Town Hall · Atherton

Atherton, CA town hall & government

Atherton spent $34.3 million in the year to June 30, 2022, about $4,890 per resident.

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

Town budget

Where Atherton's money goes

Spent
$34.3 million
fiscal year to June 30, 2022
Per resident
$4,890
typical California cities: $1,906
Long-term debt
$6.3 million
$897 per resident
Police
$14.1 million41%
Parks & libraries
$6.4 million19%
Administration & buildings
$4.3 million12%
Housing & development
$3.6 million10%
Roads & transportation
$3.1 million9%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$1.3 million4%
Interest on debt
$280,0001%
Sewer & trash
$33,000<1%
Other
$1.3 million4%

Where the money comes from

  • Property taxes 44%
  • Other taxes & licenses 26%
  • Interest, fines & other 11%
  • Sales taxes 7%
  • From the federal government 6%
  • Fees & charges 3%
  • From the state 2%
  • From other local governments 1%
Town workforce

Who works for Atherton

Full-time staff
40
4 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$148,600
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
21
full-time, with power of arrest
Police
30 full-time3 part
Administration & buildings
6 full-time1 part
Parks & libraries
1 full-time
Other
3 full-time

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

Schools · school year 2023–24

Sequoia Union High School District

Atherton's high school district, shared with East Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Portola Valley, Redwood City, San Carlos and Woodside. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$27,344
California: $21,206
Students
8,840
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$418.6 million
at year end

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

  • Local 87%
  • State 10%
  • Federal 3%

Of the $27,344 per pupil, $15,214 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 Atherton: Menlo Park City Elementary School District ($27,970 per pupil) · Las Lomitas Elementary School District ($32,152 per pupil) · Redwood City Elementary School District ($23,614 per pupil).

Property tax

What homeowners in Atherton pay

Typical tax bill
$10,000+
a year · California typical $5,124
Typical home value
$2,000,001
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 Atherton's government

🏛️ Official websiteci.atherton.ca.us ↗

Town hall & decisions in Atherton →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Atherton

Atherton is represented in Congress by Senators Alex Padilla and Adam B. Schiff and Representatives Sam T. Liccardo and Kevin Mullin. Gavin Newsom is governor.

All of Atherton'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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Atherton

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