State IntegrityReceipts, not verdicts

Government budget and revenue in Arlington, Texas: official figures

Arlington's city government took in $851.19 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, or $2,157 for each of its 394,602 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 140th lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$2,157
2024
City government spending per resident
$2,042
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$5,997
2024

How much does Arlington spend and on what?

It spent $805.88 million in the same year, $2,042 per resident, the 144th lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were police (16.1%), sewerage (12.4%) and parks and recreation (10.4%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Arlington collect per resident?

Taxes raised $438.84 million ($1,112 per resident, the 272nd highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, 59.1% 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 Arlington rely on?

Of Arlington's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, property tax made up 43.7%, general sales tax 41.9%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 12.1%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Arlington's property tax share is the 210th lowest 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 Arlington get?

Payments from other governments made up 9.2% of Arlington's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023: 7.1% from the federal government ($133 per resident), 1.6% 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 Arlington raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $187.94 million, 25.3% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $109.12 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Arlington spend on police?

Arlington's city government spent $129.60 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, $328 per resident (the 238th lowest of 582) and 16.1% 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 Arlington spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $65.28 million, $165 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Arlington have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, Arlington's city government owed $2.4 billion in long-term debt, $5,997 per resident (the 58th highest of 582). During the year it issued $331.91 million of new long-term debt and repaid $328.63 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Arlington pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $84.36 million in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, 10.5% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Arlington city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 15.2% from $1,873 to $2,157, spending per resident rose 28.7% to $2,042, taxes per resident rose 18.2% to $1,112.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Arlington 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))

Arlington ranks 526 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
523Euless$1,896
524Miramar$1,890
525Las Vegas$1,875
526Arlington$1,873
527Rancho Cucamonga$1,868
528Marysville$1,867
529Pocatello$1,864
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))

Arlington ranks 565 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
562Troy$1,595
563Gilbert$1,590
564Winston-Salem$1,588
565Arlington$1,587
566Bethlehem$1,583
567Fountain Valley$1,582
568Eden Prairie$1,577
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Arlington ranks 380 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
377Enid$944
378Passaic$944
379Union City$942
380Arlington$941
381Lakewood$940
382Bellevue$939
383Pico Rivera$937
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))

Arlington ranks 482 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
479Ann Arbor$272
480Louisville/Jefferson County metro government$271
481Gilroy$270
482Arlington$269
483Lowell$269
484Kenner$269
485Valdosta$268
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))

Arlington ranks 62 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
59Bridgeport$6,099
60Lancaster$6,038
61Richmond$5,994
62Arlington$5,964
63Portsmouth$5,868
64West Sacramento$5,769
65Columbus$5,734
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))

Arlington ranks 397 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
394San Mateo46.3%
395Simi Valley46.0%
396Largo45.9%
397Arlington45.6%
398Sarasota45.5%
399Scranton45.5%
400West Valley City45.5%
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))

Arlington ranks 610 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
607Lafayette9.3%
608Scranton9.3%
609Grand Island9.3%
610Arlington9.2%
611Menifee9.0%
612Waco9.0%
613Fort Lauderdale9.0%
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))

Arlington ranks 443 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
440North Miami$2,192
441Irvine$2,175
442Coeur d'Alene$2,169
443Arlington$2,157
444Valdosta$2,153
445St. Cloud$2,143
446St. Cloud$2,143
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))

Arlington ranks 439 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
436Sioux City$2,058
437Conroe$2,054
438Las Vegas$2,049
439Arlington$2,042
440Rowlett$2,041
441Springfield$2,040
442Kenosha$2,036
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Arlington ranks 272 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
269Richland$1,114
270Phoenix$1,113
271Rockville$1,113
272Arlington$1,112
273Holly Springs$1,111
274Omaha$1,105
275Dubuque$1,104
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))

Arlington ranks 345 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
342Missoula$329
343Rapid City$329
344Tigard$328
345Arlington$328
346Salem$328
347Anderson$328
348Wake Forest$328
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))

Arlington ranks 58 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
55Yonkers$6,124
56Lakeland$6,046
57Berwyn$6,026
58Arlington$5,997
59Portsmouth$5,985
60Roseville$5,919
61Galveston$5,849
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))

Arlington ranks 371 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
368Pensacola44.8%
369Bend44.3%
370La Habra43.9%
371Arlington43.7%
372Los Angeles43.7%
373Lawrence43.4%
374Springfield43.4%
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))

Arlington ranks 491 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
488Deerfield Beach9.3%
489Summerville9.2%
490Hoover9.2%
491Arlington9.2%
492Clifton9.1%
493San Luis Obispo9.1%
494Minnetonka9.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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