Poorer cities pay higher property tax rates than more affluent ones, L.A. County records show [Updated]

Residents of wealthier cities generally pay lower property tax rates than those in poorer cities, according to L.A. County tax records.

The information, provided by the L.A. County auditor-controller's office, comes amid debate about city salaries and taxes in the working-class community of Bell. The Times' Kim Christensen reported last week that while Bell was paying its city manager nearly $800,000 a year, its residents paid the second-highest property tax rate in the county, 1.55%.

Neighboring working-class cities, including Compton, San Fernando, El Monte, Huntington Park, Maywood, Montebello and Inglewood, also have high property tax rates. Indeed, of the 10 cities with the highest rates, six had median household incomes below $50,000.

The city of Los Angeles ranked No. 13, with a property tax rate of 1.22%.

Cities with the lowest rates tended to be more affluent. The bottom 10 included Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Cerritos and La Habra Heights.

Of the bottom 10, seven had median annual household incomes of at least $100,000 and six had median incomes of at least $128,000.

There were exceptions. Bellflower, a city with a median household income of only $53,000, recorded the lowest tax rate in the county: 1.02%. 

Population appears not to be a major factor in the rate structure. L.A. County's second-largest city, Long Beach, was ranked No. 43 among the county's 88 cities at 1.11%; Glendale was 76, Santa Clarita was 24, Pomona was 23 and Torrance was 74.

All county property owners pay 1% general property tax, along with special or direct assessments levied by their municipalities. The countywide average of all tax rates is 1.16%, or $11.60 for every $1,000 of assessed value.

Check out The Times' full interactive chart tracking property tax rates in Los Angeles County. The chart uses the highest tax rate for the assessed value of homes in each city. It does not account for direct assessments for services such as lighting, sewage, refuse and others charged by cities. Even within cities, rates can vary because of additional assessments for schools or special services that may apply only to certain areas.

-- Shelby Grad and Anthony Pesce

Photo: Protests in Bell. Christine House / For The Times

[For the record, 8:26 a.m.: An earlier version of this post incorrectly listed the median income for Bellflower as $60,000].

Investigating Bell: A Times special report:

Is a city manager worth $800,000?

In depth: High salaries in Bell

Interactive: How the salaries got so high

Bell residents are not happy about high salaries

High salaries fuel anger in Bell

Bell council members under investigation for $100,000 salaries

Video: Why do Bell officials make so much money? The Times' Jeff Gottlieb explains.

Bell city manager might be highest paid in nation

Bell council found loophole to allow big salaries

DA expands investigation of Bell

Bell salary scandal has other cities running for cover

Photos: Protests in Bell

Comments

[Ramon]

Why is anyone surprised? Republicans always lowered taxes on the rich, and the Democrats have always asked for more from the community by way of more taxes for all the welfare programs they run and operate. What is so new about this? Thats why I love Republicans. The FACTS are right in front of you. Hahaha.

[Joe]

This is what happens when the have-nots are allowed to vote. They will always vote to spend more of someone else's money.

[Hypatia]

Didn't anyone in this state wonder how the politicians were getting around Prop 13? Well, now ya know! Stinks, doesn't it?

[Judy]

Could it be that taxes are lower in those communities because of Prop 13? The areas of the least taxed seem to be less transient. They stay in their home for many years.

[Paul Espinoza]

Is this another example of govenment of the richer, by the richer anf for the richer...

[obama]

I live in Connecticut and our 3 biggest cities which also are poorer and have more crime, also have the highest property taxes

[DARIN BASS]

This is typical of how things work in this country. The rich get away with murder and the middle class and poor support them in getting richer. No wonder the wealthy are so against our currect president.

[andy levinson]

The new rich are public employees:

Average teacher in california: $70,000 for nine months work

cops $100,000 + overtime

fire $100,000 + massive overtime

Higher ups...$150,000-200,000-300,000....to one $1 million...yes we have million dollar state employees and $300,000 is not unusall

$100,000 pensions are falling our of the sky

And double dippers....some like to retire, get a pension and come back for another government job like bernard parks who hauls in $400,000 per year in pension and pay...and has the nerve to look you in the eye and tell you he earned it.....

