City government · San Luis Obispo County, CA

San Luis Obispo's money: where it comes from and where it goes

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), San Luis Obispo took in $226 million and spent $193 million.

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

See every government that serves your ZIP

Where it comes from

City taxes48%Fees for services (water, sewer)33%Fines and other12%Federal tax money5.1%State tax money2.6%

What stands out

27%

of San Luis Obispo's money comes from taxes other than property, sales and income taxes.A typical U.S. city of 10,000 to 50,000 people gets 6.1%.

City taxes48%

Other taxes
27%$61.8 million
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; public utility taxes and 3 more
  • Other selective sales taxes$41.7 million
  • Public utility taxes$8.7 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$5.9 million
  • Other licenses$5.1 million
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$528 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Sales tax
10%$23.4 million
Property tax
10%$23.1 million

Fees for services33%

Fees for services
33%$73.4 million
What's in fees for servicesWater; sewer and 4 more
  • Water$31.4 million
  • Sewer$20.4 million
  • Parking$9.7 million
  • Other service charges$8.7 million
  • Parks and recreation$2.3 million
  • Transit fares$1.0 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money5.1%

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

From the federal government
5.1%$11.6 million

State tax money2.6%

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

From the state
2.6%$5.9 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%$65 thousand

Fines and other12%

Interest, rents and other
11%$25.7 million
Fines
0.3%$581 thousand

Where it goes

Police, fire, courts and jails23%Housing and community development20%Water, sewer, trash and utilities19%Running the government and other costs15%Roads, transit and parking9.6%All other spending12%

What stands out

20%

of San Luis Obispo's spending goes to housing and community development.Most U.S. cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people spend nothing on this.

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
23%$45.2 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 1 more
  • Police$23.8 million
  • Fire protection$16.0 million
  • Inspections and regulation$5.5 million
Housing and community development
20%$38.2 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
19%$36.7 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply and sewer systems
  • Water supply$21.7 million
  • Sewer systems$15.0 million
Running the government and other costs
15%$29.8 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)$25.1 million
  • Other and not broken out$4.8 million
Roads, transit and parking
9.6%$18.6 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingPublic transit; parking and 1 more
  • Public transit$7.2 million
  • Parking$5.9 million
  • Roads and highways$5.4 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
6.7%$13.0 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$13.0 million
Interest on debt
5.8%$11.1 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$10.5 million
  • Interest on water supply debt$623 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of San Luis Obispo. 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 San Luis Obispo 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.