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Government budget and revenue in Santa Maria, California: official figures

Santa Maria's city government took in $283.53 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $2,575 for each of its 110,125 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 237th lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$2,575
2024
City government spending per resident
$2,170
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$545
2024

How much does Santa Maria spend and on what?

It spent $238.94 million in the same year, $2,170 per resident, the 167th lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were police (20.2%), solid waste (14.3%) and the water utility (13.8%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Santa Maria collect per resident?

Taxes raised $110.22 million ($1,001 per resident, the 245th lowest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 46.6% 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 Maria rely on?

Of Santa Maria's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 24.4%, general sales tax 62.7%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 8.2%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Santa Maria's property tax share is the 90th lowest of 580 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much federal and state money does Santa Maria get?

Payments from other governments made up 11.1% of Santa Maria's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 6.8% from the federal government ($146 per resident), 3.0% from the state and 1.3% 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 Maria raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $63.84 million, 27.0% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $47.09 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Santa Maria spend on police?

Santa Maria's city government spent $48.27 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $438 per resident (the 183rd highest of 582) and 20.2% 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 Maria spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $22.44 million, $204 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Santa Maria have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Santa Maria's city government owed $59.97 million in long-term debt, $545 per resident (the 64th lowest of 582). During the year it issued no new long-term debt and repaid $6.20 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Santa Maria pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $2.23 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 0.9% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Santa Maria city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 7.4% from $2,397 to $2,575, spending per resident rose 13.9% to $2,170, taxes per resident fell 3.3% to $1,001.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Santa Maria 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 Maria ranks 357 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
354Rapid City$2,404
355Hammond$2,402
356College Station$2,399
357Santa Maria$2,397
358Oak Park$2,396
359Smyrna$2,393
360Iowa City$2,384
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 Maria ranks 451 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
448San Buenaventura (Ventura)$1,923
449St. Charles$1,916
450Orange$1,915
451Santa Maria$1,906
452Harlingen$1,904
453Frederick$1,901
454St. Cloud$1,897
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 Maria ranks 317 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
314Concord$1,037
315Durham$1,036
316Santa Rosa$1,035
317Santa Maria$1,035
318Concord$1,034
319Wilmington$1,034
320Tampa$1,031
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 Maria ranks 263 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
260Bismarck$364
261Taunton$363
262Arlington Heights$363
263Santa Maria$362
264Hillsboro$361
265Indio$361
266Everett$360
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 Maria ranks 618 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
615Springfield$677
616North Port$657
617Huntersville$657
618Santa Maria$656
619Napa$639
620Rockford$632
621Millcreek$628
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 Maria ranks 638 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
635Bellingham22.1%
636Aurora22.1%
637Owensboro21.6%
638Santa Maria21.5%
639San Leandro21.4%
640O'Fallon21.1%
641Turlock21.0%
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 Maria ranks 291 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
288Redding20.7%
289Draper20.7%
290El Paso20.6%
291Santa Maria20.6%
292Westminster20.6%
293Kannapolis20.6%
294Miami20.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City government total revenue per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Santa Maria ranks 346 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.

RankCityCity government total revenue per resident, 2024
343Temecula$2,587
344Amarillo$2,586
345Fayetteville$2,583
346Santa Maria$2,575
347Murfreesboro$2,572
348Homestead$2,561
349Fairfield$2,554
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City government total spending per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Santa Maria ranks 416 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.

RankCityCity government total spending per resident, 2024
413Iowa City$2,173
414Eau Claire$2,172
415Visalia$2,171
416Santa Maria$2,170
417Missoula$2,165
418Olathe$2,163
419Thousand Oaks$2,150
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City taxes collected per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Santa Maria ranks 338 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.

RankCityCity taxes collected per resident, 2024
335North Richland Hills$1,004
336Enid$1,003
337Margate$1,002
338Santa Maria$1,001
339Bismarck$999
340Visalia$999
341St. Petersburg$999
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City spending on police per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Santa Maria ranks 183 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.

RankCityCity spending on police per resident, 2024
180Lebanon$441
181Lynchburg$440
182Baytown$439
183Santa Maria$438
184Henderson$436
185Riverside$436
186Schaumburg$436
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Santa Maria ranks 519 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.

RankCityCity long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024
516Apple Valley$559
517Naperville$550
518Woodbury$548
519Santa Maria$545
520Baytown$542
521Eagan$539
522West New York$534
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Santa Maria ranks 491 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.

RankCityProperty tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024
488Louisville/Jefferson County metro government24.8%
489St. Charles24.7%
490Torrance24.4%
491Santa Maria24.4%
492San Leandro24.1%
493Turlock24.1%
494Longmont24.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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 Maria ranks 439 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.

RankCityFederal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024
436Urban Honolulu11.1%
437Woodbury11.1%
438Frederick11.1%
439Santa Maria11.1%
440Fort Lauderdale11.0%
441Palm Bay10.9%
442Jeffersonville10.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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