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Government budget and revenue in Baton Rouge, Louisiana: official figures

Baton Rouge's city government took in $1.7 billion in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, or $7,748 for each of its 221,453 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 27th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$7,748
2024
City government spending per resident
$6,268
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$8,476
2024

How much does Baton Rouge spend and on what?

It spent $1.4 billion in the same year, $6,268 per resident, the 63rd highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were police (12.0%), hospitals (9.3%) and public health (8.7%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Baton Rouge collect per resident?

Taxes raised $746.51 million ($3,371 per resident, the 15th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 43.6% 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 Baton Rouge rely on?

Of Baton Rouge's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, property tax made up 30.2%, general sales tax 64.1%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 2.3%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Baton Rouge's property tax share is the 123rd 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 Baton Rouge get?

Payments from other governments made up 17.1% of Baton Rouge's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023: 9.3% from the federal government ($715 per resident), 7.4% 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 Baton Rouge raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $635.17 million, 37.1% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Baton Rouge spend on police?

Baton Rouge's city government spent $167.13 million on police in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, $755 per resident (the 30th highest of 582) and 12.0% 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 Baton Rouge spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $78.25 million, $353 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Baton Rouge have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, Baton Rouge's city government owed $1.9 billion in long-term debt, $8,476 per resident (the 27th highest of 582). During the year it issued $41.10 million of new long-term debt and repaid $60.35 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Baton Rouge pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $65.09 million in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 4.7% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Baton Rouge city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 9.9% from $7,049 to $7,748, spending per resident rose 13.7% to $6,268, taxes per resident rose 8.4% to $3,371.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Baton Rouge 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))

Baton Rouge ranks 18 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
15Richmond$7,394
16Rochester$7,173
17Springfield$7,088
18Baton Rouge$7,049
19Newton$7,010
20Alexandria$6,996
21Denver$6,871
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))

Baton Rouge ranks 70 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
67Barnstable Town$5,626
68Bridgeport$5,624
69Ames$5,606
70Baton Rouge$5,512
71Revere$5,460
72Lawrence$5,453
73Portsmouth$5,391
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Baton Rouge ranks 18 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
15Barnstable Town$3,360
16Baltimore$3,307
17Mountain View$3,159
18Baton Rouge$3,110
19Warwick$3,067
20Portland$3,019
21Everett$2,989
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))

Baton Rouge ranks 24 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
21Berkeley$698
22Palo Alto$681
23South San Francisco$679
24Baton Rouge$673
25Orlando$662
26Pasadena$653
27Fort Myers$640
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))

Baton Rouge ranks 20 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
17Kansas City$9,151
18Quincy$9,035
19Waukesha$8,895
20Baton Rouge$8,842
21Chicago$8,649
22Tacoma$8,614
23Oshkosh$8,504
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))

Baton Rouge ranks 477 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
474Milpitas37.7%
475Grand Rapids37.5%
476Bothell37.4%
477Baton Rouge37.3%
478Union City37.2%
479Lee's Summit37.2%
480Grand Forks37.1%
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))

Baton Rouge ranks 466 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
463Wilmington14.3%
464Salt Lake City14.2%
465Middletown14.2%
466Baton Rouge14.2%
467Fountain Valley14.2%
468Clovis14.1%
469Folsom14.1%
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))

Baton Rouge ranks 27 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
24Alexandria$7,908
25Portland$7,889
26Lansing$7,803
27Baton Rouge$7,748
28Kissimmee$7,595
29Grand Island$7,505
30Springfield$7,287
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))

Baton Rouge ranks 63 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
60Mountain View$6,501
61Portsmouth$6,277
62Ames$6,272
63Baton Rouge$6,268
64Roseville$6,264
65Lakeland$6,222
66Anchorage$6,210
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Baton Rouge ranks 15 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
12Portland$3,630
13Mountain View$3,609
14Somerville$3,476
15Baton Rouge$3,371
16Richmond$3,365
17Philadelphia$3,338
18Denver$3,331
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))

Baton Rouge ranks 30 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
27Berwyn$770
28Berkeley$769
29Evanston$766
30Baton Rouge$755
31Miami$748
32Delray Beach$707
33Redwood City$703
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))

Baton Rouge ranks 27 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
24Anaheim$9,027
25Queen Creek$8,644
26Richmond$8,569
27Baton Rouge$8,476
28Carmel$8,425
29Cleveland$8,273
30Rock Hill$8,102
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))

Baton Rouge ranks 458 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
455Olympia30.5%
456Pittsburgh30.5%
457Fargo30.5%
458Baton Rouge30.2%
459Maricopa30.0%
460Everett29.7%
461Washington29.5%
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))

Baton Rouge ranks 313 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
310Des Moines17.3%
311Brookhaven17.3%
312Everett17.3%
313Baton Rouge17.1%
314Chico17.0%
315Novi17.0%
316Salinas16.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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