City government · Los Angeles County, CA
Santa Monica's money: where it comes from and where it goes
In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), Santa Monica took in $909 million and spent $1.11 billion.
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Where it comes from
What stands out
of Santa Monica's money comes from taxes other than property, sales and income taxes.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people gets 7.2%.
City taxes44%
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; occupation and business licenses and 4 more
- Other selective sales taxes$77.0 million
- Occupation and business licenses$39.1 million
- Public utility taxes$37.3 million
- Other licenses$11.9 million
- Real estate and stock transfer taxes$10.5 million
- Other taxes not classified elsewhere$898 thousand
Amounts are by Census tax category.
Fees for services28%
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges; parking and 9 more
- Other service charges$50.7 million
- Parking$41.3 million
- Water$40.3 million
- Garbage collection$35.7 million
- Sewer$22.9 million
- Transit fares$21.2 million
- Airport$17.2 million
- Parks and recreation$14.7 million
- Housing$6.0 million
- Other government-run businesses$2.8 million
- Road charges$5 thousand
Amounts are by Census type of charge.
Federal tax money3.8%
Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.
State tax money7.3%
Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.
County and local tax money3.0%
Money passed on by the county or other local governments.
Fines and other14%
Where it goes
What stands out
of Santa Monica's spending goes to local governments.Most U.S. cities of 50,000+ people spend nothing on this.
Spending by category100%
What's in roads, transit and parkingPublic transit; roads and highways and 2 more
- Public transit$174 million
- Roads and highways$43.8 million
- Airports$28.3 million
- Parking$17.2 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$162 million
- Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$68.8 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
- Police$120 million
- Fire protection$59.1 million
- Inspections and regulation$20.8 million
- Courts and legal services$14.6 million
What's in running the government and other costsCentral staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology); other and not broken out and 3 more
- Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$97.2 million
- Other and not broken out$15.1 million
- Finance, tax collection and budgeting$12.3 million
- Government buildings$3.9 million
- Other government-run businesses$3.3 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste; water supply and 1 more
- Garbage and solid waste$40.6 million
- Water supply$34.4 million
- Sewer systems$16.5 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
- Parks and recreation$61.0 million
- Libraries$11.3 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
- Public health$23.3 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt; interest on water supply debt and 1 more
- Interest on general debt$9.9 million
- Interest on water supply debt$1.9 million
- Interest on public transit debt$32 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover
City of Santa Monica. 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 Santa Monica 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.