State IntegrityReceipts, not verdicts

Government budget and revenue in Alexandria, Virginia: official figures

Alexandria's city government took in $1.2 billion in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $7,908 for each of its 155,525 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 24th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$7,908
2024
City government spending per resident
$9,767
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$10,616
2024

How much does Alexandria spend and on what?

It spent $1.5 billion in the same year, $9,767 per resident, the 15th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were elementary and secondary schools (24.4%), sewerage (11.5%) and public transit (10.9%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Alexandria collect per resident?

Taxes raised $784.19 million ($5,042 per resident, the 8th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 63.8% of general revenue, compared with 49.3% for all US city governments combined in 2022.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What taxes does Alexandria rely on?

Of Alexandria's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 77.8%, general sales tax 6.1%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 8.8%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Alexandria's property tax share is the 137th highest of 580 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much federal and state money does Alexandria get?

Payments from other governments made up 19.3% of Alexandria's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 9.6% from the federal government ($757 per resident), 8.7% from the state and 1.0% from other local governments. For all US city governments in 2022 the aid share was 24.3%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Alexandria raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $123.38 million, 10.0% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Alexandria spend on police?

Alexandria's city government spent $81.56 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $524 per resident (the 94th highest of 582) and 5.4% of its total spending; police took 10.3% of spending across all US city governments in 2022.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Alexandria spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $62.89 million, $404 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Does Alexandria city government run the schools?

Alexandria's city government also pays for public schools: elementary and secondary education took $370.87 million, 24.4% of its spending in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, which in most US cities is spent by a separate school district instead.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Alexandria have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Alexandria's city government owed $1.7 billion in long-term debt, $10,616 per resident (the 13th highest of 582). During the year it issued $400.49 million of new long-term debt and repaid $72.53 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Alexandria pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $52.28 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 3.4% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Alexandria city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 13.0% from $6,996 to $7,908, spending per resident rose 19.1% to $9,767, taxes per resident rose 9.9% to $5,042.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Alexandria compares with other cities in the United States

City government total revenue per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Alexandria ranks 20 of 731, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity government total revenue per resident, 2022
17Springfield$7,088
18Baton Rouge$7,049
19Newton$7,010
20Alexandria$6,996
21Denver$6,871
22Harrisonburg$6,851
23Seattle$6,816
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City government total spending per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Alexandria ranks 12 of 731, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity government total spending per resident, 2022
9Miami Beach$9,731
10Baltimore$8,631
11Hartford$8,244
12Alexandria$8,202
13Boston$8,117
14Flint$7,912
15Nashville$7,883
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City taxes collected per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Alexandria ranks 8 of 731, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity taxes collected per resident, 2022
5Miami Beach$4,949
6Cambridge$4,761
7Stamford$4,634
8Alexandria$4,588
9Boston$4,508
10Santa Monica$4,116
11Norwalk$4,057
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City spending on police per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Alexandria ranks 97 of 731, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity spending on police per resident, 2022
94Davie$484
95Redding$484
96San Luis Obispo$483
97Alexandria$482
98Mesa$481
99Sacramento$479
100Chino$478
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Alexandria ranks 41 of 731, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022
38Baltimore$7,428
39Suffolk$7,331
40Seattle$7,295
41Alexandria$7,262
42Fargo$7,213
43San Antonio$7,206
44Schaumburg$7,003
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Alexandria ranks 145 of 730, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityProperty tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022
142West Des Moines77.8%
143St. Louis Park77.1%
144Hollywood76.9%
145Alexandria76.9%
146Frederick76.7%
147Minneapolis76.2%
148Meridian75.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Alexandria ranks 332 of 730, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityFederal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022
329Victorville19.1%
330Vineland19.0%
331St. Petersburg19.0%
332Alexandria19.0%
333Santa Clarita19.0%
334Albany19.0%
335Waukesha18.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City government total revenue per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Alexandria ranks 24 of 582, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity government total revenue per resident, 2024
21Rochester$8,073
22Hartford$8,029
23New Brunswick$7,999
24Alexandria$7,908
25Portland$7,889
26Lansing$7,803
27Baton Rouge$7,748
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City government total spending per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Alexandria ranks 15 of 582, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity government total spending per resident, 2024
12Boston$10,128
13Baltimore$10,055
14Richmond$9,932
15Alexandria$9,767
16Nashville$9,448
17Kissimmee$9,002
18Rochester$8,720
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City taxes collected per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Alexandria ranks 8 of 582, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity taxes collected per resident, 2024
5Cambridge$5,575
6Boston$5,508
7Newton$5,294
8Alexandria$5,042
9Santa Monica$4,430
10Norwalk$4,194
11Waltham$3,891
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City spending on police per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Alexandria ranks 94 of 582, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity spending on police per resident, 2024
91Jersey City$526
92West Allis$525
93Stockton$525
94Alexandria$524
95Pensacola$524
96Flint$523
97Newark$522
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Alexandria ranks 13 of 582, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024
10Pflugerville$12,628
11Waco$12,382
12Springfield$11,472
13Alexandria$10,616
14Quincy$10,437
15Waukesha$10,415
16Chicago$10,324
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Alexandria ranks 137 of 580, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityProperty tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024
134Buffalo79.4%
135Frederick79.3%
136Caldwell79.3%
137Alexandria77.8%
138Edina77.5%
139Delray Beach77.0%
140Palm Beach Gardens76.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Alexandria ranks 276 of 582, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityFederal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024
273Fayetteville19.4%
274Mishawaka19.4%
275Stamford19.4%
276Alexandria19.3%
277Dunwoody19.3%
278Sanford19.1%
279Marietta19.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

More on Alexandria: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · all cities in the United States

Sources

Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.