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.
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 copyHow 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 copyWhat 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 copyHow 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 copyHow 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 copyHow 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 copyHow 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 copyHow 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 copyHow 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 copyHow 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 copyHow 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.
| Rank | City | City government total revenue per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 10 | Chattanooga | $8,241 |
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.
| Rank | City | City government total spending per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 11 | Hartford | $8,244 |
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.
| Rank | City | City taxes collected per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Stamford | $4,634 |
| 8 | Alexandria | $4,588 |
| 9 | Boston | $4,508 |
| 10 | Santa Monica | $4,116 |
| 11 | Norwalk | $4,057 |
| 12 | Waltham | $3,773 |
| 13 | Nashville | $3,656 |
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.
| Rank | City | City spending on police per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whittier | $1,555 |
| 2 | Miami Beach | $1,469 |
| 3 | La Habra | $1,230 |
| 4 | Santa Monica | $1,079 |
| 5 | Corona | $956 |
| 6 | Washington | $943 |
| 7 | San Francisco | $890 |
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.
| Rank | City | City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 47 | Bossier City | $6,801 |
| 48 | Evansville | $6,698 |
| 49 | Columbia | $6,660 |
| 50 | Santa Monica | $6,558 |
| 51 | Palo Alto | $6,427 |
| 52 | Conroe | $6,372 |
| 53 | Montebello | $6,371 |
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.
| Rank | City | Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 643 | Centennial | 20.7% |
| 644 | Kennewick | 20.7% |
| 645 | Salinas | 20.6% |
| 646 | Santa Monica | 20.5% |
| 647 | St. Peters | 20.4% |
| 648 | Visalia | 20.4% |
| 649 | Bellevue | 20.2% |
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.
| Rank | City | Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 336 | Buena Park | 18.8% |
| 337 | Charlotte | 18.8% |
| 338 | Greensboro | 18.8% |
| 339 | Santa Monica | 18.7% |
| 340 | Yakima | 18.7% |
| 341 | Barnstable Town | 18.7% |
| 342 | Boise City | 18.6% |
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.
| Rank | City | City government total revenue per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Miami Beach | $11,537 |
| 8 | Flint | $11,308 |
| 9 | Palo Alto | $10,984 |
| 10 | Santa Monica | $10,109 |
| 11 | Boston | $9,533 |
| 12 | Richmond | $8,799 |
| 13 | Chattanooga | $8,776 |
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.
| Rank | City | City government total spending per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Palo Alto | $13,262 |
| 6 | Santa Clara | $12,680 |
| 7 | Gulfport | $12,337 |
| 8 | Santa Monica | $12,333 |
| 9 | Miami Beach | $11,513 |
| 10 | Hartford | $10,706 |
| 11 | Flint | $10,519 |
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.
| Rank | City | City taxes collected per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Boston | $5,508 |
| 7 | Newton | $5,294 |
| 8 | Alexandria | $5,042 |
| 9 | Santa Monica | $4,430 |
| 10 | Norwalk | $4,194 |
| 11 | Waltham | $3,891 |
| 12 | Portland | $3,630 |
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.
| Rank | City | City spending on police per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miami Beach | $1,776 |
| 2 | Santa Monica | $1,337 |
| 3 | Washington | $1,121 |
| 4 | San Francisco | $1,072 |
| 5 | Cleveland | $1,065 |
| 6 | Lafayette | $1,029 |
| 7 | Newport Beach | $954 |
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.
| Rank | City | City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | Enid | $6,481 |
| 51 | Riverside | $6,439 |
| 52 | Akron | $6,373 |
| 53 | Santa Monica | $6,273 |
| 54 | Bryan | $6,213 |
| 55 | Yonkers | $6,124 |
| 56 | Lakeland | $6,046 |
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.
| Rank | City | Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 508 | San Luis Obispo | 21.3% |
| 509 | Kennewick | 21.2% |
| 510 | North Little Rock | 21.1% |
| 511 | Santa Monica | 21.1% |
| 512 | Aurora | 20.8% |
| 513 | Pasco | 20.7% |
| 514 | Tracy | 20.3% |
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.
| Rank | City | Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 341 | Davenport | 15.4% |
| 342 | Yakima | 15.3% |
| 343 | Lexington | 15.1% |
| 344 | Santa Monica | 15.1% |
| 345 | Plymouth | 15.1% |
| 346 | Albuquerque | 15.0% |
| 347 | Pompano Beach | 15.0% |
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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.