Town Hall · Foster

Foster, CA town hall & government

Foster spent $258 million in the year to June 30, 2024, about $8,057 per resident.

Where the money goes, where it comes from, property taxes, and how to reach Foster's government.

Town budget

Where Foster's money goes

Spent
$258 million
fiscal year to June 30, 2024
Per resident
$8,057
typical California cities: $2,964
Long-term debt
$225.9 million
$7,054 per resident
Water & other utilities
$75.7 million29%
Sewer & trash
$53.8 million21%
Paid to other governments
$26.6 million10%
Parks & libraries
$19.7 million8%
Police
$16.5 million6%
Interest on debt
$14.6 million6%
Administration & buildings
$12 million5%
Fire
$11.9 million5%
Roads & transportation
$4.5 million2%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$4 million2%
Housing & development
$411,000<1%
Other
$18.3 million7%

Where the money comes from

  • Property taxes 41%
  • Fees & charges 21%
  • Utility sales 16%
  • Interest, fines & other 13%
  • Sales taxes 5%
  • Other taxes & licenses 2%
  • From the state 1%
  • From other local governments <1%
Town workforce

Who works for Foster

Full-time staff
151
28 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$121,400
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
37
full-time, with power of arrest
Police
52 full-time2 part
Administration & buildings
27 full-time12 part
Parks & libraries
26 full-time12 part
Roads & transportation
13 full-time1 part
Sewer & trash
10 full-time1 part
Water & other utilities
9 full-time
Other
14 full-time

Staff on the town's payroll in March 2022. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate.

Schools · school year 2023–24

San Mateo-Foster City Elementary School District

Foster's elementary school district, shared with San Mateo. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$21,975
California: $21,206
Students
9,945
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$565.5 million
at year end

Where the district's money comes from California districts overall: 36% local, 52% state, 11% federal

  • Local 79%
  • State 15%
  • Federal 5%

Of the $21,975 per pupil, $13,030 goes to classroom instruction (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to support services such as buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren't in the per-pupil figure.

Also serving Foster: San Mateo Union High School District ($26,598 per pupil).

Property tax

What homeowners in Foster pay

Typical tax bill
$10,000+
a year · California typical $5,124
Typical home value
$1,838,200
owner-occupied

The median yearly bill homeowners report, covering every local property tax on the home (town, schools, county). The effective rate is that bill divided by the median home value, so it's a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Local

Contact Foster's government

🏛️ Official websitefostercity.org ↗

Town hall & decisions in Foster →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Foster

Foster is represented in Congress by Senators Alex Padilla and Adam B. Schiff and Representative Kevin Mullin. Gavin Newsom is governor.

All of Foster's representatives, with contacts →

Budget: U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Finance (every city and town government's revenue, spending and debt, grouped into plain categories). Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 5-year estimates.

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Foster

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