Photo: JaGa · CC BY-SA 3.0Santa Clara spent more per resident in 2022 than 97% of similar cities
Santa Clara’s city government spent $574 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $4,522 per resident. Water and other utilities ($541.6 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Santa Clara is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$3,279 per resident in 2022: more than 97% of them
Santa Clara’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($3,279 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 59 California cities of 100,000–249,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,350, and the middle half spent $1,086–$1,943. Santa Clara spent more than 97% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($67.9 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 100,000–249,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Santa Clara itself left out).
About $4,522 per resident a year, or $12.39 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: parks & libraries, at 20%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Day-to-day spending is up 34% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Santa Clara 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: $3,279 · 2023: $4,460 · 2024: $4,522.
full-time in March 2025, up from 950 in 2022.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $9,234 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 Santa Clara’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 Santa Clara’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Santa Clara →
Who’s in charge in Santa Clara
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Santa Clara’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on santaclaraca.gov ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 126 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 (126,930).
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.
Santa Clara Unified School District
Santa Clara’s K–12 school district. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $29,282 per pupil, $17,482 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.
Fremont Union High School District · $24,927 per pupil
Campbell Union High School District · $19,636 per pupil
Cupertino Union Elementary School District · $18,329 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Santa Clara’s votes are counted by county
California reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Santa Clara alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Santa Clara County’s results.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat68.1%510,552 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican28.1%210,732 votesOthers: 3.8% (28,745 votes).
Most votes in Santa Clara County: Kamala D Harris
California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%
100% of Santa Clara lies in Santa Clara County. Every 2024 race in Santa Clara County is on the county’s page.
Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: santaclaraca.gov ↗
- 2California AssemblyState representatives
- 3California SenateState senatorDistrict 10
- 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 Santa Clara compares with the towns next door
Santa Clara spent $3,279 per resident in 2022; the 3 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $1,696 to $2,097. 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 Santa Clara’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Santa Clara’s government
How much does Santa Clara spend per resident?
About $4,522 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 $3,279 was more than 97% of 59 California cities of 100,000–249,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Santa Clara?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $9,234 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 santaclaraca.gov.
Who runs Santa Clara’s government?
See santaclaraca.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Santa Clara yet.
How did Santa Clara vote in 2024?
California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Santa Clara alone. Santa Clara County, where 100% of Santa Clara lies, voted Harris 68.1%, Trump 28.1% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Santa Clara?
1,004 full-time and 355 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $17.9M (about $214.3M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Santa Clara in the state legislature?
State Senate District 10 and Assembly District 26 (Patrick Ahrens). The Assembly district also covers three neighboring towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Santa Clara’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 →