Santa Monica is the 19th largest city in LA County, yet has the fourth highest number of city employees at 2,087, according to an article in last week’s LA Business Journal.
Los Angeles, Long Beach, Torrance, Pasadena and Burbank all have between 70 and 90 residents per city employee. Santa Monica has a city employee for every 43 residents, by far the most employees per resident of the top 25 cities in LA County. Santa Monica also has the largest general fund budget per resident at $1,881. The closest cities are Pasadena at $1,105 and Burbank at $1,077. The remaining top 25 cities spend less than $1,000 per resident on the general fund budget.
The City of Santa Monica already has raised parking meter rates as well as many license and fee costs for businesses. Officials have said City Hall will consider raising the sales tax and the hotel bed tax.
The Chamber of Commerce’s Government Affairs committee will discuss the city’s budget at its next meeting, scheduled for Aug. 4 at 4:30 p.m. at the chamber office, located at 501 Colorado Ave. All chamber members are welcome to attend.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 15, 2003. Read the original PDF.