Photo: Stickpen · Public domainHow is La Mesa run?
La Mesa’s city government spent $68.1 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,140 per resident.
What stands out about how La Mesa is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
Grossmont Union High School District
La Mesa’s high school district, shared with El Cajon, Lemon Grove, Santee. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $20,908 per pupil, $12,015 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.
La Mesa-Spring Valley School District · $18,879 per pupil
Lemon Grove Elementary School District · $21,260 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
About $1,140 per resident a year, or $3.12 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 34%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
$1,140 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities
La Mesa’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,140 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 $1,270, and the middle half spent $889–$1,772. La Mesa spent less than 60% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($9.4 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; La Mesa itself left out).
No trend yet
La Mesa reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $5,339 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.66% of the home’s value, vs 0.70% across California.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at La Mesa’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 La Mesa’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in La Mesa →
Who’s in charge in La Mesa
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
La Mesa’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on cityoflamesa.com ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 243 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 (59,724).
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.
La Mesa’s votes are counted by county
California reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for La Mesa alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are San Diego County’s results.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat56.9%841,038 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican40.1%592,873 votesOthers: 2.9% (43,126 votes).
Most votes in San Diego County: Kamala D Harris
California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%
100% of La Mesa lies in San Diego County. Every 2024 race in San Diego County is on the county’s page.
San Diego 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 La Mesa.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: cityoflamesa.com ↗
- 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 La Mesa compares with the towns next door
La Mesa spent $1,140 per resident in 2022; the 3 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $1,064 to $2,795. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Lemon Grove | $1,064 | $4,752 |
| El Cajon | $1,139 | $4,533 |
| San Diego | $2,795 | $5,945 |
| La Mesa | $1,140 | $5,339 |
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 La Mesa’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about La Mesa’s government
How much does La Mesa spend per resident?
About $1,140 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 $1,140 was less than 60% of 101 California cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in La Mesa?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $5,339 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.66% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.70% across California. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityoflamesa.com.
Who runs La Mesa’s government?
See cityoflamesa.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for La Mesa yet.
How did La Mesa vote in 2024?
California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for La Mesa alone. San Diego County, where 100% of La Mesa lies, voted Harris 56.9%, Trump 40.1% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for La Mesa?
246 full-time and 34 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $2.3M (about $27.4M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents La Mesa in the state legislature?
State Senate District 39 (Akilah Weber Pierson) and Assembly District 79 (LaShae Sharp-Collins). The Assembly district also covers three neighboring towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about La Mesa’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 →