Town Hall · La Mesa

La Mesa, CA town hall & government

La Mesa spent $74.1 million in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,240 per resident.

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

Town budget

Where La Mesa's money goes

Spent
$74.1 million
fiscal year to June 30, 2022
Per resident
$1,240
typical California cities: $1,906
Long-term debt
$36.6 million
$614 per resident
Police
$23 million31%
Fire
$13.1 million18%
Sewer & trash
$9.4 million13%
Roads & transportation
$9 million12%
Administration & buildings
$8.7 million12%
Parks & libraries
$5.1 million7%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$1.7 million2%
Interest on debt
$1.6 million2%
Health & welfare
$1.5 million2%
Housing & development
$837,0001%
Other
$171,000<1%

Where the money comes from

  • Sales taxes 44%
  • Fees & charges 23%
  • Property taxes 21%
  • From the state 4%
  • From the federal government 4%
  • Other taxes & licenses 3%
  • Interest, fines & other <1%
  • From other local governments <1%
Town workforce

Who works for La Mesa

Full-time staff
246
34 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$109,800
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
65
and 37 full-time firefighters
Police
92 full-time6 part
Fire
47 full-time
Administration & buildings
39 full-time2 part
Parks & libraries
19 full-time20 part
Roads & transportation
16 full-time
Sewer & trash
12 full-time3 part
Health & welfare
4 full-time1 part
Courts, inspections & corrections
1 full-time
Housing & development
1 full-time
Other
15 full-time2 part

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

Schools · school year 2023–24

Grossmont Union High School District

La Mesa's high school district, shared with El Cajon, Lemon Grove and Santee. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$20,908
California: $21,206
Students
16,566
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$827.1 million
at year end

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

  • Local 53%
  • State 37%
  • Federal 10%

Of the $20,908 per pupil, $12,015 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 La Mesa: La Mesa-Spring Valley School District ($18,879 per pupil) · Lemon Grove Elementary School District ($21,260 per pupil).

Property tax

What homeowners in La Mesa pay

Typical tax bill
$5,339
a year · California typical $5,124
Effective rate
0.66%
of home value · California 0.70%
Typical home value
$812,000
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 La Mesa's government

🏛️ Official websitecityoflamesa.com ↗

Town hall & decisions in La Mesa →

Beyond town hall

Who represents La Mesa

La Mesa is represented in Congress by Senators Alex Padilla and Adam B. Schiff and Representative Sara Jacobs. Gavin Newsom is governor.

All of La Mesa'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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La Mesa

California · CA
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