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Government budget and revenue in Athens, Georgia: official figures

The Athens-Clarke County Unified Government took in $483.16 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $3,758 for each of its 128,561 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 172nd highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$3,758
2024
City government spending per resident
$3,079
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$3,850
2024

How much does Athens spend and on what?

It spent $395.81 million in the same year, $3,079 per resident, the 229th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were police (9.9%), parks and recreation (6.0%) and roads and highways (6.0%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Athens collect per resident?

Taxes raised $134.06 million ($1,043 per resident, the 277th lowest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 29.0% 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 Athens rely on?

Of Athens' tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 73.2%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 22.7%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Athens' property tax share is the 150th 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 Athens get?

Payments from other governments made up 33.6% of the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 5.2% from the federal government ($185 per resident), 2.3% from the state and 26.2% 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 Athens raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $129.48 million, 28.1% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $21.55 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Athens spend on police?

The Athens-Clarke County Unified Government spent $39.11 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $304 per resident (the 196th lowest of 582) and 9.9% 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 Athens spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $18.79 million, $146 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Athens have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government owed $494.96 million in long-term debt, $3,850 per resident (the 135th highest of 582). During the year it issued $55.98 million of new long-term debt and repaid $21.54 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Athens pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $33.22 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 8.4% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Athens city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 33.3% from $2,819 to $3,758, spending per resident rose 24.5% to $3,079, taxes per resident rose 17.9% to $1,043.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Athens 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))

Athens ranks 257 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
254Victorville$2,861
255St. Cloud$2,853
256Everett$2,849
257Athens$2,819
258Corona$2,815
259Elizabeth$2,791
260South Jordan$2,791
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))

Athens ranks 304 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
301Ann Arbor$2,481
302Provo$2,479
303Woodland$2,477
304Athens$2,473
305Pico Rivera$2,471
306Boulder$2,464
307Racine$2,454
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Athens ranks 436 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
433Albuquerque$887
434West Haven$886
435Harlingen$885
436Athens$884
437Chandler$884
438Davie$883
439Doral$883
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))

Athens ranks 553 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
550West Valley City$247
551Port St. Lucie$245
552Richland$245
553Athens$245
554Gresham$245
555Middletown$245
556Spokane Valley$244
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))

Athens ranks 191 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
188Winston-Salem$3,324
189Franklin$3,323
190Hampton$3,321
191Athens$3,319
192St. Petersburg$3,310
193Folsom$3,268
194Des Moines$3,267
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))

Athens ranks 166 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
163Portsmouth71.9%
164Newport News71.6%
165Cape Coral71.5%
166Athens71.5%
167Macon-Bibb County71.3%
168Boynton Beach71.3%
169Mount Prospect71.2%
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))

Athens ranks 65 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
62New Orleans41.0%
63Manchester40.8%
64Pensacola40.5%
65Athens39.9%
66Schenectady39.9%
67Hampton39.6%
68Peoria39.5%
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))

Athens ranks 172 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
169San Jose$3,799
170Bowling Green$3,792
171Hollywood$3,785
172Athens$3,758
173Elkhart$3,739
174Garland$3,735
175Sunrise$3,719
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))

Athens 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 spending per resident, 2024
226Pembroke Pines$3,111
227Dearborn$3,102
228Fresno$3,081
229Athens$3,079
230Medford$3,068
231Westminster$3,061
232Dubuque$3,060
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Athens ranks 306 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
303El Paso$1,054
304Riverside$1,050
305New Braunfels$1,047
306Athens$1,043
307Ocala$1,043
308Corvallis$1,038
309Murrieta$1,038
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))

Athens ranks 387 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
384Pasco$307
385Broken Arrow$306
386Warwick$306
387Athens$304
388Somerville$304
389Burnsville$303
390Midwest City$302
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))

Athens ranks 135 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
132Oklahoma City$3,869
133Corona$3,863
134San Jose$3,862
135Athens$3,850
136Chula Vista$3,834
137Revere$3,832
138Manchester$3,827
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))

Athens ranks 150 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
147Newport News74.7%
148Mountain View74.6%
149Hollywood74.2%
150Athens73.2%
151Palm Coast73.2%
152Richmond73.1%
153Rowlett73.0%
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))

Athens ranks 111 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
108Peabody34.0%
109Philadelphia33.8%
110Wheaton33.7%
111Athens33.6%
112Harrisburg33.5%
113Chesapeake33.2%
114Lorain33.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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