Government budget and revenue in Santa Clara, California: official figures
Santa Clara's city government took in $1.5 billion in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $11,999 for each of its 126,930 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 6th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.
How much does Santa Clara spend and on what?
It spent $1.6 billion in the same year, $12,680 per resident, the 6th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were the electric utility (34.0%), parks and recreation (7.5%) and courts (5.5%) of the total.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does Santa Clara collect per resident?
Taxes raised $211.25 million ($1,664 per resident, the 115th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 29.1% of general revenue, compared with 49.3% for all US city governments combined in 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat taxes does Santa Clara rely on?
Of Santa Clara's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 42.9%, general sales tax 33.6%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 13.1%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Santa Clara's property tax share is the 206th lowest of 580 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much federal and state money does Santa Clara get?
Payments from other governments made up 8.2% of Santa Clara's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 0.9% from the federal government ($50 per resident), 1.6% from the state and 5.7% 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 Santa Clara raise from fees and utilities?
Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $252.04 million, 34.8% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $798.21 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Santa Clara spend on police?
Santa Clara's city government spent $85.42 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $673 per resident (the 38th highest of 582) and 5.3% 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 Santa Clara spend on fire protection?
Fire protection cost $71.08 million, $560 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much debt does Santa Clara have?
At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Santa Clara's city government owed $402.19 million in long-term debt, $3,169 per resident (the 184th highest of 582). During the year it issued $34.59 million of new long-term debt and repaid $59.90 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Santa Clara pay in interest on its debt?
Interest on debt cost $15.73 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 1.0% of total spending.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow has the Santa Clara city budget changed?
Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 23.5% from $9,717 to $11,999, spending per resident rose 17.0% to $12,680, taxes per resident rose 28.0% to $1,664.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Santa Clara 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))
Santa Clara ranks 6 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | New York | $15,132 |
| 4 | Cambridge | $14,592 |
| 5 | Gulfport | $11,741 |
| 6 | Santa Clara | $9,717 |
| 7 | Santa Monica | $8,672 |
| 8 | Miami Beach | $8,559 |
| 9 | Palo Alto | $8,404 |
City government total spending per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Santa Clara 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 government total spending per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Cambridge | $13,664 |
| 5 | Gulfport | $12,087 |
| 6 | Palo Alto | $11,900 |
| 7 | Santa Clara | $10,842 |
| 8 | Santa Monica | $10,440 |
| 9 | Miami Beach | $9,731 |
| 10 | Baltimore | $8,631 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Santa Clara ranks 194 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 191 | Shreveport | $1,307 |
| 192 | Loveland | $1,307 |
| 193 | Bowling Green | $1,302 |
| 194 | Santa Clara | $1,300 |
| 195 | Council Bluffs | $1,295 |
| 196 | Tulsa | $1,285 |
| 197 | Fort Collins | $1,284 |
City spending on police per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Santa Clara ranks 37 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | Burbank | $596 |
| 35 | Miami | $596 |
| 36 | Frederick | $596 |
| 37 | Santa Clara | $593 |
| 38 | Long Beach | $589 |
| 39 | Hollywood | $587 |
| 40 | East Orange | $585 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Santa Clara ranks 166 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 163 | Chino | $3,629 |
| 164 | Lafayette | $3,628 |
| 165 | Topeka | $3,627 |
| 166 | Santa Clara | $3,616 |
| 167 | Oklahoma City | $3,615 |
| 168 | Newport News | $3,584 |
| 169 | Kalamazoo | $3,575 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Santa Clara ranks 413 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 410 | Lubbock | 44.5% |
| 411 | Bend | 44.4% |
| 412 | Diamond Bar | 44.3% |
| 413 | Santa Clara | 43.8% |
| 414 | Midland | 43.7% |
| 415 | Livermore | 43.5% |
| 416 | Carlsbad | 43.4% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Santa Clara ranks 503 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 500 | Bothell | 12.8% |
| 501 | Sarasota | 12.8% |
| 502 | Montgomery | 12.7% |
| 503 | Santa Clara | 12.7% |
| 504 | Amarillo | 12.7% |
| 505 | Pasadena | 12.7% |
| 506 | Indio | 12.6% |
City government total revenue per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Santa Clara ranks 6 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.
| Rank | City | City government total revenue per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Cambridge | $16,285 |
| 4 | New York | $15,337 |
| 5 | Gulfport | $13,483 |
| 6 | Santa Clara | $11,999 |
| 7 | Miami Beach | $11,537 |
| 8 | Flint | $11,308 |
| 9 | Palo Alto | $10,984 |
City government total spending per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Santa Clara ranks 6 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.
| Rank | City | City government total spending per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | New York | $18,485 |
| 4 | Cambridge | $17,034 |
| 5 | Palo Alto | $13,262 |
| 6 | Santa Clara | $12,680 |
| 7 | Gulfport | $12,337 |
| 8 | Santa Monica | $12,333 |
| 9 | Miami Beach | $11,513 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Santa Clara ranks 115 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.
| Rank | City | City taxes collected per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 112 | New Bedford | $1,678 |
| 113 | San Jose | $1,672 |
| 114 | Parker | $1,665 |
| 115 | Santa Clara | $1,664 |
| 116 | Hoover | $1,645 |
| 117 | Dallas | $1,643 |
| 118 | Hillsboro | $1,634 |
City spending on police per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Santa Clara ranks 38 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.
| Rank | City | City spending on police per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | Long Beach | $700 |
| 36 | Burbank | $687 |
| 37 | Galveston | $684 |
| 38 | Santa Clara | $673 |
| 39 | Orlando | $671 |
| 40 | Albany | $669 |
| 41 | Boca Raton | $651 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Santa Clara ranks 184 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.
| Rank | City | City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 181 | Sarasota | $3,222 |
| 182 | Lafayette | $3,214 |
| 183 | Scottsdale | $3,190 |
| 184 | Santa Clara | $3,169 |
| 185 | Sunnyvale | $3,129 |
| 186 | Sioux City | $3,117 |
| 187 | Winston-Salem | $3,099 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Santa Clara ranks 375 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.
| Rank | City | Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 372 | Los Angeles | 43.7% |
| 373 | Lawrence | 43.4% |
| 374 | Springfield | 43.4% |
| 375 | Santa Clara | 42.9% |
| 376 | Joliet | 42.8% |
| 377 | San Diego | 42.7% |
| 378 | Lubbock | 42.5% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Santa Clara ranks 509 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.
| Rank | City | Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 506 | Middletown | 8.5% |
| 507 | Rancho Cordova | 8.5% |
| 508 | Bellingham | 8.4% |
| 509 | Santa Clara | 8.2% |
| 510 | Tacoma | 8.2% |
| 511 | Edina | 8.1% |
| 512 | Huntington Beach | 8.0% |
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Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit files (item amounts for every sampled government, directory with population and fiscal year end, state estimates by type of government), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0967c4d30466…)
- 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.