State IntegrityReceipts, not verdicts

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

Santa Monica's city government took in $909.31 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $10,109 for each of its 89,947 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 10th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$10,109
2024
City government spending per resident
$12,333
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$6,273
2024

How much does Santa Monica spend and on what?

It spent $1.1 billion in the same year, $12,333 per resident, the 8th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were public transit (15.7%), police (10.8%) and central administration (8.8%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Santa Monica collect per resident?

Taxes raised $398.51 million ($4,430 per resident, the 9th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 47.0% 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 Monica rely on?

Of Santa Monica's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 21.1%, general sales tax 34.6%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 28.7%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Santa Monica's property tax share is the 70th 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 Monica get?

Payments from other governments made up 15.1% of Santa Monica's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 4.0% from the federal government ($380 per resident), 7.8% from the state and 3.3% 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 Monica raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $191.39 million, 22.6% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $61.52 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Santa Monica spend on police?

Santa Monica's city government spent $120.29 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $1,337 per resident (the 2nd highest of 582) and 10.8% 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 Monica spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $59.09 million, $657 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Santa Monica have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Santa Monica's city government owed $564.20 million in long-term debt, $6,273 per resident (the 53rd highest of 582).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Interest on debt cost $11.79 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 1.1% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Santa Monica city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 16.6% from $8,672 to $10,109, spending per resident rose 18.1% to $12,333, taxes per resident rose 7.6% to $4,430.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Santa Monica 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 Monica 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.

RankCityCity government total revenue per resident, 2022
4Cambridge$14,592
5Gulfport$11,741
6Santa Clara$9,717
7Santa Monica$8,672
8Miami Beach$8,559
9Palo Alto$8,404
10Chattanooga$8,241
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 Monica ranks 8 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
5Gulfport$12,087
6Palo Alto$11,900
7Santa Clara$10,842
8Santa Monica$10,440
9Miami Beach$9,731
10Baltimore$8,631
11Hartford$8,244
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 Monica ranks 10 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
7Stamford$4,634
8Alexandria$4,588
9Boston$4,508
10Santa Monica$4,116
11Norwalk$4,057
12Waltham$3,773
13Nashville$3,656
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 Monica ranks 4 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
1Whittier$1,555
2Miami Beach$1,469
3La Habra$1,230
4Santa Monica$1,079
5Corona$956
6Washington$943
7San Francisco$890
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 Monica ranks 50 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
47Bossier City$6,801
48Evansville$6,698
49Columbia$6,660
50Santa Monica$6,558
51Palo Alto$6,427
52Conroe$6,372
53Montebello$6,371
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 Monica ranks 646 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
643Centennial20.7%
644Kennewick20.7%
645Salinas20.6%
646Santa Monica20.5%
647St. Peters20.4%
648Visalia20.4%
649Bellevue20.2%
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 Monica ranks 339 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
336Buena Park18.8%
337Charlotte18.8%
338Greensboro18.8%
339Santa Monica18.7%
340Yakima18.7%
341Barnstable Town18.7%
342Boise City18.6%
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 Monica ranks 10 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
7Miami Beach$11,537
8Flint$11,308
9Palo Alto$10,984
10Santa Monica$10,109
11Boston$9,533
12Richmond$8,799
13Chattanooga$8,776
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 Monica ranks 8 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
5Palo Alto$13,262
6Santa Clara$12,680
7Gulfport$12,337
8Santa Monica$12,333
9Miami Beach$11,513
10Hartford$10,706
11Flint$10,519
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 Monica ranks 9 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
6Boston$5,508
7Newton$5,294
8Alexandria$5,042
9Santa Monica$4,430
10Norwalk$4,194
11Waltham$3,891
12Portland$3,630
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 Monica ranks 2 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
1Miami Beach$1,776
2Santa Monica$1,337
3Washington$1,121
4San Francisco$1,072
5Cleveland$1,065
6Lafayette$1,029
7Newport Beach$954
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 Monica ranks 53 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
50Enid$6,481
51Riverside$6,439
52Akron$6,373
53Santa Monica$6,273
54Bryan$6,213
55Yonkers$6,124
56Lakeland$6,046
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 Monica ranks 511 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
508San Luis Obispo21.3%
509Kennewick21.2%
510North Little Rock21.1%
511Santa Monica21.1%
512Aurora20.8%
513Pasco20.7%
514Tracy20.3%
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 Monica ranks 344 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
341Davenport15.4%
342Yakima15.3%
343Lexington15.1%
344Santa Monica15.1%
345Plymouth15.1%
346Albuquerque15.0%
347Pompano Beach15.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

More on Santa Monica: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · all cities in the United States

Sources

Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.