Photo: VitaleBaby at en.wikipedia · Public domainCalifornia spent less per resident in 2022 than 89% of similar cities
California’s borough government spent $3.3 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $521 per resident.
What stands out about how California is run
Read from the borough’s budget and official records.
$521 per resident in 2022: less than 89% of them
California’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($521 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 290 Pennsylvania cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $858, and the middle half spent $663–$1,098. California spent less than 89% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($963,000), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Pennsylvania cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; California itself left out).
About $521 per resident a year, or $1.43 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 30%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
No trend yet
California reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $1,664 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.09% of the home’s value, vs 1.30% across Pennsylvania.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at California’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 California’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in California →
Who’s in charge in California
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
California’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The borough posts agendas and minutes on californiapa15419.com ↗.
One full-time borough employee for every 417 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 (6,261).
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.
California Area School District
California’s K–12 school district, shared with Allenport, Coal Center, Elco, Long Branch, Roscoe and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $15,655 per pupil, $8,977 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.
Pennsylvania districts overall: 55% local, 37% state, 8% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
California’s votes are counted by county
Pennsylvania reports official results by county and precinct, not by borough, so there are no official results for California alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Washington County’s results.
Donald J TrumpRepublican62.4%75,929 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat36.9%44,910 votesOthers: 0.6% (778 votes).
Most votes in Washington County: Donald J Trump
Pennsylvania: Trump 50.4%, Harris 48.7%
100% of California lies in Washington County. Every 2024 race in Washington County is on the county’s page.
Washington 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 California.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: californiapa15419.com ↗
- 2Pennsylvania HouseState representatives
- 3Pennsylvania SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Pennsylvania
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How California compares with the towns next door
California spent $521 per resident in 2022; the 9 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $240 to $575. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Jefferson Township | $240 | $2,330 |
| Newell | $240 | $1,571 |
| Elco | $295 | $1,090 |
| Coal Center | $397 | $675 |
| Fallowfield Township | $429 | $2,105 |
| West Pike Run Township | $474 | $1,607 |
| West Brownsville | $483 | $830 |
| Centerville | $532 | $1,404 |
| Long Branch | $575 | $1,496 |
| California | $521 | $1,664 |
Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).
Reach California’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about California’s government
How much does California spend per resident?
About $521 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $521 was less than 89% of 290 Pennsylvania cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in California?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,664 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.09% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.30% across Pennsylvania. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see californiapa15419.com.
Who runs California’s government?
See californiapa15419.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for California yet.
How did California vote in 2024?
Pennsylvania counts votes by county and precinct, not by borough, so there are no official results for California alone. Washington County, where 100% of California lies, voted Trump 62.4%, Harris 36.9% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for California?
15 full-time and 16 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $109,087 (about $1.3M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents California in the state legislature?
State Senate District 46 (Camera Bartolotta) and State House District 50 (Bud Cook). The House district also covers 49 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about California’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 →