Photo: Robert Hsiao · CC BY-SA 4.0Oakland spent more per resident in 2022 than 92% of similar cities
Oakland’s city government spent $1.5 billion on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $3,590 per resident. The airport ($176 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Oakland is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
Who’s in charge in Oakland
From public records with a current term; a name is hidden the day its term ends.
Council members and agencies: oaklandca.gov ↗
Oakland’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on oaklandca.gov ↗.
About $3,590 per resident a year, or $9.84 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 22%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
$3,100 per resident in 2022: more than 92% of them
Oakland’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($3,100 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 74 California cities of 250,000–499,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,400, and the middle half spent $1,118–$2,095. Oakland spent more than 92% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($38.3 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 250,000–499,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Oakland itself left out).
Day-to-day spending is up 17% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Oakland 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: $3,100 · 2023: $3,139 · 2024: $3,590.
full-time in March 2025, up from 3,742 in 2022. Both are Census estimates.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $8,575 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.92% 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 Oakland’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 Oakland’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Oakland →
One full-time city employee for every 111 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (430,553).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Oakland Unified School District
Oakland’s K–12 school district. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $25,692 per pupil, $15,026 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 Leandro Unified School District · $19,628 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Oakland’s votes are counted by county
California reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Oakland alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Alameda County’s results.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat74.6%499,377 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican21.0%140,651 votesOthers: 4.4% (29,453 votes).
Most votes in Alameda County: Kamala D Harris
California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%
100% of Oakland lies in Alameda County. Every 2024 race in Alameda County is on the county’s page.
Alameda 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 Oakland.
- 1Your cityMayorBarbara Leeas listed by Open States, October 9, 2026
- 2California AssemblyOakland is split between 2 districts
- 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 Oakland compares with the towns next door
Oakland spent $3,100 per resident in 2022; the 7 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $1,515 to $7,458. 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 |
| San Leandro | $1,676 | $6,133 |
| Alameda | $2,644 | $9,949 |
| South San Francisco | $3,667 | $7,283 |
| Berkeley | $3,715 | $10,000+ |
| Emeryville | $6,006 | $6,209 |
| Brisbane | $7,458 | $8,654 |
| Oakland | $3,100 | $8,575 |
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 Oakland’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Oakland’s government
How much does Oakland spend per resident?
About $3,590 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 $3,100 was more than 92% of 74 California cities of 250,000–499,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Oakland?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $8,575 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.92% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.70% across California. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see oaklandca.gov.
Who is the mayor of Oakland?
Barbara Lee, as listed by Open States (checked October 9, 2026). The council and agencies are listed on oaklandca.gov.
How did Oakland vote in 2024?
California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Oakland alone. Alameda County, where 100% of Oakland lies, voted Harris 74.6%, Trump 21.0% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Oakland?
3,893 full-time and 714 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $53.6M (about $643.5M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Oakland in the state legislature?
Oakland is split among 2 Assembly districts, so your address decides. The California Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District 7 (Jesse Arreguín). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Oakland’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 →