Palm Desert, CA town hall & government
Palm Desert spent $123 million in the year to June 30, 2022, about $2,298 per resident.
Where the money goes, where it comes from, property taxes, and how to reach Palm Desert's government.
Where Palm Desert's money goes
Where the money comes from
- Fees & charges 42%
- Sales taxes 35%
- Property taxes 7%
- Other taxes & licenses 6%
- Interest, fines & other 5%
- From the federal government 3%
- From the state 2%
- From other local governments <1%
Who works for Palm Desert
Staff on the town's payroll in March 2022. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate.
Desert Sands Unified School District
Palm Desert's K–12 school district, shared with Indian Wells, Indio, La Quinta and Coachella. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.
Where the district's money comes from California districts overall: 36% local, 52% state, 11% federal
- Local 40%
- State 49%
- Federal 10%
Of the $19,599 per pupil, $11,438 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 Palm Desert: Palm Springs Unified School District ($22,793 per pupil).
Which schools Palm Desert kids attend, test scores and graduation rate →
What homeowners in Palm Desert pay
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.
Contact Palm Desert's government
Who represents Palm Desert
Palm Desert is represented in Congress by Senators Alex Padilla and Adam B. Schiff and Representative Ken Calvert. Gavin Newsom is governor.
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.