Government budget and revenue in Atlanta, Georgia: official figures
Atlanta's city government took in $3.2 billion in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $6,401 for each of its 499,127 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 49th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.
How much does Atlanta spend and on what?
It spent $2.7 billion in the same year, $5,426 per resident, the 93rd 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 (15.0%), airports (14.9%) and police (11.4%) of the total.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does Atlanta collect per resident?
Taxes raised $1.1 billion ($2,198 per resident, the 64th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 37.7% of general revenue, compared with 49.3% for all US city governments combined in 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat taxes does Atlanta rely on?
Of Atlanta's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 64.1%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 23.5%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Atlanta's property tax share is the 215th highest of 580 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much federal and state money does Atlanta get?
Payments from other governments made up 21.1% of Atlanta's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 3.8% from the federal government ($220 per resident), 1.0% from the state and 16.3% from other local governments. For all US city governments in 2022 the aid share was 24.3%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Atlanta raise from fees and utilities?
Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $1.0 billion, 35.9% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $284.29 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Atlanta spend on police?
Atlanta's city government spent $308.37 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $618 per resident (the 49th highest of 582) and 11.4% of its total spending; police took 10.3% of spending across all US city governments in 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Atlanta spend on fire protection?
Fire protection cost $118.66 million, $238 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much debt does Atlanta have?
At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Atlanta's city government owed $9.0 billion in long-term debt, $17,934 per resident (the 3rd highest of 582). During the year it issued $1.4 billion of new long-term debt and repaid $267.42 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Atlanta pay in interest on its debt?
Interest on debt cost $552.61 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 20.4% of total spending.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow has the Atlanta city budget changed?
Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 41.8% from $4,514 to $6,401, spending per resident rose 57.7% to $5,426, taxes per resident rose 28.5% to $2,198.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Atlanta 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))
Atlanta ranks 104 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.
| Rank | City | City government total revenue per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 101 | Weymouth Town | $4,592 |
| 102 | Malden | $4,578 |
| 103 | Celina | $4,523 |
| 104 | Atlanta | $4,514 |
| 105 | Haverhill | $4,501 |
| 106 | Methuen | $4,499 |
| 107 | Anaheim | $4,449 |
City government total spending per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Atlanta ranks 181 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.
| Rank | City | City government total spending per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 178 | Evansville | $3,461 |
| 179 | Owensboro | $3,457 |
| 180 | North Little Rock | $3,447 |
| 181 | Atlanta | $3,441 |
| 182 | Hillsboro | $3,435 |
| 183 | Dallas | $3,425 |
| 184 | Hollywood | $3,372 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Atlanta ranks 105 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.
| Rank | City | City taxes collected per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 102 | Redwood City | $1,720 |
| 103 | Dublin | $1,719 |
| 104 | Cupertino | $1,711 |
| 105 | Atlanta | $1,711 |
| 106 | Lynn | $1,700 |
| 107 | New Orleans | $1,693 |
| 108 | Burbank | $1,689 |
City spending on police per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Atlanta ranks 171 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.
| Rank | City | City spending on police per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 168 | Fremont | $417 |
| 169 | Garden Grove | $417 |
| 170 | Minnetonka | $417 |
| 171 | Atlanta | $416 |
| 172 | Lebanon | $415 |
| 173 | Oxnard | $415 |
| 174 | Kansas City | $414 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Atlanta ranks 6 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.
| Rank | City | City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Salt Lake City | $20,122 |
| 4 | Gainesville | $16,205 |
| 5 | New York | $15,407 |
| 6 | Atlanta | $15,138 |
| 7 | San Mateo | $14,778 |
| 8 | Nashville | $13,658 |
| 9 | Miami Beach | $13,578 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Atlanta ranks 269 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.
| Rank | City | Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 266 | Charlotte | 60.8% |
| 267 | Rocky Mount | 60.6% |
| 268 | Fort Worth | 60.6% |
| 269 | Atlanta | 60.4% |
| 270 | Lansing | 60.2% |
| 271 | Homestead | 60.2% |
| 272 | Sunnyvale | 60.1% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Atlanta ranks 327 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.
| Rank | City | Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 324 | Mooresville | 19.3% |
| 325 | Ogden | 19.3% |
| 326 | Sacramento | 19.3% |
| 327 | Atlanta | 19.3% |
| 328 | Vallejo | 19.3% |
| 329 | Victorville | 19.1% |
| 330 | Vineland | 19.0% |
City government total revenue per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Atlanta ranks 49 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.
| Rank | City | City government total revenue per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 46 | Norman | $6,455 |
| 47 | Tacoma | $6,442 |
| 48 | Ocala | $6,433 |
| 49 | Atlanta | $6,401 |
| 50 | Lakeland | $6,319 |
| 51 | Framingham | $6,303 |
| 52 | Buffalo | $6,252 |
City government total spending per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Atlanta ranks 93 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.
| Rank | City | City government total spending per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 90 | Ontario | $5,520 |
| 91 | West New York | $5,510 |
| 92 | New Bedford | $5,475 |
| 93 | Atlanta | $5,426 |
| 94 | Tallahassee | $5,339 |
| 95 | Santa Barbara | $5,223 |
| 96 | Memphis | $5,192 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Atlanta ranks 64 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.
| Rank | City | City taxes collected per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 61 | San Luis Obispo | $2,240 |
| 62 | Pasadena | $2,235 |
| 63 | Waterbury | $2,216 |
| 64 | Atlanta | $2,198 |
| 65 | Portsmouth | $2,163 |
| 66 | Mobile | $2,146 |
| 67 | Portland | $2,139 |
City spending on police per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Atlanta ranks 49 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.
| Rank | City | City spending on police per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 46 | Mountain View | $626 |
| 47 | Anaheim | $624 |
| 48 | Glendale | $622 |
| 49 | Atlanta | $618 |
| 50 | Milwaukee | $616 |
| 51 | Minneapolis | $613 |
| 52 | Sunnyvale | $610 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Atlanta ranks 3 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.
| Rank | City | City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco | $31,933 |
| 2 | Washington | $28,409 |
| 3 | Atlanta | $17,934 |
| 4 | New York | $16,465 |
| 5 | Nashville | $16,121 |
| 6 | Miami Beach | $15,675 |
| 7 | Lansing | $14,340 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Atlanta ranks 215 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.
| Rank | City | Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 212 | High Point | 64.7% |
| 213 | St. Cloud | 64.6% |
| 214 | Sammamish | 64.6% |
| 215 | Atlanta | 64.1% |
| 216 | Wilmington | 63.9% |
| 217 | Little Elm | 63.9% |
| 218 | Plantation | 63.7% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Atlanta ranks 252 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.
| Rank | City | Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 249 | Scottsdale | 21.4% |
| 250 | Hoffman Estates | 21.3% |
| 251 | Iowa City | 21.2% |
| 252 | Atlanta | 21.1% |
| 253 | Southfield | 21.1% |
| 254 | Sterling Heights | 21.1% |
| 255 | Fort Pierce | 21.0% |
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Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit files (item amounts for every sampled government, directory with population and fiscal year end, state estimates by type of government), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0967c4d30466…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: 2022 Census of Governments: State and Local Government Finances, individual unit files (item amounts for every government, directory with population and fiscal year end, state estimates by type of government), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c8de889f6b33…)
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