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Government budget and revenue in Asheville, North Carolina: official figures

Asheville's city government took in $299.15 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $3,190 for each of its 93,776 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 229th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$3,190
2024
City government spending per resident
$3,258
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$1,947
2024

How much does Asheville spend and on what?

It spent $305.55 million in the same year, $3,258 per resident, the 213th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were the water utility (14.2%), fire protection (13.9%) and police (12.2%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Asheville collect per resident?

Taxes raised $130.21 million ($1,389 per resident, the 164th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 61.2% 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 Asheville rely on?

Of Asheville's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 60.4%, general sales tax 30.0%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 3.1%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Asheville's property tax share is the 244th 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 Asheville get?

Payments from other governments made up 14.8% of Asheville's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 7.2% from the federal government ($164 per resident), 6.7% from the state and 0.9% 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 Asheville raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $37.62 million, 17.7% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $46.25 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Asheville spend on police?

Asheville's city government spent $37.17 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $396 per resident (the 223rd highest of 582) and 12.2% 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 Asheville spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $42.40 million, $452 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Asheville have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Asheville's city government owed $182.56 million in long-term debt, $1,947 per resident (the 251st lowest of 582). During the year it issued $26.82 million of new long-term debt and repaid $11.42 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Asheville pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $8.22 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 2.7% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Asheville city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 5.8% from $3,014 to $3,190, spending per resident rose 21.4% to $3,258, taxes per resident rose 2.3% to $1,389.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Asheville 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))

Asheville ranks 227 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
224Council Bluffs$3,024
225Sacramento$3,024
226Herriman$3,018
227Asheville$3,014
228Evanston$3,011
229Richmond$3,004
230West Des Moines$2,994
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))

Asheville ranks 265 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
262Carlsbad$2,702
263Lodi$2,691
264Vallejo$2,688
265Asheville$2,684
266Dubuque$2,683
267Conroe$2,679
268Columbus$2,644
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Asheville ranks 176 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
173Encinitas$1,360
174Costa Mesa$1,359
175Redlands$1,358
176Asheville$1,357
177Roseville$1,357
178Hoboken$1,356
179Folsom$1,352
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))

Asheville ranks 361 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
358Sanford$318
359Murrieta$318
360Utica$317
361Asheville$317
362Irving$317
363Worcester$317
364Madison$317
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))

Asheville ranks 404 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
401Warwick$1,744
402Fairfield$1,741
403Elk Grove$1,741
404Asheville$1,739
405Midland$1,738
406Smyrna$1,734
407El Monte$1,713
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))

Asheville ranks 211 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
208Bradenton66.3%
209Greensboro66.2%
210Yorba Linda66.2%
211Asheville66.1%
212Apex65.8%
213Sioux City65.7%
214Orlando65.7%
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))

Asheville ranks 317 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
314Minneapolis19.9%
315Hialeah19.8%
316Raleigh19.8%
317Asheville19.8%
318Lynwood19.8%
319Grand Forks19.6%
320Tempe19.5%
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))

Asheville ranks 229 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
226Lancaster$3,239
227Vacaville$3,222
228Fort Smith$3,205
229Asheville$3,190
230Louisville/Jefferson County metro government$3,189
231Grand Forks$3,186
232Madison$3,186
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))

Asheville ranks 213 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
210Daytona Beach$3,296
211San Jose$3,284
212Riverside$3,278
213Asheville$3,258
214Jonesboro$3,242
215Waterloo$3,228
216Bowling Green$3,220
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Asheville ranks 164 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
161Council Bluffs$1,403
162Rapid City$1,401
163Cedar Rapids$1,396
164Asheville$1,389
165Euless$1,389
166Fort Myers$1,387
167Bentonville$1,385
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))

Asheville ranks 223 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
220Auburn$397
221Holly Springs$397
222Miramar$397
223Asheville$396
224North Charleston$396
225Trenton$396
226Bothell$395
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))

Asheville ranks 332 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
329Minneapolis$1,956
330Lakeville$1,954
331Greeley$1,952
332Asheville$1,947
333Collierville$1,939
334Casa Grande$1,934
335Tucson$1,909
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))

Asheville ranks 244 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
241Lauderhill61.0%
242North Miami60.8%
243Chicago60.6%
244Asheville60.4%
245Palm Bay60.3%
246Rocky Mount60.0%
247Tamarac59.8%
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))

Asheville ranks 352 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
349Tinley Park14.9%
350Albany14.9%
351San Antonio14.8%
352Asheville14.8%
353Corona14.7%
354Santee14.7%
355Coon Rapids14.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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