Photo: Pi.1415926535 · CC BY-SA 3.0Foster City spent more per resident in 2022 than 76% of similar cities
Foster City’s city government spent $72.2 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $2,255 per resident. Water and other utilities ($72.5 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Foster City is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$1,778 per resident in 2022: more than 76% of them
Foster City’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,778 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 92 California cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,158, and the middle half spent $831–$1,730. Foster City spent more than 76% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($6.7 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 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Foster City itself left out).
About $2,255 per resident a year, or $6.18 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 23%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Day-to-day spending is up 23% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Foster City reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $1,778 · 2024: $2,255.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
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 Foster City’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 Foster City’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Foster City →
Who’s in charge in Foster City
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Foster City’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on fostercity.org ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 212 residents
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (32,026).
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.
San Mateo-Foster City Elementary School District
Foster City’s elementary school district, shared with San Mateo. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $21,975 per pupil, $13,030 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.
San Mateo Union High School District · $26,598 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Foster City’s votes are counted by county
California reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Foster City alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are San Mateo County’s results.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat73.5%242,834 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican23.2%76,515 votesOthers: 3.3% (10,929 votes).
Most votes in San Mateo County: Kamala D Harris
California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%
100% of Foster City lies in San Mateo County. Every 2024 race in San Mateo County is on the county’s page.
San Mateo 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 Foster City.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: fostercity.org ↗
- 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 Foster City compares with the towns next door
Foster City spent $1,778 per resident in 2022; the 4 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $1,515 to $2,596. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Hayward | $1,515 | $5,739 |
| Redwood City | $2,403 | $9,935 |
| San Mateo | $2,437 | $10,000+ |
| Belmont | $2,596 | $10,000+ |
| Foster City | $1,778 | $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 Foster City’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Foster City’s government
How much does Foster City spend per resident?
About $2,255 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,778 was more than 76% of 92 California cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools.
Who runs Foster City’s government?
See fostercity.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Foster City yet.
How did Foster City vote in 2024?
California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Foster City alone. San Mateo County, where 100% of Foster City lies, voted Harris 73.5%, Trump 23.2% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Foster City?
151 full-time and 28 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $1.6M (about $18.8M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Foster City in the state legislature?
State Senate District 13 (Josh Becker) and Assembly District 21 (Diane Papan). The Assembly district also covers 13 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Foster City’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 →