Town Hall · Morro Bay

Morro Bay, CA town hall & government

Morro Bay spent $31.7 million in the year to June 30, 2022, about $3,000 per resident.

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

Town budget

Where Morro Bay's money goes

Spent
$31.7 million
fiscal year to June 30, 2022
Per resident
$3,000
typical California cities: $1,906
Long-term debt
$90.5 million
$8,568 per resident
Police
$4.4 million14%
Administration & buildings
$3.9 million12%
Water & other utilities
$3.8 million12%
Roads & transportation
$3.7 million12%
Interest on debt
$3.6 million11%
Fire
$3.5 million11%
Sewer & trash
$2.8 million9%
Housing & development
$1.6 million5%
Parks & libraries
$1.6 million5%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$749,0002%
Health & welfare
$25,000<1%
Other
$2.1 million7%

Where the money comes from

  • Fees & charges 32%
  • Sales taxes 20%
  • Utility sales 17%
  • Other taxes & licenses 12%
  • Property taxes 10%
  • Interest, fines & other 5%
  • From the state 3%
  • From the federal government 1%
Town workforce

Who works for Morro Bay

Full-time staff
93
81 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$99,400
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
16
and 14 full-time firefighters
Parks & libraries
4 full-time60 part
Roads & transportation
23 full-time6 part
Police
18 full-time2 part
Fire
15 full-time3 part
Administration & buildings
10 full-time6 part
Sewer & trash
12 full-time
Housing & development
6 full-time4 part
Water & other utilities
5 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

San Luis Coastal Unified School District

Morro Bay's K–12 school district, shared with San Luis Obispo. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$19,917
California: $21,206
Students
7,577
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$243.6 million
at year end

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

  • Local 80%
  • State 15%
  • Federal 5%

Of the $19,917 per pupil, $11,208 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.

Property tax

What homeowners in Morro Bay pay

Typical tax bill
$5,999
a year · California typical $5,124
Effective rate
0.65%
of home value · California 0.70%
Typical home value
$918,200
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 Morro Bay's government

🏛️ Official websitemorro-bay.ca.us ↗

Town hall & decisions in Morro Bay →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Morro Bay

Morro Bay is represented in Congress by Senators Alex Padilla and Adam B. Schiff and Representative Salud O. Carbajal. Gavin Newsom is governor.

All of Morro Bay'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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Morro Bay

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