Town Hall · Arcata

Arcata, CA town hall & government

Arcata spent $33.5 million in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,855 per resident.

Where the money goes, where it comes from, property taxes, and how to reach Arcata's government.

Town budget

Where Arcata's money goes

Spent
$33.5 million
fiscal year to June 30, 2022
Per resident
$1,855
typical California cities: $1,906
Long-term debt
$3.2 million
$177 per resident
Police
$6.7 million20%
Roads & transportation
$5.6 million17%
Sewer & trash
$5.5 million17%
Water & other utilities
$4.4 million13%
Administration & buildings
$3.8 million11%
Housing & development
$2.7 million8%
Parks & libraries
$1.3 million4%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$449,0001%
Health & welfare
$98,000<1%
Interest on debt
$57,000<1%
Other
$2.8 million8%

Where the money comes from

  • Sales taxes 26%
  • Fees & charges 24%
  • Utility sales 15%
  • Interest, fines & other 13%
  • Property taxes 10%
  • Other taxes & licenses 4%
  • From the federal government 4%
  • From the state 3%
  • From other local governments <1%
Town workforce

Who works for Arcata

Full-time staff
115
46 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$77,800
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
22
full-time, with power of arrest
Police
35 full-time1 part
Administration & buildings
16 full-time6 part
Water & other utilities
13 full-time3 part
Roads & transportation
8 full-time7 part
Parks & libraries
4 full-time14 part
Housing & development
6 full-time1 part
Sewer & trash
2 full-time1 part
Other
31 full-time13 part

Staff on the town's payroll in March 2022. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate.

Schools · school year 2023–24

Northern Humboldt Union High School District

Arcata's high school district, shared with Blue Lake, Eureka and Trinidad. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$19,735
California: $21,206
Students
1,756
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$35.7 million
at year end

Where the district's money comes from California districts overall: 36% local, 52% state, 11% federal

  • Local 39%
  • State 45%
  • Federal 16%

Of the $19,735 per pupil, $11,109 goes to classroom instruction (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to support services such as buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren't in the per-pupil figure.

Also serving Arcata: Arcata Elementary School District ($19,262 per pupil) · Jacoby Creek Elementary School District ($13,569 per pupil) · Pacific Union Elementary School District ($15,558 per pupil).

Property tax

What homeowners in Arcata pay

Typical tax bill
$2,896
a year · California typical $5,124
Effective rate
0.60%
of home value · California 0.70%
Typical home value
$484,600
owner-occupied

The median yearly bill homeowners report, covering every local property tax on the home (town, schools, county). The effective rate is that bill divided by the median home value, so it's a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Local

Contact Arcata's government

🏛️ Official websitecityofarcata.org ↗

Town hall & decisions in Arcata →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Arcata

Arcata is represented in Congress by Senators Alex Padilla and Adam B. Schiff and Representative Jared Huffman. Gavin Newsom is governor.

All of Arcata's representatives, with contacts →

Budget: U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Finance (every city and town government's revenue, spending and debt, grouped into plain categories). Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 5-year estimates.

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Arcata

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