State Controller Malia M. Cohen has published the 2024 self-reported payroll data for California special districts on the Government Compensation in California website.

The data covers 172,854 positions and a total of over $12.66 billion in 2024 wages with over $3.38 billion in health and retirement costs for 3,100 special districts. 

Sixty-eight special districts either did not file or filed a report that was non-compliant.

In Lake County, there are 30 special districts with 437 employees, with wages totaling $14,034,299. All of Lake County’s special districts submitted reports.

The top five special districts in Lake County by employee numbers and wages are as follows:

• Northshore Fire Protection District: 67 employees; total wages, $2,343,983; total retirement and health contributions, $461,539.

• Lake County Fire Protection District: 39 employees; total wages, $2,157,376; total retirement and health contributions, $851,043.

• Kelseyville Fire Protection District: 21 employees; total wages, $1,638,991; total retirement and health contributions, $534,140.

• Lakeport Fire Protection District: 32 employees; total wages, $1,543,800; total retirement and health contributions, $655,920.

• Clearlake Oaks Water District: 22 employees; total wages, $1,360,296; total retirement and health contributions, $323,718.

Special districts are governmental entities created by residents of a local community to deliver specialized services. 

Data for 2024 shows the top 10 districts by total wages are healthcare, transportation, electricity, water and fire districts.

“Fiscal oversight and transparency are central to my responsibility as State Controller. Publishing the 2024 payroll data for California’s special districts allows the public to see how billions in wages and benefits are managed each year,” said Controller Cohen. “The Government Compensation in California website is a critical accountability tool that helps taxpayers, policymakers, and local leaders track spending, evaluate priorities, and ensure that public resources are being used responsibly.”

California law requires cities, counties and special districts to annually report compensation data to the state controller. 

The state controller also maintains and publishes state and California State University salary data. 

The Government Compensation in California site contains pay and benefit information on more than two million government jobs in California, as reported annually by each entity.

Users of the site can:

• View compensation levels on maps and search by region;
• Narrow results by name of the district or by job title; and
• Export raw data or custom reports.