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Government budget and revenue in San Jose, California: official figures

San Jose's city government took in $3.7 billion in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $3,799 for each of its 971,233 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 169th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$3,799
2024
City government spending per resident
$3,284
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$3,862
2024

How much does San Jose spend and on what?

It spent $3.2 billion in the same year, $3,284 per resident, the 211th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were police (16.3%), the electric utility (13.0%) and central administration (10.1%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does San Jose collect per resident?

Taxes raised $1.6 billion ($1,672 per resident, the 113th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 52.0% 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 San Jose rely on?

Of San Jose's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 46.0%, general sales tax 20.8%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 15.0%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; San Jose's property tax share is the 225th lowest of 580 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much federal and state money does San Jose get?

Payments from other governments made up 10.6% of San Jose's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 2.2% from the federal government ($70 per resident), 5.5% from the state and 2.9% from other local governments. For all US city governments in 2022 the aid share was 24.3%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does San Jose raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $853.65 million, 27.3% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $564.44 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does San Jose spend on police?

San Jose's city government spent $520.66 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $536 per resident (the 84th highest of 582) and 16.3% 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 San Jose spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $280.37 million, $289 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does San Jose have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, San Jose's city government owed $3.8 billion in long-term debt, $3,862 per resident (the 134th highest of 582). During the year it issued no new long-term debt and repaid $331.31 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does San Jose pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $94.99 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 3.0% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the San Jose city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 15.7% from $3,284 to $3,799, spending per resident rose 18.3% to $3,284, taxes per resident rose 7.6% to $1,672.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How San Jose 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))

San Jose ranks 196 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
193Dubuque$3,361
194Cincinnati$3,339
195High Point$3,317
196San Jose$3,284
197Bowling Green$3,274
198Torrance$3,256
199Riverside$3,250
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))

San Jose ranks 252 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
249Evanston$2,794
250Stillwater$2,787
251Miami$2,780
252San Jose$2,776
253La Crosse$2,776
254Conway$2,772
255St. Paul$2,770
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City taxes collected per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

San Jose ranks 124 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
121Pleasanton$1,587
122San Rafael$1,583
123West Des Moines$1,568
124San Jose$1,553
125Richardson$1,553
126Westminster$1,531
127Pawtucket$1,530
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))

San Jose ranks 80 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
77Murray$509
78Richmond$508
79Providence$506
80San Jose$504
81Dearborn$501
82Detroit$500
83Philadelphia$497
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))

San Jose ranks 151 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
148Perth Amboy$3,774
149Clarksville$3,772
150Newton$3,768
151San Jose$3,762
152Lake Havasu City$3,754
153Glendale$3,742
154Fall River$3,713
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))

San Jose ranks 403 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
400West Valley City45.5%
401Santee45.4%
402Baytown45.4%
403San Jose45.4%
404Oakland45.3%
405Tinley Park44.9%
406Brookhaven44.9%
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))

San Jose ranks 494 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
491Riverside13.1%
492Napa13.1%
493Midwest City13.1%
494San Jose13.0%
495Dallas13.0%
496Everett13.0%
497Queen Creek12.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City government total revenue per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

San Jose ranks 169 of 582, 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, 2024
166Dothan$3,862
167Olympia$3,844
168Colorado Springs$3,812
169San Jose$3,799
170Bowling Green$3,792
171Hollywood$3,785
172Athens$3,758
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City government total spending per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

San Jose ranks 211 of 582, 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, 2024
208South Bend$3,342
209Concord$3,332
210Daytona Beach$3,296
211San Jose$3,284
212Riverside$3,278
213Asheville$3,258
214Jonesboro$3,242
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City taxes collected per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

San Jose ranks 113 of 582, 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, 2024
110Jacksonville$1,729
111Lowell$1,703
112New Bedford$1,678
113San Jose$1,672
114Parker$1,665
115Santa Clara$1,664
116Hoover$1,645
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City spending on police per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

San Jose ranks 84 of 582, 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, 2024
81Santa Ana$543
82Melbourne$540
83San Bernardino$538
84San Jose$536
85Philadelphia$534
86Springfield$529
87Burlington$529
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

San Jose ranks 134 of 582, 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 2024
131Irving$3,907
132Oklahoma City$3,869
133Corona$3,863
134San Jose$3,862
135Athens$3,850
136Chula Vista$3,834
137Revere$3,832
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

San Jose ranks 356 of 580, 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, 2024
353Denton46.8%
354Bismarck46.4%
355New Orleans46.3%
356San Jose46.0%
357Sarasota46.0%
358Alameda46.0%
359Redwood City45.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

San Jose ranks 450 of 582, 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, 2024
447Clearwater10.8%
448Oakland10.7%
449Pasadena10.6%
450San Jose10.6%
451Greeley10.6%
452Dallas10.5%
453Redlands10.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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