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Ukiah Civic CenterPhoto: City of Ukiah - Dept. of Recreation · Public domain
Town Hall · Ukiah

Ukiah spent more per resident in 2022 than 82% of similar cities

Ukiah’s city government spent $40.4 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $2,505 per resident. Water and other utilities ($27 million) and the airport ($1.7 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in California.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$40.4M
year to June 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$2,505
In 2022: $2,086, more than 82% of 101 similar cities
Long-term debt
$146.3M
end of FY2024, reported
City staff, 2022
170
full-time · 99 part-time · March payroll $1.5M
Typical tax bill
$3,445
0.75% of home value · CA 0.70%

What stands out about how Ukiah 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: $2,086 per resident, more than 82% of 101 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer51% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2024).Its own police and fire32 sworn officers and 21 full-time firefighters on the payroll.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Ukiah’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 $2,505 per resident a year, or $6.86 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 25%.

Where the money comes from
From the federal government 31%Utility sales 28%Fees & charges 18%Sales taxes 14%Property taxes 3%Interest, fines & other 3%From the state 2%Other taxes & licenses 1%From other local governments <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $60.3 million; interest on debt $6.3 million; payments to other governments $54,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $135.9 million.
Compared with similar places

$2,086 per resident in 2022: more than 82% of them

Ukiah’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($2,086 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. Ukiah spent more than 82% of them.

Middle half of the group, $885–$1,875Median $1,377Ukiah

Includes sewer and trash ($7.1 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; Ukiah itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 22% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$33.1 million
2024$40.4 million

Per resident: 2022: $2,086 · 2024: $2,505.

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 $3,445 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.75% of the home’s value, vs 0.70% across California.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

California$5,124
Ukiah$3,445
$3,445
typical bill a year
0.75%
effective rate
$458,400
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Ukiah

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

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

One full-time city employee for every 95 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 (16,144).

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

Parks & libraries9 + 82 pt
Administration & buildings40 + 13 pt
Police44 + 1 pt
Water & other utilities23
Fire22
Sewer & trash19
Roads & transportation8 + 3 pt
Other5
170
full-time
99
part-time
$1.5M
payroll for March 2022
$18.5M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$99,900
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
32
sworn police officers
21
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Ukiah had 10.7 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: Ukiah had more than 97% 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

Ukiah Unified School District

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

Schools in Ukiah →
$19,962
per pupil · CA $21,206
5,814
students
$117 million
long-term debt

Of the $19,962 per pupil, $11,968 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 31%State 59%Federal 10%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Ukiah’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Mendocino County’s results38,815 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat61.4%23,830 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican34.4%13,367 votes

Others: 4.2% (1,618 votes).

Most votes in Mendocino County: Kamala D Harris

California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%

The county’s page

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

Mendocino 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 Ukiah

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Ukiah.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: cityofukiah.com ↗
  2. 2
    California AssemblyState representatives
    Chris Rogers
  3. 3
    California SenateState senator
    Mike McGuire
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Gavin Newsom
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Jared Huffman
  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 Ukiah’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitecityofukiah.com ↗

Questions about Ukiah’s government

How much does Ukiah spend per resident?

About $2,505 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 $2,086 was more than 82% of 101 California cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Ukiah?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,445 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.75% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.70% across California. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofukiah.com.

Who runs Ukiah’s government?

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

How did Ukiah vote in 2024?

California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Ukiah alone. Mendocino County, where 100% of Ukiah lies, voted Harris 61.4%, Trump 34.4% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Ukiah?

170 full-time and 99 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $1.5M (about $18.5M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Ukiah in the state legislature?

State Senate District 2 (Mike McGuire) and Assembly District 2 (Chris Rogers). The Assembly district also covers 16 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Ukiah?

The next posted meeting is Ukiah Valley Water Authority on Tuesday, November 3, at 5:00 pm, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Ukiah’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 →