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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.

City government revenue per resident
$3,987
2022
City government spending per resident
$3,275
2022
City long-term debt per resident
$2,573
2022

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 copy

How 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 copy

What 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 copy

How 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 copy

How 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 copy

How 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 copy

How 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 copy

How 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 copy

How 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 copy

What 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 copy

How 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.

RankCityCity government total revenue per resident, 2022
140San Antonio$4,008
141Marietta$3,996
142Medford$3,989
143Santa Cruz$3,987
144Portland$3,985
145Tallahassee$3,980
146Fort Pierce$3,974
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))

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.

RankCityCity government total spending per resident, 2022
193Turlock$3,282
194Whittier$3,279
195Fargo$3,276
196Santa Cruz$3,275
197Charlotte$3,263
198High Point$3,257
199Portland$3,254
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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.

RankCityCity taxes collected per resident, 2022
128Lexington$1,527
129Los Angeles$1,526
130Napa$1,526
131Santa Cruz$1,526
132Miami$1,526
133West Palm Beach$1,526
134Lowell$1,518
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))

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.

RankCityCity spending on police per resident, 2022
109National City$465
110Oak Lawn$463
111Plantation$462
112Santa Cruz$462
113Livermore$461
114Redlands$460
115Troy$460
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))

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.

RankCityCity long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022
262Las Cruces$2,597
263Leander$2,579
264Bloomington$2,574
265Santa Cruz$2,573
266Monterey Park$2,565
267St. Paul$2,562
268Santa Fe$2,558
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))

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.

RankCityProperty tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022
592Marysville26.7%
593San Rafael26.6%
594Celina26.2%
595Santa Cruz26.1%
596South Gate25.5%
597Saratoga Springs25.5%
598Whittier25.5%
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))

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.

RankCityFederal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022
352Ankeny18.2%
353Paramount18.2%
354San Rafael17.8%
355Santa Cruz17.8%
356Santa Rosa17.8%
357Joplin17.7%
358Brookhaven17.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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