Town Hall · Merced

Merced, CA town hall & government

Merced spent $137.2 million in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,555 per resident.

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

Town budget

Where Merced's money goes

Spent
$137.2 million
fiscal year to June 30, 2022
Per resident
$1,555
typical California cities: $1,906
Long-term debt
$52.5 million
$595 per resident
Police
$28.3 million21%
Sewer & trash
$28.2 million21%
Fire
$16.1 million12%
Housing & development
$14.1 million10%
Roads & transportation
$12.1 million9%
Water & other utilities
$10.5 million8%
Administration & buildings
$9.5 million7%
Parks & libraries
$5 million4%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$4.5 million3%
Interest on debt
$2 million1%
Health & welfare
$57,000<1%
Other
$7 million5%

Where the money comes from

  • Fees & charges 39%
  • Sales taxes 20%
  • Utility sales 11%
  • From the state 11%
  • Property taxes 10%
  • Other taxes & licenses 5%
  • From the federal government 2%
  • Interest, fines & other 1%
Town workforce

Who works for Merced

Full-time staff
458
62 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$86,900
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
94
and 61 full-time firefighters
Police
132 full-time10 part
Sewer & trash
82 full-time8 part
Fire
64 full-time
Administration & buildings
41 full-time2 part
Parks & libraries
16 full-time30 part
Water & other utilities
27 full-time1 part
Roads & transportation
21 full-time2 part
Courts, inspections & corrections
4 full-time
Housing & development
3 full-time
Other
68 full-time9 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

Merced Union High School District

Merced's high school district, shared with Atwater and Livingston. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$18,331
California: $21,206
Students
11,120
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$159.1 million
at year end

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

  • Local 19%
  • State 69%
  • Federal 12%

Of the $18,331 per pupil, $10,169 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 Merced: Merced City Elementary School District ($17,666 per pupil) · Weaver Union Elementary School District ($18,202 per pupil) · McSwain Union Elementary School District ($14,035 per pupil).

Property tax

What homeowners in Merced pay

Typical tax bill
$2,617
a year · California typical $5,124
Effective rate
0.70%
of home value · California 0.70%
Typical home value
$372,600
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 Merced's government

🏛️ Official websitecityofmerced.gov ↗

Town hall & decisions in Merced →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Merced

Merced is represented in Congress by Senators Alex Padilla and Adam B. Schiff and Representative Adam Gray. Gavin Newsom is governor.

All of Merced'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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Merced

California · CA
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