Government budget and revenue in Bakersfield, California: official figures
Bakersfield's city government took in $719.37 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $1,752 for each of its 410,647 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 53rd lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.
How much does Bakersfield spend and on what?
It spent $617.16 million in the same year, $1,503 per resident, the 41st lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were police (26.1%), roads and highways (15.2%) and solid waste (12.3%) of the total.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does Bakersfield collect per resident?
Taxes raised $360.25 million ($877 per resident, the 172nd lowest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 53.7% of general revenue, compared with 49.3% for all US city governments combined in 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat taxes does Bakersfield rely on?
Of Bakersfield's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 30.9%, general sales tax 58.5%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 7.2%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Bakersfield's property tax share is the 127th lowest 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 Bakersfield get?
Payments from other governments made up 11.4% of Bakersfield's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 6.4% from the federal government ($104 per resident), 5.0% from the state. For all US city governments in 2022 the aid share was 24.3%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Bakersfield raise from fees and utilities?
Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $168.29 million, 25.1% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $48.76 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Bakersfield spend on police?
Bakersfield's city government spent $161.12 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $392 per resident (the 229th highest of 582) and 26.1% 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 Bakersfield spend on fire protection?
Fire protection cost $60.75 million, $148 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much debt does Bakersfield have?
At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Bakersfield's city government owed $123.46 million in long-term debt, $301 per resident (the 28th lowest of 582). During the year it issued no new long-term debt and repaid $16.70 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Bakersfield pay in interest on its debt?
Interest on debt cost $3.65 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 0.6% of total spending.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow has the Bakersfield city budget changed?
Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident fell 0.1% from $1,754 to $1,752, spending per resident fell 4.0% to $1,503, taxes per resident fell 5.7% to $877.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Bakersfield 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))
Bakersfield ranks 562 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 559 | Provo | $1,756 |
| 560 | Jackson | $1,756 |
| 561 | St. Peters | $1,755 |
| 562 | Bakersfield | $1,754 |
| 563 | Plainfield | $1,751 |
| 564 | Lancaster | $1,748 |
| 565 | Valdosta | $1,748 |
City government total spending per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Bakersfield ranks 578 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 575 | Buena Park | $1,569 |
| 576 | Port St. Lucie | $1,568 |
| 577 | Paramount | $1,567 |
| 578 | Bakersfield | $1,566 |
| 579 | El Monte | $1,564 |
| 580 | Carrollton | $1,560 |
| 581 | Tinley Park | $1,560 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Bakersfield ranks 394 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 391 | Broken Arrow | $933 |
| 392 | Palmdale | $932 |
| 393 | Buena Park | $932 |
| 394 | Bakersfield | $930 |
| 395 | Burlington | $930 |
| 396 | Winston-Salem | $930 |
| 397 | Arvada | $929 |
City spending on police per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Bakersfield ranks 310 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 307 | Chesapeake | $338 |
| 308 | Shreveport | $338 |
| 309 | Edina | $337 |
| 310 | Bakersfield | $337 |
| 311 | Troy | $336 |
| 312 | Largo | $336 |
| 313 | Suffolk | $336 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Bakersfield ranks 668 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 665 | Corvallis | $430 |
| 666 | St. Clair Shores | $427 |
| 667 | San Jacinto | $398 |
| 668 | Bakersfield | $397 |
| 669 | Albany | $388 |
| 670 | Lacey | $383 |
| 671 | Alhambra | $372 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Bakersfield ranks 588 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 585 | Murray | 27.2% |
| 586 | Westminster | 27.1% |
| 587 | El Cajon | 27.0% |
| 588 | Bakersfield | 26.8% |
| 589 | Victorville | 26.8% |
| 590 | Citrus Heights | 26.8% |
| 591 | Petaluma | 26.8% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Bakersfield ranks 394 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 391 | Palm Coast | 16.6% |
| 392 | Smyrna | 16.6% |
| 393 | Deltona | 16.6% |
| 394 | Bakersfield | 16.5% |
| 395 | Brownsville | 16.5% |
| 396 | Diamond Bar | 16.5% |
| 397 | Tamarac | 16.5% |
City government total revenue per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Bakersfield ranks 530 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 527 | Kennewick | $1,773 |
| 528 | Novi | $1,772 |
| 529 | Hanford | $1,768 |
| 530 | Bakersfield | $1,752 |
| 531 | Kokomo | $1,744 |
| 532 | Muncie | $1,714 |
| 533 | Lincoln | $1,714 |
City government total spending per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Bakersfield ranks 542 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 539 | Salinas | $1,515 |
| 540 | Palm Bay | $1,507 |
| 541 | Summerville | $1,504 |
| 542 | Bakersfield | $1,503 |
| 543 | Winston-Salem | $1,497 |
| 544 | Burnsville | $1,483 |
| 545 | Lake Forest | $1,478 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Bakersfield ranks 411 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 408 | Ankeny | $881 |
| 409 | Lacey | $881 |
| 410 | Lake Havasu City | $880 |
| 411 | Bakersfield | $877 |
| 412 | Columbia | $876 |
| 413 | Burnsville | $872 |
| 414 | Conway | $871 |
City spending on police per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Bakersfield 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.
| Rank | City | City spending on police per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 226 | Bothell | $395 |
| 227 | Bellevue | $394 |
| 228 | Tallahassee | $393 |
| 229 | Bakersfield | $392 |
| 230 | Warren | $391 |
| 231 | Tulsa | $391 |
| 232 | Greenville | $391 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Bakersfield ranks 555 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 552 | Lacey | $340 |
| 553 | Pocatello | $333 |
| 554 | St. Clair Shores | $324 |
| 555 | Bakersfield | $301 |
| 556 | Rancho Cucamonga | $283 |
| 557 | Redlands | $280 |
| 558 | Passaic | $272 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Bakersfield ranks 454 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 451 | Overland Park | 31.1% |
| 452 | Kirkland | 31.0% |
| 453 | Irvine | 31.0% |
| 454 | Bakersfield | 30.9% |
| 455 | Olympia | 30.5% |
| 456 | Pittsburgh | 30.5% |
| 457 | Fargo | 30.5% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Bakersfield ranks 432 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 429 | Sammamish | 11.5% |
| 430 | Montgomery | 11.4% |
| 431 | Hollywood | 11.4% |
| 432 | Bakersfield | 11.4% |
| 433 | Millcreek | 11.2% |
| 434 | Federal Way | 11.2% |
| 435 | Berkeley | 11.1% |
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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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.