted meeting is City Council on Wednesday, November 4, at 4:30 pm in City Council Chambers, 66 N. Lassen Street, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Susanville’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 →