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.
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 copyHow 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 copyWhat 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 copyHow 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 copyHow 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 copyHow 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 copyHow 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 copyHow 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 copyHow 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 copyWhat 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 copyHow 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.
| Rank | City | City government total revenue per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 201 | Garland | $3,233 |
| 202 | Sunrise | $3,220 |
| 203 | Inglewood | $3,214 |
| 204 | San Mateo | $3,210 |
| 205 | Columbia | $3,210 |
| 206 | Edmond | $3,207 |
| 207 | Louisville/Jefferson County metro government | $3,200 |
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.
| Rank | City | City government total spending per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 216 | Vista | $3,097 |
| 217 | Santa Fe | $3,096 |
| 218 | Logan | $3,086 |
| 219 | San Mateo | $3,080 |
| 220 | Victorville | $3,069 |
| 221 | West Sacramento | $3,062 |
| 222 | Middletown | $3,056 |
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.
| Rank | City | City taxes collected per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 162 | Bossier City | $1,399 |
| 163 | Longmont | $1,389 |
| 164 | Sandy | $1,385 |
| 165 | San Mateo | $1,384 |
| 166 | Carson | $1,383 |
| 167 | Cedar Rapids | $1,376 |
| 168 | Sioux Falls | $1,374 |
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.
| Rank | City | City spending on police per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 71 | Hayward | $521 |
| 72 | Sunrise | $516 |
| 73 | Anchorage | $515 |
| 74 | San Mateo | $514 |
| 75 | Glendale | $512 |
| 76 | Concord | $511 |
| 77 | Murray | $509 |
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.
| Rank | City | City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Gainesville | $16,205 |
| 5 | New York | $15,407 |
| 6 | Atlanta | $15,138 |
| 7 | San Mateo | $14,778 |
| 8 | Nashville | $13,658 |
| 9 | Miami Beach | $13,578 |
| 10 | Waco | $13,237 |
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.
| Rank | City | Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 391 | Fontana | 46.7% |
| 392 | Salt Lake City | 46.7% |
| 393 | Broomfield | 46.6% |
| 394 | San Mateo | 46.3% |
| 395 | Simi Valley | 46.0% |
| 396 | Largo | 45.9% |
| 397 | Arlington | 45.6% |
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.
| Rank | City | Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 668 | Fontana | 6.8% |
| 669 | Holly Springs | 6.8% |
| 670 | Lake Elsinore | 6.7% |
| 671 | San Mateo | 6.7% |
| 672 | Garland | 6.6% |
| 673 | Olympia | 6.6% |
| 674 | Rapid City | 6.5% |
More on San Mateo: 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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