How Saratoga is run
Who runs Saratoga, 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 Saratoga's own public documents. Every number links to its source and says which year it describes. Checked Oct 10, 2026.
Who runs Saratoga
Five council members elected at large set policy, pass ordinances and adopt the budget. They hire the City Manager, who runs daily operations, and the City Attorney. Fire, sewer, trash and water come from other agencies, and police come by contract.
What they are paid
- Six months' salary plus health and dental coverage as severance if fired without cause in FY2026-27, rising one month a year to a maximum of 12
- Cannot be fired without cause for 90 days after a council member is elected
- City pays 92% of the Kaiser premium for her coverage level
- Car allowance of $350 a month
- 176 hours of paid time off and 65 hours of administrative leave a year
- May join the city's CalPERS pension plan; all five members have
Saratoga city staff
57 full-time-equivalent positions. FY2026-27. City of Saratoga · Jun 17, 2026
The city posts an annualized salary schedule for every job class, including the City Manager. We did not pull pay bands from the State Controller's database. We name pay only for elected officials and the city manager.
Is Saratoga 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 the FY2026-27 budget is balanced but relies on temporary measures, using $1.2M of unassigned reserves and $1.5M of capital reserves. Its five-year forecast shows spending outpacing revenue, with unassigned reserves used up in about four years. A $2.6M rise in the Sheriff contract is the largest cost driver. City of Saratoga · Jun 17, 2026
Savings
Unassigned general fund balance: $11.8M (2025-06-30). City of Saratoga · Dec 3, 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
- Property tax$22.1M · 63%
- Charges for services$6.8M · 19%
- Other taxes$2.4M · 7%
- Interest and rents (use of money and property)$1.7M · 5%
- Franchises and surcharges$1.6M · 4%
- Other (state and county aid, fines)$658,100 · 2%
Goes to (FY2026-27)
- Public safety (Sheriff contract)$11.9M · 34%
- Public works$9.6M · 27%
- Community development$4.7M · 14%
- Non-departmental$3.3M · 9%
- City Manager's department$1.8M · 5%
- Community services$1M · 3%
- Other (administrative services, council)$2.5M · 7%
Who provides your services
Not everything in Saratoga is run by the city. Who provides a service decides whose budget pays for it and whose election decides it.
- PoliceContractorSanta Clara County Sheriff's OfficeCity of Saratoga · Jun 17, 2026
- Fire protectionSeparate districtSaratoga Fire Protection District and Santa Clara County Fire DistrictBoth districts are operated by the Santa Clara County Fire Department.City of Saratoga · Jun 17, 2026
- Animal controlAnother agencyCity of San Jose Animal Care and ServicesCity of Saratoga · Jun 17, 2026
- Streets and storm drainsThe cityCity of Saratoga Public WorksCity of Saratoga · Jun 17, 2026
- Parks and trailsThe cityCity of Saratoga Public WorksCity of Saratoga · Jun 17, 2026
- RecreationContractorLos Gatos Saratoga RecreationCity of Saratoga · Jun 17, 2026
- LibrarySeparate districtSanta Clara County Library DistrictCity of Saratoga · Jun 17, 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 | LawndaleCA | SaratogaCA | La VerneCA | San PabloCA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 31,130 | 31,261 | 31,466 | 31,468 |
| Top administrator's base pay | $255,000 | $335,000 | $275,679 | $327,180 |
| Council member pay | $11,400 | $3,000 | $11,400 | $17,064 |
| General fund per resident | $744 | $1,114 | $1,557 | $1,919 |
| Debt per resident | $8 | $165 | $1,556 | $1,587 |
| Unfunded pension per resident | $348 | $302 | $746 | $1,875 |
| City staff per 1,000 residents | 2.2 | 1.8 | 6.3 | 5.0 |
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). Lawndale and Saratoga pays another agency for police or fire, so its own staff count is lower.
What Saratoga publishes
What a resident can find online today. A "no" is something you can ask the council to publish.
- Yes: City manager's contract findable online City of Saratoga
- Yes: Council votes recorded member by member onlineMinutes list each member's vote, e.g. the 4-1 vote adopting the FY2026-27 budget. City of Saratoga · Jun 17, 2026
- Yes: Meeting videos and minutes onlineCouncil meeting videos are archived on the city's Meeting Videos page, and minutes are posted in the Agenda Center. City of Saratoga
- Yes: Council pay stated in a public documentThe city salary schedule lists City Council Member pay of $3,000 a year. City of Saratoga · Jul 1, 2026
- Yes: Employee pay publishedThe city posts an annualized salary schedule with pay steps for every job class, including the City Manager. City of Saratoga · Jul 1, 2026
Questions to ask your council
- The FY2026-27 budget uses $1.2M of unassigned reserves and $1.5M of capital reserves, and the forecast shows unassigned reserves used up in about four years. Which cuts or new revenues will the council weigh first?
- Public safety, mostly the Sheriff contract, is budgeted at $11.9M of the $34.8M general fund in FY2026-27, after a $2.6M contract increase. Which service levels will the council choose to control that cost?
- Unassigned reserves were $11.8M at June 30, 2025, and the FY2026-27 budget draws $1.2M from them. How much does the council want to keep in reserve before it considers new revenue?
The fiscal year starts July 1. Budget work begins in January, when the City Manager and council set priorities and a multi-year forecast is presented. The council adopted the FY2026-27 budget on June 17, 2026 on a 4-1 vote. See who is running for council
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