City government · San Mateo County, CA

Foster City's money: where it comes from and where it goes

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), Foster City took in $214 million and spent $258 million.

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

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Where it comes from

City taxes48%Fees for services (sewer, water)38%Fines and other13%State tax money1.2%

What stands out

41%

of Foster City's money comes from property tax.A typical U.S. city of 10,000 to 50,000 people gets 19%.

City taxes48%

Property tax
41%$87.9 million
Other taxes
4.6%$9.8 million
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; other licenses and 3 more
  • Other selective sales taxes$4.3 million
  • Other licenses$2.0 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$1.9 million
  • Public utility taxes$1.4 million
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$238 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Sales tax
2.4%$5.0 million

Fees for services38%

Fees for services
38%$80.8 million
What's in fees for servicesSewer; water and 3 more
  • Sewer$42.3 million
  • Water$35.0 million
  • Parks and recreation$1.7 million
  • Other service charges$1.1 million
  • Housing$705 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

State tax money1.2%

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

From the state
1.2%$2.6 million

County and local tax money<0.1%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
<0.1%$22 thousand

Fines and other13%

Interest, rents and other
13%$27.3 million
Fines
0.1%$229 thousand

Where it goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities50%Police, fire, courts and jails13%Running the government and other costs12%Sent to other local governments10%Parks, recreation and libraries7.6%All other spending7.5%

What stands out

10%

of Foster City's spending goes to local governments.Most U.S. cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people spend nothing on this.

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
50%$130 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply and sewer systems
  • Water supply$75.7 million
  • Sewer systems$53.8 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
13%$32.5 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
  • Police$16.5 million
  • Fire protection$11.9 million
  • Inspections and regulation$3.6 million
  • Courts and legal services$399 thousand
Running the government and other costs
12%$30.2 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 2 more
  • Other and not broken out$18.3 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$9.1 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$1.7 million
  • Government buildings$1.1 million
Sent to other local governments
10%$26.6 million
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to the state government and sent to local governments: other and not broken out
  • Sent to the state government$15.3 million
  • Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$11.3 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
7.6%$19.7 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$19.7 million
Interest on debt
5.7%$14.6 million
Roads, transit and parking
1.7%$4.5 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$4.5 million
Housing and community development
0.2%$411 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Foster City. 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 Foster City 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.