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Government budget and revenue in Anchorage, Alaska: official figures

Anchorage's city government took in $1.6 billion in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, or $5,700 for each of its 287,145 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 72nd highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$5,700
2024
City government spending per resident
$6,210
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$4,301
2024

How much does Anchorage spend and on what?

It spent $1.8 billion in the same year, $6,210 per resident, the 66th 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 (47.5%), police (8.8%) and fire protection (7.1%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Anchorage collect per resident?

Taxes raised $749.85 million ($2,611 per resident, the 37th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 48.0% 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 Anchorage rely on?

Of Anchorage's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, property tax made up 81.2%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 14.5%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Anchorage's property tax share is the 131st 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 Anchorage get?

Payments from other governments made up 33.0% of Anchorage's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023: 1.9% from the federal government ($104 per resident), 31.1% 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 Anchorage raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $171.52 million, 11.0% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $74.39 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Anchorage spend on police?

Anchorage's city government spent $156.34 million on police in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, $544 per resident (the 79th highest of 582) and 8.8% 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 Anchorage spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $126.92 million, $442 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Does Anchorage city government run the schools?

Anchorage's city government also pays for public schools: elementary and secondary education took $847.87 million, 47.5% of its spending in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, which in most US cities is spent by a separate school district instead.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Anchorage have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, Anchorage's city government owed $1.2 billion in long-term debt, $4,301 per resident (the 114th highest of 582). During the year it issued $39.85 million of new long-term debt and repaid $103.82 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Anchorage pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $51.59 million in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 2.9% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Anchorage city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident fell 1.8% from $5,806 to $5,700, spending per resident fell 6.8% to $6,210, taxes per resident rose 2.7% to $2,611.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Anchorage 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))

Anchorage ranks 55 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
52Lakeland$5,887
53Ames$5,846
54Norfolk$5,837
55Anchorage$5,806
56Buffalo$5,791
57Stamford$5,758
58New Orleans$5,749
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))

Anchorage ranks 30 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
27Yonkers$6,768
28Trenton$6,762
29Philadelphia$6,714
30Anchorage$6,665
31Waterbury$6,620
32Watsonville$6,617
33Lansing$6,600
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Anchorage ranks 34 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
31Denver$2,609
32Yonkers$2,574
33Newport Beach$2,545
34Anchorage$2,542
35Virginia Beach$2,531
36Hartford$2,501
37Waterbury$2,486
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))

Anchorage ranks 73 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
70South Bend$521
71Hayward$521
72Sunrise$516
73Anchorage$515
74San Mateo$514
75Glendale$512
76Concord$511
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))

Anchorage ranks 115 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
112Lynchburg$4,503
113Norman$4,373
114Madison$4,364
115Anchorage$4,346
116Nashua$4,341
117Kingsport$4,320
118Cambridge$4,299
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))

Anchorage ranks 127 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
124Somerville85.7%
125Albany85.0%
126Rochester84.8%
127Anchorage84.0%
128Westfield83.8%
129Woodbury83.6%
130Noblesville83.5%
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))

Anchorage ranks 80 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
77North Las Vegas38.8%
78Kokomo38.8%
79Millcreek38.7%
80Anchorage38.4%
81Kentwood38.4%
82Newport News38.3%
83Sandy Springs38.2%
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))

Anchorage ranks 72 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
69Los Angeles$5,808
70Norwalk$5,805
71East Orange$5,782
72Anchorage$5,700
73Lynn$5,687
74Hampton$5,657
75Fall River$5,649
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))

Anchorage ranks 66 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
63Baton Rouge$6,268
64Roseville$6,264
65Lakeland$6,222
66Anchorage$6,210
67Gainesville$6,165
68Lynchburg$6,143
69Galveston$6,142
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Anchorage ranks 37 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
34Norfolk$2,654
35Peabody$2,621
36Newport News$2,615
37Anchorage$2,611
38Weymouth Town$2,606
39Galveston$2,587
40Roanoke$2,574
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))

Anchorage ranks 79 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
76Whittier$555
77Davie$552
78Sunrise$545
79Anchorage$544
80Redding$544
81Santa Ana$543
82Melbourne$540
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))

Anchorage ranks 114 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
111Detroit$4,363
112Phoenix$4,323
113Midland$4,314
114Anchorage$4,301
115Commerce City$4,279
116Tallahassee$4,274
117Richardson$4,266
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))

Anchorage ranks 131 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
128Coon Rapids82.4%
129Eden Prairie81.9%
130Coeur d'Alene81.4%
131Anchorage81.2%
132Meridian81.2%
133Berwyn81.1%
134Buffalo79.4%
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))

Anchorage ranks 115 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
112Harrisburg33.5%
113Chesapeake33.2%
114Lorain33.1%
115Anchorage33.0%
116Jersey City32.7%
117Elgin32.6%
118Noblesville32.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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