Palo Alto, CA town hall & government
Palo Alto spent $875.4 million in the year to June 30, 2024, about $13,262 per resident.
Where the money goes, where it comes from, property taxes, and how to reach Palo Alto's government.
Who runs Palo Alto
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 If a name is out of date, tell us: when two neighbors agree, it's hidden until the records catch up.
Where Palo Alto's money goes
Where the money comes from
- Utility sales 44%
- Fees & charges 22%
- Sales taxes 12%
- Property taxes 10%
- Interest, fines & other 7%
- Other taxes & licenses 3%
- From the federal government 1%
- From the state 1%
Who works for Palo Alto
Staff on the town's payroll in March 2025. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate. Palo Alto didn't report its staffing to the Census Bureau, so these are the Bureau's estimates.
Palo Alto Unified School District
Palo Alto's K–12 school district, shared with Los Altos Hills. 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 87%
- State 11%
- Federal 2%
Of the $31,362 per pupil, $20,183 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 Palo Alto: Fremont Union High School District ($24,927 per pupil) · Mountain View-Los Altos Union School District ($33,926 per pupil) · Cupertino Union Elementary School District ($18,329 per pupil).
Which schools Palo Alto kids attend, test scores and graduation rate →
What homeowners in Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto's government
Who represents Palo Alto
Palo Alto is represented in Congress by Senators Alex Padilla and Adam B. Schiff and Representative Sam T. Liccardo. 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.