Photo: Coolcaesar at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0Cupertino spent more per resident in 2022 than 72% of similar cities
Cupertino’s city government spent $99.4 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,696 per resident.
What stands out about how Cupertino is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$1,696 per resident in 2022: more than 72% of them
Cupertino’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,696 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 101 California cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,263, and the middle half spent $889–$1,772. Cupertino spent more than 72% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($1.8 million), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
California cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Cupertino itself left out).
About $1,696 per resident a year, or $4.65 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 21%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
No trend yet
Cupertino reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
Typical bills top $10,000 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Cupertino’s rate.
Can I afford it? →The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.
Tax bills are one input to Cupertino’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Cupertino →
Who’s in charge in Cupertino
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Cupertino’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on cupertino.gov/Your-City/Explore-Cupertino ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 312 residents
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (58,598).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Fremont Union High School District
Cupertino’s high school district, shared with Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Palo Alto. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $24,927 per pupil, $14,767 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.
California districts overall: 36% local, 52% state, 11% federal.
Cupertino Union Elementary School District · $18,329 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Cupertino’s votes are counted by county
California reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Cupertino alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Santa Clara County’s results.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat68.1%510,552 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican28.1%210,732 votesOthers: 3.8% (28,745 votes).
Most votes in Santa Clara County: Kamala D Harris
California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%
100% of Cupertino lies in Santa Clara County. Every 2024 race in Santa Clara County is on the county’s page.
Santa Clara County’s 2024 results →Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.
Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Cupertino.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: cupertino.gov/Your-City/Explore-Cupertino ↗
- 2California AssemblyState representatives
- 3California SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of California
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Cupertino compares with the towns next door
Cupertino spent $1,696 per resident in 2022; the 5 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $965 to $3,279. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Saratoga | $965 | $10,000+ |
| San Jose | $1,821 | $9,393 |
| Los Altos | $1,959 | $10,000+ |
| Sunnyvale | $2,097 | $9,220 |
| Santa Clara | $3,279 | $9,234 |
| Cupertino | $1,696 | $10,000+ |
Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).
Reach Cupertino’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Cupertino’s government
How much does Cupertino spend per resident?
About $1,696 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,696 was more than 72% of 101 California cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools.
Who runs Cupertino’s government?
See cupertino.gov/Your-City/Explore-Cupertino for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Cupertino yet.
How did Cupertino vote in 2024?
California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Cupertino alone. Santa Clara County, where 100% of Cupertino lies, voted Harris 68.1%, Trump 28.1% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Cupertino?
188 full-time and 66 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $2.1M (about $24.6M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Cupertino in the state legislature?
State Senate District 13 (Josh Becker) and Assembly District 26 (Patrick Ahrens). The Assembly district also covers three neighboring towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Cupertino’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →