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Government budget and revenue in Billings, Montana: official figures

Billings' city government took in $289.75 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $2,415 for each of its 119,960 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 207th lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$2,415
2024
City government spending per resident
$2,242
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$2,173
2024

How much does Billings spend and on what?

It spent $268.90 million in the same year, $2,242 per resident, the 188th lowest 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 (14.9%), police (11.5%) and sewerage (11.3%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Billings collect per resident?

Taxes raised $77.86 million ($649 per resident, the 53rd lowest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 29.7% 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 Billings rely on?

Of Billings' tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 88.9%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Billings' property tax share is the 108th 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 Billings get?

Payments from other governments made up 19.5% of Billings' city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 10.3% from the federal government ($225 per resident), 9.2% 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 Billings raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $77.30 million, 29.5% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $27.96 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Billings spend on police?

Billings' city government spent $30.88 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $257 per resident (the 99th lowest of 582) and 11.5% 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 Billings spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $27.66 million, $231 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Billings have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Billings' city government owed $260.71 million in long-term debt, $2,173 per resident (the 285th lowest of 582). During the year it issued $107.22 million of new long-term debt and repaid $24.50 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Billings pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $9.12 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 3.4% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Billings city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 10.5% from $2,185 to $2,415, spending per resident rose 23.9% to $2,242, taxes per resident rose 16.7% to $649.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Billings 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))

Billings ranks 411 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
408Downers Grove$2,195
409Joliet$2,195
410Mesa$2,190
411Billings$2,185
412Albuquerque$2,185
413Tamarac$2,183
414Corvallis$2,182
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))

Billings ranks 488 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
485Porterville$1,829
486Sanford$1,823
487Gardena$1,819
488Billings$1,809
489Layton$1,805
490Paterson$1,799
491Noblesville$1,796
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Billings ranks 677 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
674Rochester Hills$566
675Jackson$564
676Schenectady$563
677Billings$556
678Hesperia$553
679Jacksonville$553
680Centennial$550
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))

Billings ranks 541 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
538New Britain$250
539Harrisonburg$249
540Manchester$249
541Billings$248
542Burien$248
543Conroe$248
544Jeffersonville$248
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))

Billings ranks 386 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
383Arlington Heights$1,847
384San Rafael$1,839
385Temecula$1,829
386Billings$1,829
387Santa Rosa$1,825
388Palm Bay$1,823
389Davis$1,798
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))

Billings ranks 123 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
120Schenectady87.8%
121Lakeville87.2%
122Plymouth86.5%
123Billings85.9%
124Somerville85.7%
125Albany85.0%
126Rochester84.8%
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))

Billings ranks 281 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
278Concord21.1%
279Dearborn Heights21.1%
280Sanford21.1%
281Billings21.0%
282Woodland21.0%
283West Valley City21.0%
284Rialto20.9%
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))

Billings ranks 376 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
373Tigard$2,430
374Rogers$2,422
375Las Vegas$2,420
376Billings$2,415
377Fort Worth$2,415
378Lake Elsinore$2,413
379Berwyn$2,412
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))

Billings ranks 395 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
392Joplin$2,244
393Davie$2,244
394Lake Elsinore$2,242
395Billings$2,242
396Macon-Bibb County$2,242
397Davenport$2,230
398Auburn$2,230
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Billings 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.

RankCityCity taxes collected per resident, 2024
527Jacksonville$653
528Coon Rapids$652
529Apple Valley$651
530Billings$649
531Wheaton$641
532Southaven$633
533Rochester$631
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))

Billings ranks 484 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
481Casa Grande$260
482New Braunfels$259
483Blaine$258
484Billings$257
485Winter Haven$257
486Jeffersonville$257
487Sioux Falls$256
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))

Billings ranks 298 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
295Peabody$2,207
296Boulder$2,202
297Columbus$2,196
298Billings$2,173
299Aurora$2,164
300Frederick$2,119
301Huntington Beach$2,113
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))

Billings ranks 108 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
105Mishawaka89.3%
106Boise City89.1%
107Evansville89.0%
108Billings88.9%
109Jackson88.8%
110Madison88.6%
111Syracuse88.3%
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))

Billings ranks 271 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
268Lynwood19.8%
269Louisville/Jefferson County metro government19.6%
270Tuscaloosa19.5%
271Billings19.5%
272Somerville19.5%
273Fayetteville19.4%
274Mishawaka19.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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