Town Hall · Whittier

Whittier, CA town hall & government

Whittier spent $229 million in the year to June 30, 2024, about $2,711 per resident.

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

Town budget

Where Whittier's money goes

Spent
$229 million
fiscal year to June 30, 2024
Per resident
$2,711
typical California cities: $2,964
Long-term debt
$140.6 million
$1,664 per resident
Water & other utilities
$54.7 million24%
Police
$46.9 million20%
Sewer & trash
$25.8 million11%
Parks & libraries
$23.5 million10%
Roads & transportation
$21.6 million9%
Administration & buildings
$16.3 million7%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$5.6 million2%
Housing & development
$4.5 million2%
Paid to other governments
$1.8 million1%
Health & welfare
$299,000<1%
Interest on debt
$26,000<1%
Fire
$3,000<1%
Other
$27.9 million12%

Where the money comes from

  • Fees & charges 19%
  • Sales taxes 18%
  • Utility sales 18%
  • Interest, fines & other 12%
  • Property taxes 10%
  • Other taxes & licenses 9%
  • From the federal government 7%
  • From the state 5%
  • From other local governments 1%
Town workforce

Who works for Whittier

Full-time staff
387
184 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$91,800
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
125
full-time, with power of arrest
Police
172 full-time11 part
Parks & libraries
59 full-time128 part
Administration & buildings
60 full-time16 part
Roads & transportation
20 full-time1 part
Water & other utilities
16 full-time1 part
Housing & development
16 full-time
Health & welfare
3 full-time23 part
Sewer & trash
12 full-time
Other
29 full-time4 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

Whittier's high school district, shared with Downey, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, La Mirada, Pico Rivera 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 Whittier: East Whittier City Elementary School District ($18,481 per pupil) · Whittier City Elementary School District ($20,026 per pupil) · Fullerton Joint Union High School District ($17,606 per pupil).

Property tax

What homeowners in Whittier pay

Typical tax bill
$5,246
a year · California typical $5,124
Effective rate
0.64%
of home value · California 0.70%
Typical home value
$822,600
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 Whittier's government

🏛️ Official websitecityofwhittier.org ↗

Town hall & decisions in Whittier →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Whittier

Whittier is represented in Congress by Senators Alex Padilla and Adam B. Schiff and Representative Linda T. Sánchez. Gavin Newsom is governor.

All of Whittier'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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Whittier

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