Government budget and revenue in El Cajon, California: official figures
El Cajon's city government took in $137.34 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, or $1,341 for each of its 102,401 residents (2022 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 63rd lowest of 731 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments.
How much does El Cajon spend and on what?
It spent $169.78 million in the same year, $1,658 per resident, the 191st 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 (22.0%), sewerage (11.4%) and fire protection (10.4%) of the total.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does El Cajon collect per resident?
Taxes raised $83.17 million ($812 per resident, the 229th lowest of 731) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, 60.6% of general revenue, compared with 49.3% for all US city governments combined in 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat taxes does El Cajon rely on?
Of El Cajon's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, property tax made up 27.0%, general sales tax 57.0%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 11.5%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; El Cajon's property tax share is the 144th 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 El Cajon get?
Payments from other governments made up 10.7% of El Cajon's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022: 4.8% from the federal government ($64 per resident), 5.3% from the state and 0.6% from other local governments. For all US city governments in 2022 the aid share was 24.3%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does El Cajon raise from fees and utilities?
Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $34.51 million, 25.1% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does El Cajon spend on police?
El Cajon's city government spent $37.30 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, $364 per resident (the 259th highest of 731) and 22.0% 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 El Cajon spend on fire protection?
Fire protection cost $17.61 million, $172 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much debt does El Cajon have?
At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, El Cajon's city government owed $151.02 million in long-term debt, $1,475 per resident (the 286th lowest of 731). During the year it issued $5.69 million of new long-term debt and repaid $13.84 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does El Cajon pay in interest on its debt?
Interest on debt cost $6.37 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, 3.8% of total spending.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the latest budget data for El Cajon?
El Cajon 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 El Cajon 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))
El Cajon ranks 669 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 666 | Brooklyn Park | $1,353 |
| 667 | West Valley City | $1,348 |
| 668 | Apple Valley | $1,348 |
| 669 | El Cajon | $1,341 |
| 670 | El Monte | $1,335 |
| 671 | Apple Valley | $1,327 |
| 672 | Huntington Park | $1,323 |
City government total spending per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
El Cajon ranks 541 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 538 | Ocoee | $1,668 |
| 539 | Clovis | $1,665 |
| 540 | Terre Haute | $1,660 |
| 541 | El Cajon | $1,658 |
| 542 | Bloomington | $1,655 |
| 543 | Apopka | $1,654 |
| 544 | Victoria | $1,653 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
El Cajon ranks 503 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 500 | San Angelo | $818 |
| 501 | Rock Hill | $818 |
| 502 | Miramar | $815 |
| 503 | El Cajon | $812 |
| 504 | Garland | $809 |
| 505 | Kennewick | $808 |
| 506 | College Station | $807 |
City spending on police per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
El Cajon ranks 259 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 256 | Miramar | $365 |
| 257 | Tuscaloosa | $365 |
| 258 | San Clemente | $364 |
| 259 | El Cajon | $364 |
| 260 | Bismarck | $364 |
| 261 | Taunton | $363 |
| 262 | Arlington Heights | $363 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
El Cajon ranks 446 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 443 | Buffalo | $1,484 |
| 444 | Madera | $1,479 |
| 445 | Bartlett | $1,478 |
| 446 | El Cajon | $1,475 |
| 447 | Marysville | $1,470 |
| 448 | Ocoee | $1,461 |
| 449 | Normal | $1,460 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
El Cajon ranks 587 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 584 | Rialto | 27.3% |
| 585 | Murray | 27.2% |
| 586 | Westminster | 27.1% |
| 587 | El Cajon | 27.0% |
| 588 | Bakersfield | 26.8% |
| 589 | Victorville | 26.8% |
| 590 | Citrus Heights | 26.8% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
El Cajon ranks 566 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 563 | Lebanon | 11.0% |
| 564 | North Port | 11.0% |
| 565 | Kennewick | 10.9% |
| 566 | El Cajon | 10.7% |
| 567 | Tulsa | 10.6% |
| 568 | Laguna Niguel | 10.6% |
| 569 | Saratoga Springs | 10.6% |
More on El Cajon: 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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