[Jim Garcia]

It only goes to figure. The lower income cities use the most city services.

[jimster120]

This whole scandal to me sounds like the poorer cities such as Bell, and the others mentioned in this article, were being "dupped" by the city officials and leaders, by using their spanish speaking skills to lure/decive the communities to follow their agendas, for their own political gain. Time for the Latinos to start doing their homework, before the listen to idiots such as Antonio Villrigosa and Fabien Nunez.

[Maury]

Time to move out of CA. It caters only to the rich. If you plan on staying here or plan on moving here, be ready to accept the fact that these thieves will always keep you at the bottom while their wallets become fatter with your hard earned tax dollars.

[Sounds like they copied the RNC...]

What's wrong with this picture!?!?! I don't see any Euro folks commenting on this...

[Brian]

The economy is a scam.

[Yukondave]

Of course, people that make the kind of money to live in better areas also take the time to read the ballot. The people of Bell have nothing to complain about. They elected the City Council, that paid for the City Manager since 1993. Almost 20 years Rizzo has been getting raises every year. The poorer areas obviously are not reading the ballot and are not participating in democracy. They are not paying attention to what the leaders and doing, making this issue their own fault.

I will bet they will pay attention now.

[ahuh]

No surprise. The rich never pay their share of taxes, why would property tax be any different.

[Tony]

It would be interesting to find out the Party affiliation of Bell's council memebers. I bet they're all tax-raising Democrats.

[Jplguad]

That might be news to people now but I found out that hard truth back in 1971 when I moved from East L.A. to Woodland Hills (Yes ,mind boggling ,isn't ?).Since I retained ownership of my duplex in East L.A. I easily saw the glaring difference in tax rates, and believe me ,it was wide as the Grand Canyon.I filed a protest with the Assessor and what transpired was fit for a film noir crime novel.Anyway,shortly after that, Proposition 13 mysteriously showed up on the ballot and the rest is history as you know it.

[Andrew]

Duh! If the homes are only assed at like under $200K, then the city needs a higher "rate" to collect enough revenues to run the city. But in Palos Verdes, with homes at $1M and up, a lower "rate" still gives higher total revenues.

But the writer makes it sound like these "poor" people are paying MORE. Far from it. In the above numbers, a Bell resident pays $3100 annually, and a PV resident pays over $10,000. So get over it... The 'rich' ALWAYS pay more in taxes.

[blank]

do not ever vote against Prop 13 if you want to keep property tax down

[ZuLEMA]

If this article is a fact! its quite a shame that the poor pay more then the rich! is there any wonder why america is where it is.. the rich get richer and the poor well they just get the bad end of the stick. what a shame.

[GoatFace]

This only makes sense. 1% of a Million dollar home is $10,000. 1% of a home value of $150,00 is only $1,500. In poorer areas the property values are less which means you have to collect a higher rate to get enough money to run the city. Relating this to the Bell City outrage doesn’t make any sense.

[Pmac]

Excellent work on this, LA Times. This is just the sort of in-depth journalism we need in our sprawling metropolitan area. Invaluable.

[timmy t]

Hmmm... I bet the "poor cities" use more services that the so called richer cities. Secondly, If they pay less of tax percentage a year, there still paying more because homes cost a lot more own. Meaing the house in Huntington Park at ($290,000 at 1.55% )compared to the house in Palos Verdes (1.5 million at 1.25%). Do the math, their still paying more tax, and I'm willing to bet they do have the help of renters/family members living with them. Give them a break.

[azguy]

makes sense. higher crime, more illegal settlers need more gov $ for their children education, “harder” work by city officials asking higher salaries etc... keep going California boycotting Arizona! It helps us, AZ hotels this year are busier than ever! Send more busses to protest Federal Immigration Law enforcement efforts!

[Jones Burrow]

This is hardly anything compared to the rest of the scams. It's not just that rich have a discount but poor people are pawns/slaves obligated not free. War is still coming and guess who is going to fight it for America? Since year 2000 when bad things happen THEY keep on reporting it as a "great thing" just like the New World Order.