U.S. Post Office and Courthouse · Photo: James Knox Taylor · Public domainSan Francisco spent more per resident in 2022 than 99% of similar cities
San Francisco’s city government spent $13.1 billion on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $16,192 per resident. It also runs a hospital ($1.5 billion), water utilities ($3.1 billion) and an airport ($677.4 million), counted separately. Census Bureau figures.
What stands out about how San Francisco is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
About $16,192 per resident a year, or $44.36 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: health & welfare, at 38%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
$12,391 per resident in 2022: more than 99% of them
San Francisco’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($12,391 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 479 California cities that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,385, and the middle half spent $960–$2,001. San Francisco spent more than 99% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($180.1 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 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; San Francisco itself left out).
Day-to-day spending is up 22% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years San Francisco 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: $12,391 · 2023: $14,875 · 2024: $16,192. Per resident it went from $12,391 to $16,192 (up 31%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 866,606 to 808,437.
full-time in March 2025 (hospital, health & welfare left out), up from 22,377 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.
Who’s in charge in San Francisco
From public records with a current term; a name is hidden the day its term ends.
The typical homeowner pays $9,862 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.71% 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 Francisco’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 Francisco’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in San Francisco →
One full-time city employee for every 33 residents, not counting hospital, health & welfare staff
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (808,437).
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.
San Francisco Unified School District
San Francisco’s K–12 school district. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $25,173 per pupil, $14,412 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.
How San Francisco voted in 2024
Official results for San Francisco’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat80.3%323,706 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican15.5%62,592 votesOthers: 4.1% (16,651 votes).
Most votes in San Francisco: Kamala D Harris
San Francisco County: Harris 80.3%, Trump 15.5% · California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%
of San Francisco’s 616,393 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across California: 61%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in San Francisco: Adam B Schiff
San Francisco County: Schiff 82.4%, Garvey 17.6% · California: Schiff 58.9%, Garvey 41.1%
U.S. House, 2024: 2 districts cover San Francisco, so your street decides which race was yours. All 2 districts’ results →
President, 2024: San Francisco, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | 80.3% | 15.5% | 4.1% | 402,949 |
| San Francisco County | 80.3% | 15.5% | 4.1% | 402,949 |
| California | 58.5% | 38.3% | 3.2% | 15,865,475 |
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 Francisco.
- 1Your cityMayorDaniel Lurieas listed by Open States, October 9, 2026
- 2California AssemblySan Francisco is split between 2 districts
- 3California SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseSplit between districts
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of California
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How San Francisco compares with the towns next door
No neighbor is close in size, so the comparison above uses California cities that don’t run their own schools. Tap a town to see its page.
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 Francisco’s government
Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.
Questions about San Francisco’s government
How much does San Francisco spend per resident?
About $16,192 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. San Francisco also runs a hospital ($1.5 billion), counted separately. In 2022, the last full count, its $12,391 was more than 99% of 479 California cities that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in San Francisco?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $9,862 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.71% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.70% across California. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the city’s assessor.
Who is the mayor of San Francisco?
Daniel Lurie, as listed by Open States (checked October 9, 2026).
How did San Francisco vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 80.3%, Donald J Trump 15.5% (402,949 votes, official results). San Francisco County: Harris 80.3%, Trump 15.5%. California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%.
How many people work for San Francisco?
24,179 full-time and 5,391 part-time employees in March 2025 (plus 7,194 full-time hospital, health & welfare staff), with a March payroll of $342.8M (about $4.1B a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.
Who represents San Francisco in the state legislature?
San Francisco is split among 2 Assembly districts, so your address decides. The California Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District 11 (Scott Wiener). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about San Francisco’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 →