State capacity shortage, California public employee edition

California spending on city workers has grown 76% since 2010. Inflation over that period was 42%, meaning that real wage growth increased 185%. Much of that cost comes from exponentially increasing pension costs. Meanwhile, California population has declined slightingly over that period. Are city services 185% than 2010?

Anyone know the core factors affecting the wide disbursement of city employee costs per resident? Are the sub-thousand dollar cities having services largely provided by the County or another overlapping jurisdiction?

https://www.mercurynews.com

5 charts that show how California cities spent $37 billion on public employees last year

The cost of employing these workers is more than wages and overtime. In San Jose, about 18% of employee costs go toward retirement accounts and health insurance premiums.