Government budget and revenue in Costa Mesa, California: official figures
Costa Mesa's city government took in $181.13 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, or $1,612 for each of its 112,366 residents (2022 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 118th lowest of 731 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments.
How much does Costa Mesa spend and on what?
It spent $163.16 million in the same year, $1,452 per resident, the 115th lowest of 731 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments. The largest identified functions were police (33.6%), central administration (20.3%) and fire protection (18.8%) of the total.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does Costa Mesa collect per resident?
Taxes raised $152.76 million ($1,359 per resident, the 174th highest of 731) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, 84.3% of general revenue, compared with 49.3% for all US city governments combined in 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat taxes does Costa Mesa rely on?
Of Costa Mesa's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, property tax made up 31.3%, general sales tax 53.5%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 9.0%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Costa Mesa's property tax share is the 194th lowest of 730 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much federal and state money does Costa Mesa get?
Payments from other governments made up 6.0% of Costa Mesa's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022: 1.1% from the federal government ($18 per resident), 4.6% from the state. For all US city governments in 2022 the aid share was 24.3%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Costa Mesa raise from fees and utilities?
Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $7.73 million, 4.3% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Costa Mesa spend on police?
Costa Mesa's city government spent $54.74 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, $487 per resident (the 91st highest of 731) and 33.6% of its total spending; police took 10.3% of spending across all US city governments in 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Costa Mesa spend on fire protection?
Fire protection cost $30.66 million, $273 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much debt does Costa Mesa have?
At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, Costa Mesa's city government owed $29.59 million in long-term debt, $263 per resident (the 43rd lowest of 731). During the year it issued no new long-term debt and repaid $5.33 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Costa Mesa pay in interest on its debt?
Interest on debt cost $1.40 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, 0.9% of total spending.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the latest budget data for Costa Mesa?
Costa Mesa is not in the Census Bureau's 2024 sample of local governments, so its latest full figures are from the 2022 Census of Governments, which covers every government.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Costa Mesa compares with other cities in the United States
City government total revenue per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Costa Mesa ranks 614 of 731, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.
| Rank | City | City government total revenue per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 611 | Eagle Mountain | $1,622 |
| 612 | Wilmington | $1,618 |
| 613 | Thousand Oaks | $1,615 |
| 614 | Costa Mesa | $1,612 |
| 615 | Wichita | $1,611 |
| 616 | North Charleston | $1,603 |
| 617 | Salinas | $1,594 |
City government total spending per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Costa Mesa ranks 617 of 731, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.
| Rank | City | City government total spending per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 614 | Madison | $1,458 |
| 615 | Concord | $1,458 |
| 616 | Daly City | $1,456 |
| 617 | Costa Mesa | $1,452 |
| 618 | San Ramon | $1,451 |
| 619 | Beaumont | $1,441 |
| 620 | Leander | $1,437 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Costa Mesa ranks 174 of 731, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.
| Rank | City | City taxes collected per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 171 | Oklahoma City | $1,361 |
| 172 | Bellingham | $1,361 |
| 173 | Encinitas | $1,360 |
| 174 | Costa Mesa | $1,359 |
| 175 | Redlands | $1,358 |
| 176 | Asheville | $1,357 |
| 177 | Roseville | $1,357 |
City spending on police per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Costa Mesa ranks 91 of 731, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.
| Rank | City | City spending on police per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 88 | Anaheim | $489 |
| 89 | Rochester | $488 |
| 90 | Baytown | $488 |
| 91 | Costa Mesa | $487 |
| 92 | Hawthorne | $487 |
| 93 | Hempstead | $486 |
| 94 | Davie | $484 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Costa Mesa ranks 689 of 731, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.
| Rank | City | City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 686 | Wellington | $278 |
| 687 | Diamond Bar | $272 |
| 688 | Santee | $271 |
| 689 | Costa Mesa | $263 |
| 690 | Chico | $245 |
| 691 | North Miami | $242 |
| 692 | Union City | $241 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Costa Mesa ranks 537 of 730, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.
| Rank | City | Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 534 | Lake Forest | 31.5% |
| 535 | Glendale | 31.4% |
| 536 | Auburn | 31.3% |
| 537 | Costa Mesa | 31.3% |
| 538 | La Mesa | 31.3% |
| 539 | Downey | 31.3% |
| 540 | Olympia | 31.2% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Costa Mesa ranks 684 of 730, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.
| Rank | City | Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 681 | Edmond | 6.1% |
| 682 | Orem | 6.1% |
| 683 | Cupertino | 6.1% |
| 684 | Costa Mesa | 6.0% |
| 685 | Mobile | 6.0% |
| 686 | Burleson | 5.9% |
| 687 | Huntington Beach | 5.9% |
More on Costa Mesa: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · all cities in the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: 2022 Census of Governments: State and Local Government Finances, individual unit files (item amounts for every government, directory with population and fiscal year end, state estimates by type of government), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c8de889f6b33…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 State and Local Government Finances: survey methodology (sample design; survey year covers fiscal years ended 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 6a8d82a94335…)
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