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Government budget and revenue in Ames, Iowa: official figures

Ames' city government took in $471.63 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $7,044 for each of its 66,950 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 33rd highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$7,044
2024
City government spending per resident
$6,272
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$3,238
2024

How much does Ames spend and on what?

It spent $419.94 million in the same year, $6,272 per resident, the 62nd highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were hospitals (52.2%), the electric utility (15.1%) and public transit (7.6%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Ames collect per resident?

Taxes raised $51.48 million ($769 per resident, the 112th lowest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 13.1% 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 Ames rely on?

Of Ames' tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 67.8%, general sales tax 23.4%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 5.9%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Ames' property tax share is the 190th 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 Ames get?

Payments from other governments made up 5.7% of Ames' city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 1.8% from the federal government ($108 per resident), 3.6% from the state. For all US city governments in 2022 the aid share was 24.3%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Ames raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $273.91 million, 69.8% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $79.05 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Ames spend on police?

Ames' city government spent $10.54 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $157 per resident (the 27th lowest of 582) and 2.5% 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 Ames spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $8.41 million, $126 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Ames have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Ames' city government owed $216.80 million in long-term debt, $3,238 per resident (the 180th highest of 582). During the year it issued $22.40 million of new long-term debt and repaid $21.40 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Ames pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $7.16 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 1.7% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Ames city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 20.5% from $5,846 to $7,044, spending per resident rose 11.9% to $6,272, taxes per resident rose 5.6% to $769.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Ames 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))

Ames ranks 53 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
50Waltham$5,902
51Long Beach$5,892
52Lakeland$5,887
53Ames$5,846
54Norfolk$5,837
55Anchorage$5,806
56Buffalo$5,791
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))

Ames ranks 69 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
66Tacoma$5,635
67Barnstable Town$5,626
68Bridgeport$5,624
69Ames$5,606
70Baton Rouge$5,512
71Revere$5,460
72Lawrence$5,453
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Ames ranks 572 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
569Westfield$736
570Palatine$735
571Albany$730
572Ames$728
573Clovis$728
574Oshkosh$727
575Antioch$725
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))

Ames ranks 708 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
705College Station$149
706Yorba Linda$149
707Johns Creek$148
708Ames$144
709Diamond Bar$138
710Deltona$132
711Moreno Valley$128
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))

Ames ranks 200 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
197Tulsa$3,238
198Virginia Beach$3,225
199San Luis Obispo$3,196
200Ames$3,183
201Longmont$3,178
202Oxnard$3,174
203Orlando$3,146
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))

Ames ranks 187 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
184Rochester69.6%
185Garland69.5%
186Jeffersonville69.1%
187Ames69.0%
188Waterloo68.9%
189Salem68.9%
190Bowie68.6%
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))

Ames ranks 350 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
347Bradenton18.3%
348Lenexa18.3%
349North Miami18.2%
350Ames18.2%
351La Habra18.2%
352Ankeny18.2%
353Paramount18.2%
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))

Ames ranks 33 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
30Springfield$7,287
31Philadelphia$7,208
32Trenton$7,103
33Ames$7,044
34Pasadena$6,910
35Norfolk$6,898
36Harrisonburg$6,838
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))

Ames ranks 62 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
59New Orleans$6,502
60Mountain View$6,501
61Portsmouth$6,277
62Ames$6,272
63Baton Rouge$6,268
64Roseville$6,264
65Lakeland$6,222
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Ames ranks 471 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
468Miami Gardens$783
469Novi$781
470Moreno Valley$776
471Ames$769
472Pasco$765
473Lauderhill$763
474Reno$761
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))

Ames ranks 556 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
553Santa Clarita$163
554Madison$159
555Smyrna$158
556Ames$157
557Greenwood$153
558Haverhill$148
559Sammamish$141
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))

Ames ranks 180 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
177Bloomington$3,268
178St. Petersburg$3,253
179Muncie$3,240
180Ames$3,238
181Sarasota$3,222
182Lafayette$3,214
183Scottsdale$3,190
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))

Ames ranks 190 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
187St. Petersburg68.4%
188Greenwood68.3%
189Dallas68.3%
190Ames67.8%
191Chapel Hill67.6%
192Tallahassee67.5%
193West Palm Beach67.4%
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))

Ames ranks 547 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
544Eagle Mountain5.9%
545Mobile5.9%
546Midland5.8%
547Ames5.7%
548Lake Elsinore5.5%
549Richardson5.5%
550Redwood City5.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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