State IntegrityReceipts, not verdicts

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

San Mateo's city government took in $328.73 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, or $3,210 for each of its 102,398 residents (2022 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 204th highest of 731 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments.

City government revenue per resident
$3,210
2022
City government spending per resident
$3,080
2022
City long-term debt per resident
$14,778
2022

How much does San Mateo spend and on what?

It spent $315.37 million in the same year, $3,080 per resident, the 219th highest of 731 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments. The largest identified functions were police (16.7%), roads and highways (8.9%) and central administration (8.2%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does San Mateo collect per resident?

Taxes raised $141.77 million ($1,384 per resident, the 165th highest of 731) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, 43.1% 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 Mateo rely on?

Of San Mateo's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, property tax made up 46.3%, general sales tax 18.4%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 5.4%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; San Mateo's property tax share is the 337th 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 San Mateo get?

Payments from other governments made up 6.7% of San Mateo's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022: 4.0% from the federal government ($129 per resident), 2.2% 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 San Mateo raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $137.27 million, 41.8% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does San Mateo spend on police?

San Mateo's city government spent $52.68 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, $514 per resident (the 74th highest of 731) and 16.7% 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 Mateo spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $25.22 million, $246 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does San Mateo have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, San Mateo's city government owed $1.5 billion in long-term debt, $14,778 per resident (the 7th highest of 731). During the year it issued $634.37 million of new long-term debt and repaid $53.06 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Interest on debt cost $31.75 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, 10.1% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the latest budget data for San Mateo?

San Mateo 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 San Mateo 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 Mateo ranks 204 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
201Garland$3,233
202Sunrise$3,220
203Inglewood$3,214
204San Mateo$3,210
205Columbia$3,210
206Edmond$3,207
207Louisville/Jefferson County metro government$3,200
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 Mateo ranks 219 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
216Vista$3,097
217Santa Fe$3,096
218Logan$3,086
219San Mateo$3,080
220Victorville$3,069
221West Sacramento$3,062
222Middletown$3,056
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 Mateo ranks 165 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
162Bossier City$1,399
163Longmont$1,389
164Sandy$1,385
165San Mateo$1,384
166Carson$1,383
167Cedar Rapids$1,376
168Sioux Falls$1,374
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 Mateo ranks 74 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
71Hayward$521
72Sunrise$516
73Anchorage$515
74San Mateo$514
75Glendale$512
76Concord$511
77Murray$509
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 Mateo ranks 7 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
4Gainesville$16,205
5New York$15,407
6Atlanta$15,138
7San Mateo$14,778
8Nashville$13,658
9Miami Beach$13,578
10Waco$13,237
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 Mateo ranks 394 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
391Fontana46.7%
392Salt Lake City46.7%
393Broomfield46.6%
394San Mateo46.3%
395Simi Valley46.0%
396Largo45.9%
397Arlington45.6%
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 Mateo ranks 671 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
668Fontana6.8%
669Holly Springs6.8%
670Lake Elsinore6.7%
671San Mateo6.7%
672Garland6.6%
673Olympia6.6%
674Rapid City6.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

More on San Mateo: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · all cities in the United States

Sources

Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.