County government · San Mateo County, CA
San Mateo County's money: where it comes from and where it goes
In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), San Mateo County took in $2.96 billion and spent $2.50 billion.
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Where it comes from
What stands out
of San Mateo County's money comes from state tax money.A typical U.S. county of 250,000+ people gets 19%.
County taxes37%
What's in other taxesOccupation and business licenses; other selective sales taxes and 3 more
- Occupation and business licenses$22.1 million
- Other selective sales taxes$6.1 million
- Real estate and stock transfer taxes$5.7 million
- Public utility taxes$4.5 million
- Other licenses$3.3 million
Amounts are by Census tax category.
Fees for services21%
What's in fees for servicesHospital bills; other service charges and 9 more
- Hospital bills$378 million
- Other service charges$217 million
- Sewer$24.8 million
- Other school charges$6.2 million
- Airport$4.3 million
- Garbage collection$2.5 million
- Parks and recreation$2.4 million
- Ports and waterways$1.5 million
- Road charges$77 thousand
- Water$71 thousand
- Parks, land and natural resources$63 thousand
Amounts are by Census type of charge.
Federal tax money2.3%
Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.
State tax money29%
Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.
Local tax money1.0%
Money passed on by the county or other local governments.
Fines and other9.0%
Where it goes
What stands out
of San Mateo County's spending goes to health services and hospitals.A typical U.S. county of 250,000+ people spends 7.9%.
Spending by category100%
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health and hospitals
- Public health$449 million
- Hospitals$330 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 1 more
- Other and not broken out$462 million
- Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$50.7 million
- Finance, tax collection and budgeting$44.0 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; prisons and jails and 4 more
- Police$210 million
- Prisons and jails$115 million
- Courts and legal services$106 million
- Probation, parole and other corrections$14.2 million
- Fire protection$13.5 million
- Inspections and regulation$5.8 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
- Other public welfare$295 million
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to local governments: other and not broken out and sent to the state government
- Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$129 million
- Sent to the state government$14.7 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
- Elementary and secondary schools$75.3 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste; sewer systems and 1 more
- Garbage and solid waste$28.4 million
- Sewer systems$22.8 million
- Water supply$89 thousand
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways; airports and 2 more
- Roads and highways$33.6 million
- Airports$4.8 million
- Ports and harbors$1.3 million
- Public transit$1.3 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
- Parks and recreation$31.4 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
- Natural resources, farming and conservation$6.8 million
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover
San Mateo County. 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 San Mateo County 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.