Town Hall · Downey

Downey, CA town hall & government

Downey spent $183.4 million in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,679 per resident.

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

Local leadership

Who runs Downey

Blanca PachecoMayorSince 2020 Wikidata ↗ Out of date? Sign in to tell us

From public records (Open States and Wikidata), which can lag behind an election. If a name is out of date, tell us: when two neighbors agree, it's hidden until the records catch up.

Town budget

Where Downey's money goes

Spent
$183.4 million
fiscal year to June 30, 2022
Per resident
$1,679
typical California cities: $1,906
Long-term debt
$209.9 million
$1,922 per resident
Police
$43 million23%
Roads & transportation
$24.7 million13%
Fire
$20.5 million11%
Water & other utilities
$17.4 million9%
Administration & buildings
$15.6 million9%
Parks & libraries
$15.2 million8%
Housing & development
$9.2 million5%
Health & welfare
$6.8 million4%
Interest on debt
$5.3 million3%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$2.9 million2%
Sewer & trash
$620,000<1%
Other
$22.4 million12%

Where the money comes from

  • Sales taxes 29%
  • Property taxes 17%
  • Interest, fines & other 12%
  • Fees & charges 12%
  • Utility sales 10%
  • Other taxes & licenses 9%
  • From the federal government 6%
  • From the state 3%
  • From other local governments 2%
Town workforce

Who works for Downey

Full-time staff
393
206 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$123,700
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
120
and 66 full-time firefighters
Police
161 full-time21 part
Fire
103 full-time2 part
Parks & libraries
15 full-time144 part
Roads & transportation
37 full-time13 part
Administration & buildings
30 full-time2 part
Water & other utilities
21 full-time
Housing & development
20 full-time
Sewer & trash
3 full-time1 part
Courts, inspections & corrections
1 full-time1 part
Other
2 full-time22 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

Whittier Union High School District

Downey's high school district, shared with Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, La Mirada, Pico Rivera, Whittier and Industry. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$23,421
California: $21,206
Students
10,223
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$178.6 million
at year end

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

  • Local 34%
  • State 61%
  • Federal 5%

Of the $23,421 per pupil, $13,371 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 Downey: Downey Unified School District ($19,524 per pupil) · Little Lake City Elementary School District ($23,106 per pupil).

Property tax

What homeowners in Downey pay

Typical tax bill
$5,323
a year · California typical $5,124
Effective rate
0.67%
of home value · California 0.70%
Typical home value
$796,600
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 Downey's government

🏛️ Official websitedowneyca.org ↗

Town hall & decisions in Downey →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Downey

Downey is represented in Congress by Senators Alex Padilla and Adam B. Schiff and Representatives Robert Garcia and Linda T. Sánchez. Gavin Newsom is governor.

All of Downey'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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Downey

California · CA
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