Photo: Don Ramey Logan · CC BY-SA 3.0San Clemente spent more per resident in 2022 than 65% of similar cities
San Clemente’s city government spent $103.1 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2023, about $1,614 per resident. Water and other utilities ($19.2 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how San Clemente is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$1,470 per resident in 2022: more than 65% of them
San Clemente’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,470 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. San Clemente spent more than 65% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($10.3 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 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; San Clemente itself left out).
About $1,614 per resident a year, or $4.42 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 21%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Day-to-day spending is up 9% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years San Clemente 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: $1,470 · 2023: $1,614.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $8,160 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.58% 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 Clemente’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 Clemente’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in San Clemente →
Who’s in charge in San Clemente
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
San Clemente’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on ci.san-clemente.ca.us ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 415 residents
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2023 finance file (63,896).
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.
Capistrano Unified School District
San Clemente’s K–12 school district, shared with Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Mission Viejo and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $17,395 per pupil, $11,385 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.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
San Clemente’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 Clemente alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Orange County’s results.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat49.7%691,577 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican47.1%654,494 votesOthers: 3.2% (44,403 votes).
Most votes in Orange County: Kamala D Harris
California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%
100% of San Clemente lies in Orange County. Every 2024 race in Orange County is on the county’s page.
Orange 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 Clemente.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: ci.san-clemente.ca.us ↗
- 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 San Clemente compares with the towns next door
San Clemente spent $1,470 per resident in 2022; the 2 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $1,269 to $1,707. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Dana Point | $1,269 | $9,432 |
| San Juan Capistrano | $1,707 | $6,603 |
| San Clemente | $1,470 | $8,160 |
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 Clemente’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about San Clemente’s government
How much does San Clemente spend per resident?
About $1,614 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2023, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,470 was more than 65% of 101 California cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in San Clemente?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $8,160 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.58% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.70% across California. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ci.san-clemente.ca.us.
Who runs San Clemente’s government?
See ci.san-clemente.ca.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for San Clemente yet.
How did San Clemente vote in 2024?
California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for San Clemente alone. Orange County, where 100% of San Clemente lies, voted Harris 49.7%, Trump 47.1% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for San Clemente?
154 full-time and 95 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $917,832 (about $11.0M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents San Clemente in the state legislature?
State Senate District 36 (Tony Strickland) and Assembly District 74 (Laurie Davies). The Assembly district also covers five other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about San Clemente’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 →