Photo: Mliu92 · CC BY-SA 3.0How is San Bruno run?
San Bruno’s city government spent $79 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $1,903 per resident. Water and other utilities ($13.9 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how San Bruno is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
About $1,903 per resident a year, or $5.21 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 29%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
$1,441 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities
San Bruno’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,441 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–$1,742. San Bruno spent more than 61% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($11.2 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; San Bruno itself left out).
Day-to-day spending is up 25% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years San Bruno 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: $1,441 · 2024: $1,903. Per resident it went from $1,441 to $1,903 (up 32%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 44,051 to 41,533.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $6,212 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.51% 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 San Bruno’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 San Bruno’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in San Bruno →
Who’s in charge in San Bruno
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
San Bruno’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on sanbruno.ca.gov ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 187 residents
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (41,533).
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 Union High School District
San Bruno’s high school district, shared with Burlingame, Hillsborough, Millbrae, Foster City, San Mateo. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $26,598 per pupil, $14,561 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 Bruno Park Elementary School District · $21,218 per pupil
South San Francisco Unified School District · $21,381 per pupil
Millbrae Elementary School District · $16,578 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
San Bruno’s votes are counted by county
California reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for San Bruno 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 San Bruno 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 San Bruno.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: sanbruno.ca.gov ↗
- 2California AssemblySan Bruno 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 San Bruno compares with the towns next door
San Bruno spent $1,441 per resident in 2022; the 3 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $1,387 to $3,667. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Pacifica | $1,387 | $7,933 |
| Millbrae | $2,053 | $9,996 |
| South San Francisco | $3,667 | $7,283 |
| San Bruno | $1,441 | $6,212 |
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 San Bruno’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about San Bruno’s government
How much does San Bruno spend per resident?
About $1,903 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 $1,441 was more than 61% of 92 California cities of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in San Bruno?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $6,212 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.51% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.70% across California. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see sanbruno.ca.gov.
Who runs San Bruno’s government?
See sanbruno.ca.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for San Bruno yet.
How did San Bruno vote in 2024?
California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for San Bruno alone. San Mateo County, where 100% of San Bruno lies, voted Harris 73.5%, Trump 23.2% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for San Bruno?
222 full-time and 28 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $2.5M (about $29.6M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.
Who represents San Bruno in the state legislature?
San Bruno is split among 2 Assembly districts and 2 State Senate districts, so your address decides. The California Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about San Bruno’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 →