Government budget and revenue in Santa Cruz, California: official figures
Santa Cruz's city government took in $256.44 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, or $3,987 for each of its 64,317 residents (2022 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 143rd highest of 731 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments.
How much does Santa Cruz spend and on what?
It spent $210.66 million in the same year, $3,275 per resident, the 196th 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 (14.1%), the water utility (13.7%) and roads and highways (11.6%) of the total.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does Santa Cruz collect per resident?
Taxes raised $98.16 million ($1,526 per resident, the 131st highest of 731) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, 45.7% 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 Cruz rely on?
Of Santa Cruz's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, property tax made up 26.1%, general sales tax 31.4%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 29.9%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Santa Cruz's property tax share is the 136th 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 Santa Cruz get?
Payments from other governments made up 17.8% of Santa Cruz's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022: 8.7% from the federal government ($289 per resident), 8.2% from the state and 1.0% 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 Cruz raise from fees and utilities?
Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $69.19 million, 32.2% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $41.61 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Santa Cruz spend on police?
Santa Cruz's city government spent $29.73 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, $462 per resident (the 112th highest of 731) and 14.1% 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 Cruz spend on fire protection?
Fire protection cost $22.17 million, $345 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much debt does Santa Cruz have?
At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, Santa Cruz's city government owed $165.50 million in long-term debt, $2,573 per resident (the 265th highest of 731). During the year it issued $4,000 of new long-term debt and repaid $11.89 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Santa Cruz pay in interest on its debt?
Interest on debt cost $3.90 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, 1.8% of total spending.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the latest budget data for Santa Cruz?
Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz 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 Cruz ranks 143 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 140 | San Antonio | $4,008 |
| 141 | Marietta | $3,996 |
| 142 | Medford | $3,989 |
| 143 | Santa Cruz | $3,987 |
| 144 | Portland | $3,985 |
| 145 | Tallahassee | $3,980 |
| 146 | Fort Pierce | $3,974 |
City government total spending per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Santa Cruz 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.
| Rank | City | City government total spending per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 193 | Turlock | $3,282 |
| 194 | Whittier | $3,279 |
| 195 | Fargo | $3,276 |
| 196 | Santa Cruz | $3,275 |
| 197 | Charlotte | $3,263 |
| 198 | High Point | $3,257 |
| 199 | Portland | $3,254 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Santa Cruz ranks 131 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 128 | Lexington | $1,527 |
| 129 | Los Angeles | $1,526 |
| 130 | Napa | $1,526 |
| 131 | Santa Cruz | $1,526 |
| 132 | Miami | $1,526 |
| 133 | West Palm Beach | $1,526 |
| 134 | Lowell | $1,518 |
City spending on police per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Santa Cruz ranks 112 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 109 | National City | $465 |
| 110 | Oak Lawn | $463 |
| 111 | Plantation | $462 |
| 112 | Santa Cruz | $462 |
| 113 | Livermore | $461 |
| 114 | Redlands | $460 |
| 115 | Troy | $460 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Santa Cruz ranks 265 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 262 | Las Cruces | $2,597 |
| 263 | Leander | $2,579 |
| 264 | Bloomington | $2,574 |
| 265 | Santa Cruz | $2,573 |
| 266 | Monterey Park | $2,565 |
| 267 | St. Paul | $2,562 |
| 268 | Santa Fe | $2,558 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Santa Cruz ranks 595 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 592 | Marysville | 26.7% |
| 593 | San Rafael | 26.6% |
| 594 | Celina | 26.2% |
| 595 | Santa Cruz | 26.1% |
| 596 | South Gate | 25.5% |
| 597 | Saratoga Springs | 25.5% |
| 598 | Whittier | 25.5% |
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 Cruz ranks 355 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 352 | Ankeny | 18.2% |
| 353 | Paramount | 18.2% |
| 354 | San Rafael | 17.8% |
| 355 | Santa Cruz | 17.8% |
| 356 | Santa Rosa | 17.8% |
| 357 | Joplin | 17.7% |
| 358 | Brookhaven | 17.7% |
More on Santa Cruz: 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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