City government · Kern County, CA

Bakersfield's money: where it comes from and where it goes

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), Bakersfield took in $719 million and spent $617 million.

Latest recorded year: ended June 30, 2024Comes fromGoes to

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Where it comes from

City taxes50%Fees for services (garbage collection, water)30%Fines and other9.1%Federal tax money6.0%State tax money4.7%

What stands out

29%

of Bakersfield's money comes from sales tax.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people gets 7.8%.

City taxes50%

Sales tax
29%$211 million
Property tax
15%$111 million
Other taxes
5.3%$38.3 million
What's in other taxesPublic utility taxes; other selective sales taxes and 3 more
  • Public utility taxes$13.8 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$12.1 million
  • Other licenses$5.9 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$5.0 million
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$1.5 million

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services30%

Fees for services
30%$217 million
What's in fees for servicesGarbage collection; water and 5 more
  • Garbage collection$86.1 million
  • Water$48.8 million
  • Sewer$47.6 million
  • Other service charges$33.1 million
  • Parks and recreation$1.0 million
  • Airport$410 thousand
  • Road charges$41 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money6.0%

Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.

From the federal government
6.0%$42.9 million

State tax money4.7%

Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.

From the state
4.7%$33.5 million

Fines and other9.1%

Interest, rents and other
8.7%$62.7 million
Fines
0.4%$2.9 million

Where it goes

Police, fire, courts and jails38%Water, sewer, trash and utilities23%Roads, transit and parking15%Running the government and other costs8.9%Parks, recreation and libraries7.6%All other spending7.7%

What stands out

38%

of Bakersfield's spending goes to police, fire, courts and jails.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people spends 25%.

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
38%$234 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 1 more
  • Police$161 million
  • Fire protection$60.8 million
  • Inspections and regulation$12.3 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
23%$139 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste; water supply and 1 more
  • Garbage and solid waste$76.2 million
  • Water supply$40.3 million
  • Sewer systems$22.8 million
Roads, transit and parking
15%$94.1 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and airports
  • Roads and highways$93.6 million
  • Airports$483 thousand
Running the government and other costs
8.9%$54.8 million
What's in running the government and other costsCentral staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and other and not broken out
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$44.5 million
  • Other and not broken out$10.3 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
7.6%$47.1 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$47.1 million
Health and hospitals
3.7%$23.1 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$23.1 million
Housing and community development
3.4%$21.0 million
Interest on debt
0.6%$3.7 million
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Bakersfield. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2024.

What this covers. The money of City of Bakersfield itself. Other governments that serve the same area (the city, county, school district and state) are separate and not included. Borrowing, transfers between a government's own funds, and pension trust funds are not counted as revenue.