Town Hall · Bell Gardens

Bell Gardens, CA town hall & government

Bell Gardens spent $156.6 million in the year to June 30, 2024, about $4,129 per resident.

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

Town budget

Where Bell Gardens's money goes

Spent
$156.6 million
fiscal year to June 30, 2024
Per resident
$4,129
typical California cities: $2,964
Long-term debt
$11.6 million
$305 per resident
Courts, inspections & corrections
$89.4 million57%
Police
$21.3 million14%
Administration & buildings
$12.9 million8%
Parks & libraries
$12.4 million8%
Roads & transportation
$11.2 million7%
Sewer & trash
$4.1 million3%
Water & other utilities
$2.3 million1%
Housing & development
$446,000<1%
Interest on debt
$361,000<1%
Health & welfare
$299,000<1%
Other
$1.8 million1%

Where the money comes from

  • Sales taxes 46%
  • Interest, fines & other 14%
  • Property taxes 12%
  • Fees & charges 9%
  • From the state 8%
  • From the federal government 5%
  • Utility sales 4%
  • Other taxes & licenses 1%
  • From other local governments <1%
Town workforce

Who works for Bell Gardens

Full-time staff
132
78 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$106,000
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
47
full-time, with power of arrest
Police
68 full-time12 part
Parks & libraries
11 full-time49 part
Roads & transportation
24 full-time17 part
Administration & buildings
20 full-time
Housing & development
6 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

Montebello Unified School District

Bell Gardens's K–12 school district, shared with Montebello and Commerce. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$24,212
California: $21,206
Students
19,967
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$276.2 million
at year end

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

  • Local 27%
  • State 61%
  • Federal 12%

Of the $24,212 per pupil, $14,474 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 Bell Gardens: Downey Unified School District ($19,524 per pupil) · Los Angeles Unified School District ($25,643 per pupil).

Property tax

What homeowners in Bell Gardens pay

Typical tax bill
$3,809
a year · California typical $5,124
Effective rate
0.68%
of home value · California 0.70%
Typical home value
$563,900
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 Bell Gardens's government

🏛️ Official websitebellgardens.org ↗

Town hall & decisions in Bell Gardens →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Bell Gardens

Bell Gardens is represented in Congress by Senators Alex Padilla and Adam B. Schiff and Representative Robert Garcia. Gavin Newsom is governor.

All of Bell Gardens'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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Bell Gardens

California · CA
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