Government budget and revenue in La Mesa, California: official figures
La Mesa's city government took in $85.17 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, or $1,426 for each of its 59,724 residents (2022 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 78th lowest of 731 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments.
How much does La Mesa spend and on what?
It spent $74.07 million in the same year, $1,240 per resident, the 67th 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 (31.0%), fire protection (17.8%) and sewerage (11.8%) of the total.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does La Mesa collect per resident?
Taxes raised $58.31 million ($976 per resident, the 351st highest of 731) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, 68.5% of general revenue, compared with 49.3% for all US city governments combined in 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat taxes does La Mesa rely on?
Of La Mesa's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, property tax made up 31.3%, general sales tax 53.3%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 11.0%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; La Mesa's property tax share is the 193rd 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 La Mesa get?
Payments from other governments made up 8.5% of La Mesa's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022: 4.2% from the federal government ($60 per resident), 4.2% 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 La Mesa raise from fees and utilities?
Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $19.29 million, 22.7% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does La Mesa spend on police?
La Mesa's city government spent $22.96 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, $384 per resident (the 215th highest of 731) and 31.0% 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 La Mesa spend on fire protection?
Fire protection cost $13.15 million, $220 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much debt does La Mesa have?
At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, La Mesa's city government owed $36.64 million in long-term debt, $614 per resident (the 109th lowest of 731). During the year it issued no new long-term debt and repaid $4.22 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does La Mesa pay in interest on its debt?
Interest on debt cost $1.64 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, 2.2% of total spending.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the latest budget data for La Mesa?
La 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 La 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))
La Mesa ranks 654 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 651 | Sandy Springs | $1,452 |
| 652 | Palm Coast | $1,442 |
| 653 | Hialeah | $1,439 |
| 654 | La Mesa | $1,426 |
| 655 | Port Orange | $1,414 |
| 656 | Orem | $1,413 |
| 657 | San Jacinto | $1,399 |
City government total spending per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
La Mesa ranks 665 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 662 | Woodbury | $1,253 |
| 663 | San Jacinto | $1,247 |
| 664 | Fort Wayne | $1,241 |
| 665 | La Mesa | $1,240 |
| 666 | Joplin | $1,234 |
| 667 | Wellington | $1,227 |
| 668 | West Covina | $1,224 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
La Mesa ranks 351 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 348 | Boynton Beach | $978 |
| 349 | Watsonville | $978 |
| 350 | Turlock | $977 |
| 351 | La Mesa | $976 |
| 352 | Charlotte | $975 |
| 353 | Phoenix | $972 |
| 354 | Edina | $972 |
City spending on police per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
La Mesa ranks 215 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 212 | Cedar Rapids | $387 |
| 213 | Commerce City | $386 |
| 214 | Kissimmee | $385 |
| 215 | La Mesa | $384 |
| 216 | Dublin | $384 |
| 217 | Margate | $384 |
| 218 | Daly City | $381 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
La Mesa ranks 623 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 620 | Rockford | $632 |
| 621 | Millcreek | $628 |
| 622 | Wyoming | $619 |
| 623 | La Mesa | $614 |
| 624 | Texas City | $610 |
| 625 | Concord | $609 |
| 626 | New Rochelle | $607 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
La Mesa ranks 538 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 541 | Fargo | 30.9% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
La Mesa ranks 628 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 625 | Carson City | 8.6% |
| 626 | West Sacramento | 8.5% |
| 627 | Milpitas | 8.5% |
| 628 | La Mesa | 8.5% |
| 629 | Denton | 8.5% |
| 630 | Corpus Christi | 8.4% |
| 631 | St. Peters | 8.4% |
More on La 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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