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Town Hall · Santa Clara

Santa Clara spent less per resident in 2022 than 75% of similar cities

Santa Clara’s city government spent $138,000 on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2022, about $185 per resident.

Day-to-day spending, 2022
$138,000
year to September 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$185
In 2022: $185, less than 75% of 346 similar cities
Long-term debt
$18,000
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
3
full-time · 0 part-time · March payroll $11,966
Typical tax bill
$3,548
1.10% of home value · TX 1.49%

What stands out about how Santa Clara is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends less than most similar citiesIn 2022: $185 per resident, less than 75% of 346 similar cities.A shared school districtShares Marion Independent School District with 2 other towns.
Compared with similar places

$185 per resident in 2022: less than 75% of them

Santa Clara’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($185 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 346 Texas cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $433, and the middle half spent $184–$752. Santa Clara spent less than 75% of them.

Middle half of the group, $184–$752Median $433Santa Clara

Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
346

Texas cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Santa Clara itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $185 per resident a year, or $0.51 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 22%.

Where the money comes from
Interest, fines & other 67%From the federal government 15%Property taxes 13%Sales taxes 5%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $76,000; interest on debt $1,000. With these, the whole budget was $215,000.
About “Other”.38% of Santa Clara’s day-to-day spending ($52,000) is filed by the Census Bureau outside the named functions above, so the receipt can’t say what it buys.
Over the years

No trend yet

Santa Clara reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $3,548 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.10% of the home’s value, vs 1.49% across Texas.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Texas$4,232
Santa Clara$3,548
$3,548
typical bill a year
1.10%
effective rate
$323,000
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Santa Clara’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. In a town this small the estimate has a wide margin.

Tax bills are one input to Santa Clara’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Santa Clara →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Santa Clara

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

Check Santa Clara’s own website for current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Santa Clara yet.
Who works for Santa Clara

One full-time city employee for every 248 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 (745).

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

Police2
Administration & buildings1
3
full-time
0
part-time
$11,966
payroll for March 2022
$143,592
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$47,900
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
2
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Santa Clara had 4.0 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 295 of the 346 Texas cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 6.2: Santa Clara had fewer than 69% 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

Marion Independent School District

Santa Clara’s K–12 school district, shared with Marion, New Berlin. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Santa Clara →
$12,024
per pupil · TX $12,815
1,570
students
$105.6 million
long-term debt

Of the $12,024 per pupil, $7,150 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 64%State 32%Federal 4%

Texas districts overall: 51% local, 36% state, 13% federal.

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Santa Clara’s votes are counted by county

Texas reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Santa Clara alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Guadalupe County’s results.

President · Guadalupe County’s results85,350 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican64.1%54,691 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat34.6%29,573 votes

Others: 1.3% (1,086 votes).

Most votes in Guadalupe County: Donald J Trump

Texas: Trump 56.1%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

100% of Santa Clara lies in Guadalupe County. Every 2024 race in Guadalupe County is on the county’s page.

Guadalupe 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 Santa Clara

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Santa Clara.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Texas HouseState representatives
    Alan Schoolcraft
  3. 3
    Texas SenateState senator
    Donna Campbell
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Greg Abbott
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Henry Cuellar
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Texas
    John CornynTed Cruz

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

Reach Santa Clara’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Santa Clara’s government

How much does Santa Clara spend per resident?

About $185 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $185 was less than 75% of 346 Texas cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Santa Clara?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,548 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.10% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.49% across Texas. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the city’s assessor.

Who runs Santa Clara’s government?

We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Santa Clara yet.

How did Santa Clara vote in 2024?

Texas counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Santa Clara alone. Guadalupe County, where 100% of Santa Clara lies, voted Trump 64.1%, Harris 34.6% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Santa Clara?

3 full-time and 0 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $11,966 (about $143,592 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Santa Clara in the state legislature?

State Senate District 25 (Donna Campbell) and State House District 44 (Alan Schoolcraft). The House district also covers 15 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Santa Clara’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 →