How Eureka is run
Who runs Eureka, what it costs, and where your money goes
The city manager, council pay, the budget, your property tax bill and who provides each service, from Eureka's own public documents. Every number links to its source and says which year it describes. Checked Oct 10, 2026.
Who runs Eureka
A city manager hired by the council runs the city day to day. The council sets policy, adopts the budget and sets the tax rate.
What they are paid
Eureka city staff
265 full-time-equivalent positions, including Police 79, Public works 58, Community services 53. FY2026-27. City of Eureka · Jun 16, 2026
The city posts a pay range for every job title in its salary schedule; we found no city-posted list of individual employees' pay. We name pay only for elected officials and the city manager.
Is Eureka in the red?
Cities must pass a balanced budget, so "profit" and "deficit" mean something different here. The useful questions: does the city's everyday money (the general fund) cover its everyday costs, how much does it keep in savings compared with its own target, and how big are its pension and debt bills.
Savings against the city's own target
Unassigned general fund balance: $1.3M (2025-06-30). The city's own target: Keep unrestricted general fund balance (assigned plus unassigned) of at least three months (90 days) of regular operating spending and transfers out, with a plan to rebuild within 36 months if it falls short. On June 30, 2025 the general fund also held $10.5 million assigned, including a $7.4 million operating contingency. City of Eureka · Jun 20, 2023
Why we skip the "budgeted deficit": many cities plan to dip into savings, then spend less than planned. The audited result tells you what really happened.
Where the money comes from and goes
The general fund only: the city's everyday money for FY2026-27.
Comes from
- Measure H local sales tax (transactions and use tax)$12.1M · 28%
- Sales tax (the city's share of the statewide rate)$11.9M · 27%
- Property tax in lieu of vehicle license fees$3.4M · 8%
- Hotel tax (transient occupancy tax)$3.3M · 7%
- Property tax, secured roll$2.5M · 6%
- Second local transactions and use tax$2.4M · 6%
- Sequoia Park Zoo admissions$2M · 5%
- Other (franchise fees, other taxes, charges and grants)$6.2M · 14%
Goes to (FY2025-26)
- Police$17.8M · 41%
- Fire and emergency medical (Humboldt Bay Fire JPA)$8.5M · 20%
- Community services (parks, recreation, zoo)$8.1M · 19%
- Transfers to other funds$3.2M · 7%
- Development services$2M · 5%
- Public works$1.9M · 4%
- Other (non-departmental, engineering)$1.7M · 4%
Who provides your services
Not everything in Eureka is run by the city. Who provides a service decides whose budget pays for it and whose election decides it.
- PoliceThe cityEureka Police DepartmentCity of Eureka · Jul 1, 2025
- WaterThe cityCity of Eureka water utilityCity of Eureka · Mar 30, 2026
- SewerThe cityCity of Eureka sewer utilityCity of Eureka · Mar 30, 2026
- Trash and recyclingContractorRecology Humboldt County (city contract)City of Eureka
- Streets and alleysThe cityCity of Eureka Public WorksCity of Eureka
- ParksThe cityCity of Eureka Park OperationsCity of Eureka · Jul 1, 2025
- ZooThe citySequoia Park Zoo (City of Eureka)Established in 1907.City of Eureka · Jul 1, 2025
Compared with similar cities
The cities in this state closest in population that we cover. Read it for scale, not as a ranking: cities provide different services.
| Per city | Imperial BeachCA | BeniciaCA | EurekaCA | El CerritoCA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 26,066 | 26,074 | 26,163 | 26,166 |
| Top administrator's base pay | $262,668 | $242,534 | Not confirmed | $302,820 |
| Council member pay | $11,400 | Not confirmed | $6,000 | Not confirmed |
| General fund per resident | $1,231 | $2,603 | $1,703 | $2,203 |
| Debt per resident | $19 | $831 | $885 | $524 |
| Unfunded pension per resident | $495 | $3,547 | $2,502 | $3,177 |
| City staff per 1,000 residents | 4.8 | 8.4 | 10.1 | 6.5 |
Figures as shown in each city's section, divided by its population. Years differ by state, and pension figures are measured differently in each state (each city page says how). Imperial Beach and El Cerrito pays another agency for police or fire, so its own staff count is lower.
What Eureka publishes
What a resident can find online today. A "no" is something you can ask the council to publish.
- Partly: Adopted budget posted online City of Eureka
- No: City manager's contract findable onlineThe Dec. 1, 2020 agenda lists the Slattery contract, but the attachment link now requires a login; we found no other posted copy. City of Eureka
- Yes: Council votes recorded member by member online City of Eureka · Jun 16, 2026
- Yes: Meeting videos and minutes onlineAgendas, minutes and video for council meetings are on the city's Granicus portal. City of Eureka
- Yes: Council pay stated in a public documentThe July 2026 pay schedule lists $6,000 a year for council members and $7,500 for the mayor. City of Eureka · Aug 18, 2026
- Partly: Employee pay published City of Eureka · Aug 18, 2026
Questions to ask your council
- The FY2026-27 general fund budget plans $44.6 million of spending against $43.8 million of revenue. Which reserves cover the $776,000 gap, and how will the city close it in later years?
- Unassigned general fund balance was $1,314,390 on June 30, 2025, with another $10.5 million assigned. How does that compare with the city's 90-day reserve policy?
- Net pension liability was $65.4 million on June 30, 2025, more than the general fund's FY2025 revenue of $49.0 million. What is the plan to pay it down?
- Measure H local sales tax is budgeted at $12.1 million in FY2026-27, more than a quarter of general fund revenue. What would change if it fell short?
The fiscal year starts July 1. The council and Finance Advisory Committee held a budget study session on May 26, 2026; the council held a public hearing and adopted the FY2026-27 budget on June 16, 2026. See who is running for council
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