County government · Santa Barbara County, CA
Santa Barbara County's money: where it comes from and where it goes
In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), Santa Barbara County took in $1.66 billion and spent $1.49 billion.
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Where it comes from
What stands out
of Santa Barbara County's money comes from state tax money.A typical U.S. county of 250,000+ people gets 19%.
County taxes34%
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; other licenses and 4 more
- Other selective sales taxes$17.7 million
- Other licenses$16.2 million
- Occupation and business licenses$8.3 million
- Real estate and stock transfer taxes$5.1 million
- Public utility taxes$4.5 million
- Other taxes not classified elsewhere$238 thousand
Amounts are by Census tax category.
Fees for services24%
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges; garbage collection and 7 more
- Other service charges$284 million
- Garbage collection$72.3 million
- Sewer$16.8 million
- Parks, land and natural resources$9.8 million
- Parks and recreation$9.5 million
- Other school charges$4.7 million
- Road charges$907 thousand
- Transit fares$46 thousand
- Water$9 thousand
Amounts are by Census type of charge.
Federal tax money3.5%
Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.
State tax money31%
Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.
Local tax money2.2%
Money passed on by the county or other local governments.
Fines and other5.3%
Where it goes
What stands out
of Santa Barbara County's spending goes to schools and colleges.Most U.S. counties of 250,000+ people spend nothing on this.
Spending by category100%
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 4 more
- Police$131 million
- Fire protection$112 million
- Prisons and jails$98.9 million
- Courts and legal services$81.0 million
- Probation, parole and other corrections$46.5 million
- Inspections and regulation$904 thousand
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
- Public health$285 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
- Other public welfare$203 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; finance, tax collection and budgeting and 1 more
- Other and not broken out$102 million
- Finance, tax collection and budgeting$38.6 million
- Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$23.2 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
- Elementary and secondary schools$129 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and public transit
- Roads and highways$84.1 million
- Public transit$362 thousand
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste; sewer systems and 1 more
- Garbage and solid waste$40.3 million
- Sewer systems$6.8 million
- Water supply$3.0 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
- Natural resources, farming and conservation$36.6 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
- Parks and recreation$29.5 million
- Libraries$4.9 million
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to local governments: other and not broken out
- Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$7.3 million
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover
Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara 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.