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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.

City government revenue per resident
$1,612
2022
City government spending per resident
$1,452
2022
City long-term debt per resident
$263
2022

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 copy

How 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 copy

What 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 copy

How 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 copy

How 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 copy

How 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 copy

How 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 copy

How 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 copy

How 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 copy

What 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 copy

How 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.

RankCityCity government total revenue per resident, 2022
611Eagle Mountain$1,622
612Wilmington$1,618
613Thousand Oaks$1,615
614Costa Mesa$1,612
615Wichita$1,611
616North Charleston$1,603
617Salinas$1,594
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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.

RankCityCity government total spending per resident, 2022
614Madison$1,458
615Concord$1,458
616Daly City$1,456
617Costa Mesa$1,452
618San Ramon$1,451
619Beaumont$1,441
620Leander$1,437
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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.

RankCityCity taxes collected per resident, 2022
171Oklahoma City$1,361
172Bellingham$1,361
173Encinitas$1,360
174Costa Mesa$1,359
175Redlands$1,358
176Asheville$1,357
177Roseville$1,357
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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.

RankCityCity spending on police per resident, 2022
88Anaheim$489
89Rochester$488
90Baytown$488
91Costa Mesa$487
92Hawthorne$487
93Hempstead$486
94Davie$484
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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.

RankCityCity long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022
686Wellington$278
687Diamond Bar$272
688Santee$271
689Costa Mesa$263
690Chico$245
691North Miami$242
692Union City$241
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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.

RankCityProperty tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022
534Lake Forest31.5%
535Glendale31.4%
536Auburn31.3%
537Costa Mesa31.3%
538La Mesa31.3%
539Downey31.3%
540Olympia31.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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.

RankCityFederal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022
681Edmond6.1%
682Orem6.1%
683Cupertino6.1%
684Costa Mesa6.0%
685Mobile6.0%
686Burleson5.9%
687Huntington Beach5.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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