Photo: Taylorj661 · Public domainHow is San Marcos run?
San Marcos’ city government spent $113.4 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,164 per resident.
What stands out about how San Marcos is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
Who’s in charge in San Marcos
From public records with a current term; a name is hidden the day its term ends.
Council members and agencies: ci.san-marcos.ca.us ↗
San Marcos’ meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on ci.san-marcos.ca.us ↗.
About $1,164 per resident a year, or $3.19 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 24%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
$1,164 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities
San Marcos’ day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,164 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. San Marcos spent less than 55% of 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 Marcos itself left out).
No trend yet
San Marcos reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $6,608 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.76% 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 Marcos’ 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 Marcos’ Cost of living grade. Cost of living in San Marcos →
One full-time city employee for every 426 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 (97,477).
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 Marcos Unified School District
San Marcos’ K–12 school district. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $16,525 per pupil, $10,329 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 Dieguito Union High School District · $15,720 per pupil
Escondido Union High School District · $21,430 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
San Marcos’ votes are counted by county
California reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for San Marcos 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 San Marcos 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 San Marcos.
- 1Your cityMayorRebecca Jonesas listed by Open States, October 9, 2026
- 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 Marcos compares with the towns next door
San Marcos spent $1,164 per resident in 2022; the 4 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $1,151 to $2,365. Towns that run more services spend more. 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 Marcos’ government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about San Marcos’ government
How much does San Marcos spend per resident?
About $1,164 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 $1,164 was less than 55% of 101 California cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in San Marcos?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $6,608 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.76% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.70% across California. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ci.san-marcos.ca.us.
Who is the mayor of San Marcos?
Rebecca Jones, as listed by Open States (checked October 9, 2026). The council and agencies are listed on ci.san-marcos.ca.us.
How did San Marcos vote in 2024?
California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for San Marcos alone. San Diego County, where 100% of San Marcos lies, voted Harris 56.9%, Trump 40.1% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for San Marcos?
229 full-time and 109 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $2.3M (about $27.2M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents San Marcos in the state legislature?
State Senate District 40 (Brian Jones) and Assembly District 76 (Darsh Patel). The Assembly district also covers two neighboring towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about San Marcos’ 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 →