How Aliso Viejo is run
Who runs Aliso Viejo, what it costs, and where your money goes
The city manager, council pay, the budget, your property tax bill and who provides each service, from Aliso Viejo's own public documents. Every number links to its source and says which year it describes. Checked Oct 10, 2026.
Who runs Aliso Viejo
A City Manager hired by the council runs the city day to day and appoints all other department heads and staff. Police, fire, street maintenance, building, code enforcement and legal services are provided by contract. The five council members pass laws and adopt the budget, and each year they pick one of themselves as mayor.
What they are paid
- Six months' base salary and six months of health coverage as severance if let go without cause
- A city vehicle for business and personal use, and a city-paid cell phone
- City pays 3% of base salary into a deferred compensation plan
- CalPERS pension (2% at 55), with the city paying the employee contribution
- 240 hours of annual leave a year plus 40 hours of administrative leave
Aliso Viejo city staff
35 full-time-equivalent positions, including Recreation and community services 13, Community and economic development 5, Financial services 4, Public works 4, Government services 4, Information technology 3. FY2026-27. 29 full-time employees plus about 6.0 part-time full-time equivalents, not counting the five elected officials. City of Aliso Viejo · Jun 3, 2026
The city posts salary ranges for all positions and links to the State Controller's pay database. We name pay only for elected officials and the city manager.
Is Aliso Viejo in the red?
Cities must pass a balanced budget, so "profit" and "deficit" mean something different here. The useful questions: does the city's everyday money (the general fund) cover its everyday costs, how much does it keep in savings compared with its own target, and how big are its pension and debt bills.
The city's own outlook
The city's five-year forecast from September 2026 shows small operating surpluses through FY2029-30 and a $0.9M operating shortfall in FY2030-31. With planned capital projects, the general fund balance is estimated to slip from $50.0M to $48.2M by FY2030-31. City of Aliso Viejo · Sep 16, 2026
Savings against the city's own target
Unassigned general fund balance: $9.4M (2025-06-30). The city's own target: The Fund Balance Policy aims to keep unassigned fund balance at 25-35% of budgeted operating spending. The city says the $9.4 million meets it. On June 30, 2025, the general fund also had $15.7 million assigned for emergencies and unanticipated projects and $14.3 million for replacing city assets. The city meets this target. City of Aliso Viejo · Nov 13, 2025
Why we skip the "budgeted deficit": many cities plan to dip into savings, then spend less than planned. The audited result tells you what really happened.
Where the money comes from and goes
The general fund only: the city's everyday money for FY2026-27.
Comes from
- Sales tax$11.4M · 38%
- Property tax in lieu of vehicle license fees$6.6M · 22%
- Property tax (current secured)$3.5M · 11%
- Franchise fees$1.7M · 6%
- Hotel tax (transient occupancy)$1.6M · 5%
- Investment earnings$1.1M · 4%
- Other (permits, rentals, classes, fines, transfers, other taxes)$4.2M · 14%
Goes to (FY2026-27)
- Public safety (Sheriff's contract and related)$12.4M · 41%
- Administration and support$5.5M · 18%
- Community and economic development$5.4M · 18%
- Recreation and community services$3.2M · 11%
- Public works$2.2M · 7%
- Transfers out (debt service, capital, aquatic center)$1.2M · 4%
Who provides your services
Not everything in Aliso Viejo is run by the city. Who provides a service decides whose budget pays for it and whose election decides it.
- PoliceThe countyOrange County Sheriff's DepartmentThe city contracts for law enforcement services.City of Aliso Viejo · Jun 3, 2026
- FireAnother agencyOrange County Fire AuthorityThe city is a member of the authority.City of Aliso Viejo · Nov 13, 2025
- StreetsThe cityCity of Aliso ViejoThe city maintains all public roads and contracts out street maintenance work.City of Aliso Viejo · Jun 3, 2026
- ParksPrivate companyAliso Viejo Community AssociationCity of Aliso Viejo · Jun 3, 2026
- LibraryThe countyOrange County Library SystemCity of Aliso Viejo · Jun 3, 2026
- Animal controlAnother agencyCity of Mission ViejoUnder a contract since 2009, renewed in 2023 for seven years.City of Aliso Viejo · Jun 3, 2026
Compared with similar cities
The cities in this state closest in population that we cover. Read it for scale, not as a ranking: cities provide different services.
| Per city | Aliso ViejoCA | San Luis ObispoCA | PowayCA | WatsonvilleCA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 49,945 | 50,165 | 50,263 | 50,454 |
| Top administrator's base pay | $340,000 | Not confirmed | $355,350 | $312,753 |
| Council member pay | $6,240 | $27,828 | $21,751 | Not confirmed |
| General fund per resident | $598 | $2,517 | $1,446 | $1,646 |
| Debt per resident | $221 | $4,565 | $1,847 | $468 |
| Unfunded pension per resident | $32 | $3,295 | $585 | $2,197 |
| City staff per 1,000 residents | 0.7 | 9.8 | 4.9 | 8.3 |
Figures as shown in each city's section, divided by its population. Years differ by state, and pension figures are measured differently in each state (each city page says how). Aliso Viejo and Poway pays another agency for police or fire, so its own staff count is lower.
What Aliso Viejo publishes
What a resident can find online today. A "no" is something you can ask the council to publish.
- Yes: Adopted budget posted online City of Aliso Viejo
- Yes: City manager's contract findable online City of Aliso Viejo
- Yes: Meeting videos and minutes onlineCouncil meeting videos, agendas, packets and minutes are posted on the city's Granicus archive. City of Aliso Viejo
- Yes: Council pay stated in a public documentThe Compensation & Benefits page states the council's $520 monthly stipend. City of Aliso Viejo
- Yes: Employee pay published City of Aliso Viejo
Questions to ask your council
- The September 2026 forecast shows a $0.9 million operating shortfall in FY2030-31 and the general fund balance slipping from $50.0 million to $48.2 million. What would the council change first if that happens?
- On June 30, 2025, the general fund held $9.4 million unassigned plus $15.7 million assigned for emergencies and unanticipated projects. What total reserve does the council consider enough?
- Public safety, mainly the Sheriff's contract, takes $12.4 million of the $29.9 million general fund budget for FY2026-27. How does the council review that contract's yearly cost increases?
- The city still owes $11.0 million on the 2019 certificates that paid for the Aliso Viejo Ranch. Does the council plan to pay them off early?
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