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Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Los Angeles, CA vs Mesa, AZ

Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)

Summary

Los Angeles spends 569.1% more per capita than Mesa ($72,664/person difference). Mesa, AZ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 90/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Los Angeles, CA
Pop. 3,881,041
D
47/100
Budget Balance0
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity65
Trend Direction50
City B
Mesa, AZ
Pop. 503,390
A
90/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Los Angeles
Mesa
Total Spending
$331.6B
$6.4B
Spending / Capita
$85,432
$12,768
Total Revenue
$68.3B
$18.0B
Revenue / Capita
$17,595
$35,688
Total Debt
$0
$236.3M
Debt / Capita
$0
$469
Population
3,881,041
503,390
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Los Angeles$4,111
Mesa$0
Fire Protection
Los Angeles$1,057
Mesa$422
Highways & Roads
Los Angeles$503
Mesa$192
Parks & Recreation
Los Angeles$1,347
Mesa$953
Education
Los Angeles$829
Mesa$0
Health
Los Angeles$409
Mesa$147

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Los AngelesMesa
Property Tax
$64
$47
Sales Tax
$77
$463
Income Tax
$307
$1,376
Intergovernmental
$134
$1,383
Charges & Fees
$459
$3,334
Other
$9,048
$2,253

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

Los AngelesMesa
Police
$4,111
$0
Fire Protection
$1,057
$422
Highways & Roads
$503
$192
Education
$829
$0
Public Welfare
$1,286
$829
Health
$409
$147
Hospitals
$2,135
$537
Parks & Recreation
$1,347
$953
Housing
$6,325
$4,190
Sewerage
$34
$38
Utilities
$21,992
$2,376
Interest on Debt
$630
$0
General Admin
$11,586
$0
Other
$33,189
$3,082
D
Los Angeles, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 47/100
Below average fiscal health
A
Mesa, AZ
Fiscal Health Score: 90/100
Excellent fiscal health

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