Collected and spent
In fiscal year 2024, San Diego collected $1,975.2M in taxes and spent $3,257.8M.
Collected
$1,975.2M
Fiscal year 2024 · taxes
Spent
$3,257.8M
Fiscal year 2024
Where the money comes from
One tax.
Property tax
$0.005 per $100 of value
Source · San Diego County Auditor and Controller, City of San Diego 2024 voter-approved overlays only. Read on June 12, 2026.
Details
City of San Diego 2024 voter-approved overlays only (Zoological Exhibits 0.00500%), per SD County Tax Rate Book FY 2024-25, TRA 08xxx — 1% Prop 13 base rendered as a separate statutory lineWhere it goes
Eleven service lines.
Police
$510.5M
General government
$464.1M
Pensions and retiree benefits · Employer pension contribution, re-classified from embedded · past obligation
$448.1M
Public works · Capital Outlay
$415.7M
Parks and recreation
$376.0M
Fire
$371.3M
Transit
$193.5M
Other
$158.7M
Show all 11 linesShow fewer lines
Public works · Sanitation and Health
$147.6M
Debt service · past obligation
$134.4M
Pensions and retiree benefits · Employer OPEB / retiree-healthcare contribution · past obligation
$38.0M
Bars in both tables share one scale. Hatched lines pay for past obligations, not current services.
Source · City of San Diego Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2024. Read on August 30, 2026.
Details
City of San Diego Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2024 (audited; ACFR 2024, published December 2024). GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS — Statement of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balances, Total Governmental Funds column, printed page 54Who decides
San Diego uses a Strong Mayor system. The Mayor is the city's chief executive and must share a budget plan with the public by April 15. The 9-member Council makes the laws and passes the yearly spending plan. The Mayor can veto most Council actions, but not the yearly spending ordinance. It takes 6 of 9 Council votes to override a veto.
Source · City of San Diego, City of San Diego City Charter — Article XV. Read on August 20, 2026.
Details
City of San Diego City Charter — Article XV (Strong Mayor Form of Governance)When decisions happen
San Diego's budget year runs from July 1 to June 30. The Mayor must present a budget plan by April 15. The Council holds at least one public hearing on it. The Council must approve or change the budget by June 15. The Council then adopts the final spending ordinance by June 30. The Mayor cannot veto that final ordinance.
Each yearBudget season: April through June. Fiscal year begins July 1.
Next electionNext election: Primary June 2, 2026; General November 3, 2026 (Districts 2, 4, 6, 8).
San Diego votes in a Primary on June 2, 2026, and a General election on November 3, 2026.
How to reach it
You can send the City Council a written comment on an item. Use the public comment webform. Comments that arrive at least two hours before the meeting starts go to the Council and are posted online.
Comment on a City Council agenda item
Online, through the government's own page
City Information Center: (619) 236-5555
Phone
Find your City Council district (official interactive map)
Online, through the government's own page
City Council — Councilmembers and public comment/agenda access
Online, through the government's own page
Source · City of San Diego, San Diego City Charter, Article VII Sec. 69 — Annual Budget and Appropriation. Read on August 20, 2026.
Details
San Diego City Charter, Article VII Sec. 69 — Annual Budget and Appropriation (fiscal year, proposal, hearing, approval, appropriation ordinance)Also on this tax bill
A San Diego address pays these governments too. Which school districts and special districts apply depends on the address.
On every bill in San Diego
CaliforniaStateSan Diego CountyCountySan Diego County Regional Transportation Commission (SANDAG TransNet)Special district
On some bills, depending on the address
School districts: 14
San Diego City Unified School DistrictSchool district
Poway Unified School DistrictNot in Who Taxes Me yet
Sweetwater Union High School DistrictSchool districtSan Dieguito Union High School DistrictNot in Who Taxes Me yet
San Ysidro Elementary School DistrictNot in Who Taxes Me yet
Escondido Union High School DistrictSchool districtDel Mar Union Elementary School DistrictNot in Who Taxes Me yet
San Pasqual Union Elementary School DistrictNot in Who Taxes Me yet
South Bay Union School DistrictNot in Who Taxes Me yet
Grossmont Union High School DistrictSchool districtSantee School DistrictNot in Who Taxes Me yet
Solana Beach Elementary School DistrictNot in Who Taxes Me yet
Chula Vista Elementary School DistrictNot in Who Taxes Me yet
Escondido Union Elementary School DistrictNot in Who Taxes Me yet
Special districts: 1
Sources
What it is
San Diego County Auditor and Controller, City of San Diego 2024 voter-approved overlays only. Read on June 12, 2026.
Details
City of San Diego 2024 voter-approved overlays only (Zoological Exhibits 0.00500%), per SD County Tax Rate Book FY 2024-25, TRA 08xxx — 1% Prop 13 base rendered as a separate statutory lineCollected
City of San Diego Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2024. Read on August 30, 2026.
Details
City of San Diego Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2024 (audited; ACFR 2024, published December 2024). GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS — Statement of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balances, Total Governmental Funds column, printed page 54Spent
City of San Diego Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2024. Read on August 30, 2026.
Details
City of San Diego Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2024 (audited; ACFR 2024, published December 2024). GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS — Statement of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balances, Total Governmental Funds column, printed page 54Taxes
San Diego County Auditor and Controller, City of San Diego 2024 voter-approved overlays only. Read on June 12, 2026.
Details
City of San Diego 2024 voter-approved overlays only (Zoological Exhibits 0.00500%), per SD County Tax Rate Book FY 2024-25, TRA 08xxx — 1% Prop 13 base rendered as a separate statutory lineWho decides
City of San Diego, City of San Diego City Charter — Article XV. Read on August 20, 2026.
Details
City of San Diego City Charter — Article XV (Strong Mayor Form of Governance)When decisions happen
City of San Diego, San Diego City Charter, Article VII Sec. 69 — Annual Budget and Appropriation. Read on August 20, 2026.
Details
San Diego City Charter, Article VII Sec. 69 — Annual Budget and Appropriation (fiscal year, proposal, hearing, approval, appropriation ordinance)How to reach it
City of San Diego, City of San Diego Office of the City Clerk — How to Participate. Read on October 20, 2026.
Details
City of San Diego Office of the City Clerk — How to Participate (read 2026-10-20)To act on what you have read
Who Taxes Me describes. These three tools, made by the same team, are where you can do something about it. Each opens in a new tab.
Go to TaxTrace
Influence what and how much you are taxed
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Compare taxes between two places
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