How San Ramon is run
Who runs San Ramon, 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 San Ramon's own public documents. Every number links to its source and says which year it describes. Checked Oct 9, 2026.
Who runs San Ramon
A city manager hired by the council runs the city day to day and appoints department directors. The council of five, a mayor elected citywide and four members elected by district, passes ordinances and adopts the budget.
What they are paid
- Pay kept at least 9.5% above the next highest paid city job, excluding the city attorney
- $500 a month management incentive pay
- City pays the maximum 457(b) deferred compensation contribution, including the age 50+ catch-up
- CalPERS pension at 2.7% at 55, based on his single highest year; he pays 11% of pay toward pension costs
- Severance of 12 months' base pay plus up to 12 months of city-paid COBRA if fired without cause, rising one month a year to at most 18 months
- 25 days of vacation a year; may cash out up to 80 hours a year
San Ramon city staff
282 full-time-equivalent positions, including Police 89, Public works 106. FY2026-27. Authorized regular positions in the FY2026-27 adopted budget, one more than the FY2025-26 revised budget. The FY2024-25 audited report listed 287.75 authorized employees. City of San Ramon · May 26, 2026
The council-approved salary schedule lists the pay range for every job title, including the city manager, city attorney and council. We found no city list of pay by employee. We name pay only for elected officials and the city manager.
Is San Ramon 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 says it has had a structural deficit for at least six years: the cost of current services keeps growing faster than ongoing revenue. The council treats Measure N, a 1% sales tax voters approved in November 2024 for 10 years, as 10 one-time allocations while it works toward balance. Measure N is budgeted at $14.9 million (17% of general fund revenue) in FY2026-27. After transfers, the FY2026-27 general fund budget adds about $1 million to fund balance. A 10-year long-term financial plan was set for the council on July 14, 2026. City of San Ramon · May 26, 2026
Savings against the city's own target
Unassigned general fund balance: $18.3M (2025-06-30). The city's own target: Keep general fund balance of at least 36% of estimated general fund spending, including the yearly transfer to the Dougherty Valley fund. The city compares this with its available general fund balance, $29.1 million at June 30, 2025, of which $18.3 million was unassigned and $10.7 million committed for future revenue stabilization. The city meets this target. City of San Ramon · Jan 12, 2026
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
- Property tax$27.9M · 33%
- Measure N sales tax (1%)$14.9M · 18%
- Sales tax$14.1M · 17%
- Charges for services$9.4M · 11%
- Franchise fees$4.5M · 5%
- Licenses and permits$4M · 5%
- Miscellaneous revenue$4M · 5%
- Other (hotel tax, state and federal aid, interest, transfer tax, fines)$6.4M · 7%
Goes to (FY2026-27)
- Police$24.6M · 29%
- Public works$20.2M · 23%
- Parks and community services$12.9M · 15%
- Transfers to other funds (includes the Dougherty Valley subsidy)$9M · 11%
- City administration (council, manager, attorney, clerk, IT)$8.7M · 10%
- Community development$6.6M · 8%
- Finance$2.5M · 3%
- Other (human resources)$1.4M · 2%
Who provides your services
Not everything in San Ramon is run by the city. Who provides a service decides whose budget pays for it and whose election decides it.
- Police dispatchContractorSan Ramon Valley Fire Protection DistrictUnder a city contractCity of San Ramon · May 26, 2026
- Fire protectionSeparate districtSan Ramon Valley Fire Protection DistrictCity of San Ramon · Jan 12, 2026
- WaterSeparate districtEast Bay Municipal Utility District and Dublin San Ramon Services DistrictCity of San Ramon · May 26, 2026
- Trash and recyclingContractorAlameda County Industries (ACI)Exclusive franchise with the cityCity of San Ramon
- Animal controlContractorContra Costa CountyCity of San Ramon · May 26, 2026
- Parks and recreationThe citySan Ramon Parks and Community Services and Public WorksCity of San Ramon · Jan 12, 2026
- StreetsThe citySan Ramon Public WorksCity of San Ramon · Jan 12, 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 | Buena ParkCA | San RamonCA | Santa BarbaraCA | HawthorneCA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 82,850 | 84,220 | 85,083 | 85,515 |
| Top administrator's base pay | $332,426 | $366,233 | $353,577 | $323,400 |
| Council member pay | $17,676 | $13,031 | $66,416 | Not confirmed |
| General fund per resident | $1,299 | $1,021 | $2,609 | $1,368 |
| Debt per resident | $1,123 | $603 | $3,020 | $1,789 |
| Unfunded pension per resident | $673 | $557 | $4,638 | $203 |
| City staff per 1,000 residents | 3.8 | 3.3 | 13.6 | 4.9 |
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). Buena Park and San Ramon pays another agency for police or fire, so its own staff count is lower.
What San Ramon publishes
What a resident can find online today. A "no" is something you can ask the council to publish.
- Yes: Adopted budget posted onlineThe FY2026-27 adopted budget book, with the adopting resolution, is posted on the city's finance page. City of San Ramon · May 26, 2026
- Yes: City manager's contract findable onlineThe amended and restated agreement with Steven Spedowfski is in the Jan. 13, 2026 council packet. City of San Ramon · Jan 13, 2026
- Yes: Council votes recorded member by member onlineMinutes list each member's vote by name, such as the 5-0 vote on the executive salary agreement on June 23, 2026. City of San Ramon · Jun 23, 2026
- Yes: Meeting videos and minutes onlineThe city's CivicClerk portal posts the agenda, packet, signed minutes and a meeting video for council meetings such as June 23, 2026. City of San Ramon
- Yes: Council pay stated in a public documentThe salary schedule lists council pay of $1,085.94 a month and mayor pay of $1,185.94 a month under Ordinance No. 365. City of San Ramon · Jun 23, 2026
- Partly: Employee pay published City of San Ramon · Jun 23, 2026
Questions to ask your council
- Measure N is budgeted at $14.9 million in FY2026-27 and is set to end after 10 years. What changes to spending or revenue will close the structural gap before it expires?
- Unassigned general fund balance was $18.3 million on June 30, 2025. How much of it should be held for the period after Measure N ends?
- The general fund sends $9.0 million to other funds in FY2026-27, including a subsidy for Dougherty Valley services. How will the council decide the size of that subsidy in future years?
- Net pension liability was $46.9 million in the latest audited report, and outstanding debt was $50.8 million, mostly pension obligation bonds and certificates. What is the plan for paying these down?
The fiscal year runs July 1 to June 30. The council sets its priorities at a retreat in late January or early February, where it usually sees the 5-year general fund forecast. Budget workshops followed on April 14 and April 28, 2026, the council reviewed the preliminary budget on May 12, and it adopted the FY2026-27 budget on May 26, 2026. See who is running for council
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