Town Hall · Oakland

Oakland, CA town hall & government

Oakland spent $2.2 billion in the year to June 30, 2024, about $5,006 per resident.

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

Local leadership

Who runs Oakland

From public records (Open States and Wikidata), which can lag behind an election. If a name is out of date, tell us: when two neighbors agree, it's hidden until the records catch up.

Town budget

Where Oakland's money goes

Spent
$2.2 billion
fiscal year to June 30, 2024
Per resident
$5,006
typical California cities: $2,964
Long-term debt
$1.5 billion
$3,481 per resident
Roads & transportation
$529.4 million25%
Police
$347.6 million16%
Administration & buildings
$336.1 million16%
Fire
$198.7 million9%
Housing & development
$192.5 million9%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$179.3 million8%
Health & welfare
$135.2 million6%
Parks & libraries
$88 million4%
Interest on debt
$65.4 million3%
Sewer & trash
$58.2 million3%
Paid to other governments
$788,000<1%
Other
$24.1 million1%

Where the money comes from

  • Fees & charges 30%
  • Property taxes 25%
  • Sales taxes 16%
  • Other taxes & licenses 10%
  • Interest, fines & other 9%
  • From the state 5%
  • From the federal government 5%
  • From other local governments 1%
Town workforce

Who works for Oakland

Full-time staff
3,893
714 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$160,300
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
675
and 433 full-time firefighters
Police
940 full-time2 part
Roads & transportation
883 full-time109 part
Fire
533 full-time1 part
Parks & libraries
219 full-time521 part
Administration & buildings
393 full-time19 part
Health & welfare
213 full-time50 part
Sewer & trash
180 full-time
Courts, inspections & corrections
114 full-time3 part
Housing & development
68 full-time1 part
Other
350 full-time8 part

Staff on the town's payroll in March 2025. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate.

Schools · school year 2023–24

Oakland Unified School District

Oakland's K–12 school district. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$25,692
California: $21,206
Students
33,916
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$1.1 billion
at year end

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

  • Local 41%
  • State 46%
  • Federal 13%

Of the $25,692 per pupil, $15,026 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 Oakland: San Leandro Unified School District ($19,628 per pupil).

Property tax

What homeowners in Oakland pay

Typical tax bill
$8,575
a year · California typical $5,124
Effective rate
0.92%
of home value · California 0.70%
Typical home value
$929,900
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 Oakland's government

🏛️ Official websiteoaklandca.gov ↗

Town hall & decisions in Oakland →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Oakland

Oakland is represented in Congress by Senators Alex Padilla and Adam B. Schiff and Representative Lateefah Simon. Gavin Newsom is governor.

All of Oakland'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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Oakland

California · CA
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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/18 · 2025-01-01