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Turlock California Aerial (49810667923)Photo: formulanone · CC BY-SA 2.0
Town Hall · Turlock

How is Turlock run?

Turlock’s city government spent $90.1 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $1,246 per resident. Water and other utilities ($24.2 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in California.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$90.1M
year to June 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$1,246
In 2022: $1,093, less than 63% of 101 similar cities
Long-term debt
$107.5M
end of FY2024, reported
City staff, 2022
326
full-time · 127 part-time · March payroll $2.5M
Typical tax bill
$3,498
0.76% of home value · CA 0.70%

What stands out about how Turlock is run

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

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Runs its own water & sewer36% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2024).Split between districts2 U.S. House districts cover Turlock; your street decides yours.Its own police and fire82 sworn officers and 41 full-time firefighters on the payroll.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Turlock’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 2024 budget

About $1,246 per resident a year, or $3.41 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 29%.

Where the money comes from
Sales taxes 29%Fees & charges 24%Utility sales 17%Property taxes 10%From the state 5%From the federal government 5%Interest, fines & other 5%Other taxes & licenses 4%From other local governments <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $19.3 million; interest on debt $4.2 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $137.9 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,093 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Turlock’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,093 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 101 California cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,270, and the middle half spent $889–$1,772. Turlock spent less than 63% of them.

Middle half of the group, $889–$1,772Median $1,270Turlock

Includes sewer and trash ($23 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 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Turlock itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 13% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$79.9 million
2024$90.1 million

Per resident: 2022: $1,093 · 2024: $1,246.

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 $3,498 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
Turlock$3,498
$3,498
typical bill a year
0.76%
effective rate
$460,600
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Turlock

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

See cityofturlock.org for Turlock’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Turlock yet.cityofturlock.org ↗
Who works for Turlock

One full-time city employee for every 222 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 (72,309).

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

Police109 + 9 pt
Parks & libraries38 + 110 pt
Administration & buildings43 + 4 pt
Fire45
Sewer & trash37 + 1 pt
Roads & transportation24 + 1 pt
Water & other utilities17
Housing & development3
Other10 + 2 pt
326
full-time
127
part-time
$2.5M
payroll for March 2022
$29.6M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$86,000
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
82
sworn police officers
41
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Turlock had 4.5 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 79 of the 101 California cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 3.3: Turlock 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

Turlock Unified School District

Turlock’s K–12 school district. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Turlock →
$18,145
per pupil · CA $21,206
13,523
students
$95.1 million
long-term debt

Of the $18,145 per pupil, $12,107 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 27%State 63%Federal 10%

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

Also serving Turlock

Chatom Union Elementary School District · $18,832 per pupil

Denair Unified School District · $17,910 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Turlock’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Stanislaus County’s results197,291 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican54.2%106,849 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat43.2%85,306 votes

Others: 2.6% (5,136 votes).

Most votes in Stanislaus County: Donald J Trump

California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%

The county’s page

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

Stanislaus 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 Turlock

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Turlock.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: cityofturlock.org ↗
  2. 2
    California AssemblyState representatives
    Juan Alanis
  3. 3
    California SenateState senator
    Marie Alvarado-Gil
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Gavin Newsom
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseSplit between districts
    Adam GrayTom McClintock
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of California
    Alex PadillaAdam B. Schiff
Find your House district by ZIP code ↗

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

Reach Turlock’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitecityofturlock.org ↗

Questions about Turlock’s government

How much does Turlock spend per resident?

About $1,246 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 $1,093 was less than 63% of 101 California cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Turlock?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,498 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 cityofturlock.org.

Who runs Turlock’s government?

See cityofturlock.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Turlock yet.

How did Turlock vote in 2024?

California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Turlock alone. Stanislaus County, where 100% of Turlock lies, voted Trump 54.2%, Harris 43.2% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Turlock?

326 full-time and 127 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $2.5M (about $29.6M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Turlock in the state legislature?

State Senate District 4 (Marie Alvarado-Gil) and Assembly District 22 (Juan Alanis). The Assembly district also covers five other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Turlock?

The next posted meeting is Planning Commission on Thursday, November 5, at 6:00 pm in 156 South Broadway, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Turlock’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 →