How National City is run
Who runs National City, 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 National City's own public documents. Every number links to its source and says which year it describes. Checked Oct 9, 2026.
Who runs National City
A city manager appointed by the council runs the city day to day and appoints department heads. The five-member council, a mayor elected citywide and four members elected by district, adopts the budget, passes ordinances and appoints the city manager and the city attorney.
What they are paid
- Cafeteria health benefit of $1,200 a month, plus $250,000 term life and long-term disability insurance
- City car or a $750 monthly vehicle allowance
- CalPERS pension; he pays the full employee share, 8% at signing
- Severance at the rate in the city's executive compensation plan if fired without cause, plus accrued sick and vacation leave
- Three-year term to June 16, 2029, renewing for two years unless notice is given three months ahead
- The $350 council expense allowance was eliminated in 2025
- Mayor's budget includes $12,185 a year in allowances and stipends
National City city staff
382 full-time-equivalent positions, including General fund 277, Internal service funds 27, Sewer service fund 17. FY2026-27. Budgeted full-time equivalent positions in all funds; 276.95 are in the general fund. City of National City · May 18, 2026
The city posts salary schedules for city jobs and compensation histories for the city manager, city attorney and police chief on its Human Resources page. We name pay only for elected officials and the city manager.
Is National City 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.
Savings against the city's own target
Unassigned general fund balance: $26.7M (2024-06-30). The city's own target: Keep general fund unassigned balance of at least 10% of a year's budgeted general fund operating spending. Separately, an economic contingency reserve of at least 20% of general fund operating spending is held as committed balance. The city meets this target. City of National City · Nov 12, 2025
Bar: unassigned savings of $26.7M. Line: the amount the city's target calls for.
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$24.7M · 28%
- Proposition D 1% district sales tax$18.1M · 20%
- Use of unassigned fund balance (reserves)$12.7M · 14%
- Property tax in lieu of vehicle license fees$9.9M · 11%
- Former redevelopment agency residual property tax$4.1M · 5%
- Property taxes$2.7M · 3%
- Hotel tax (transient lodging tax)$2M · 2%
- Other (franchise fees, investment earnings, permits, fees, reimbursements, other)$14.9M · 17%
Goes to (FY2026-27)
- Police$35.9M · 40%
- Fire$16.5M · 18%
- Non-departmental (transfers to pension bond, library and parks funds, retiree costs)$14.5M · 16%
- Engineering and public works$4.3M · 5%
- Finance$3.1M · 3%
- Community services$3.1M · 3%
- Other (city attorney, HR, city manager, neighborhood services, building, council, clerk, planning, housing)$11.7M · 13%
Your property tax bill: who gets it
The city's part is its share of the 1% base levy, about 15 cents of each property-tax dollar here, plus a small library bond rate. The city's share comes from its audited report, which uses the tax rate area with the largest taxable value. Some parts of the city have slightly different rates.
15¢
of each property-tax dollar goes to the city of National City
- County, schools, state school fund (ERAF) and other agencies (share of the 1% levy)0.8228 · 70%
- City of National City (share of the 1% levy)0.1772 · 15%
- Sweetwater Union High School District bonds0.07798 · 7%
- Southwestern Community College District bonds0.04536 · 4%
- National School District bonds0.04102 · 3%
- Metropolitan Water District debt0.007 · <1%
- City of National City library bonds (Proposition H)0.00266 · <1%
- Total (% of assessed value)1.17402
FY2025-26 rates for a National City home in tax rate area 06006 (San Diego County). San Diego County Auditor and Controller
See what a National City home costs each year, line by line →Who provides your services
Not everything in National City is run by the city. Who provides a service decides whose budget pays for it and whose election decides it.
- PoliceThe cityNational City Police DepartmentCity of National City · Nov 12, 2025
- Fire and paramedicsThe cityNational City Fire DepartmentAlso serves the Lower Sweetwater Fire Protection District under contractCity of National City · May 28, 2026
- AmbulanceContractorAmerican Medical Response (AMR)City of National City · May 28, 2026
- Police dispatchThe cityNational City Police Communications CenterCity of National City · May 28, 2026
- WaterAnother agencySweetwater AuthorityTwo of its seven directors are appointed by the mayor of National CitySweetwater Authority
- SewerThe cityCity of National CityCity of National City · May 28, 2026
- LibraryThe cityNational City Public LibraryCity of National City · May 28, 2026
- ParksThe cityCity of National CityCity of National City · May 28, 2026
- StreetsThe cityCity of National CityCity of National City · May 28, 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 | National CityCA | PetalumaCA | Monterey ParkCA | CupertinoCA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 58,701 | 59,160 | 59,649 | 59,765 |
| Top administrator's base pay | $300,000 | $291,000 | $315,732 | $336,810 |
| Council member pay | $20,417 | Not confirmed | $6,000 | Not current (2017) |
| General fund per resident | $1,518 | $1,443 | $1,304 | $1,838 |
| Debt per resident | $1,431 | $1,473 | $2,606 | $199 |
| Unfunded pension per resident | $944 | $2,243 | $378 | $709 |
| City staff per 1,000 residents | 6.5 | 7.1 | 6.6 | 3.5 |
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). Cupertino pays another agency for police or fire, so its own staff count is lower.
What National City publishes
What a resident can find online today. A "no" is something you can ask the council to publish.
- No: Audited financial report filed on timeThe latest posted report covers the year ended June 30, 2024; its audit opinion is dated November 12, 2025. No FY2024-25 report is posted. City of National City
- Partly: Adopted budget posted online City of National City
- Yes: City manager's contract findable online City of National City · Jun 16, 2026
- Yes: Council votes recorded member by member online City of National City · Jun 30, 2026
- Yes: Meeting videos and minutes online City of National City
- Yes: Council pay stated in a public document City of National City · Feb 18, 2025
- Yes: Employee pay publishedThe Human Resources page posts city employee salary schedules and compensation histories for top appointed officials. City of National City
Questions to ask your council
- The FY2026-27 budget uses $12.7 million of unassigned fund balance to cover $89.1 million of general fund spending. What will the unassigned balance be at June 30, 2027, and how will the FY2027-28 budget close the gap?
- The latest audited financial report covers the year ended June 30, 2024, and its audit opinion is dated November 12, 2025. When will the FY2024-25 report be published?
Help decide what comes next
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