Photo: Coolcaesar at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0South San Francisco spent more per resident in 2022 than 97% of similar cities
South San Francisco’s city government spent $245.4 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2023, about $3,820 per resident.
What stands out about how South San Francisco is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$3,667 per resident in 2022: more than 97% of them
South San Francisco’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($3,667 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–$1,736. South San Francisco spent more than 97% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($22.3 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; South San Francisco itself left out).
About $3,820 per resident a year, or $10.47 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: parks & libraries, at 31%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Day-to-day spending has held about steady since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years South 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: $3,667 · 2023: $3,820.
full-time in March 2025, up from 465 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.
The typical homeowner pays $7,283 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.61% 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 South 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 South San Francisco’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in South San Francisco →
Who’s in charge in South San Francisco
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
One full-time city employee for every 130 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2023 finance file (64,251).
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.
South San Francisco Unified School District
South San Francisco’s K–12 school district. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $21,381 per pupil, $12,794 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.
Jefferson Union High School District · $23,810 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
South San Francisco’s votes are counted by county
California reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for South San Francisco 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 South San Francisco 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 South San Francisco.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: ssf.net ↗
- 2California AssemblySouth San Francisco 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 South San Francisco compares with the towns next door
South San Francisco spent $3,667 per resident in 2022; the 6 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $1,261 to $10,162. 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 South San Francisco’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about South San Francisco’s government
How much does South San Francisco spend per resident?
About $3,820 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 $3,667 was more than 97% of 101 California cities of 50,000–99,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in South San Francisco?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $7,283 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.61% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.70% across California. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ssf.net.
Who runs South San Francisco’s government?
See ssf.net for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for South San Francisco yet.
How did South San Francisco vote in 2024?
California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for South San Francisco alone. San Mateo County, where 100% of South San Francisco lies, voted Harris 73.5%, Trump 23.2% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for South San Francisco?
496 full-time and 242 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $6.5M (about $78.4M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents South San Francisco in the state legislature?
South San Francisco 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 South 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 →