State IntegrityReceipts, not verdicts

Government budget and revenue in Birmingham, Alabama: official figures

Birmingham's city government took in $902.05 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $4,581 for each of its 196,910 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 120th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$4,581
2024
City government spending per resident
$3,960
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$3,587
2024

How much does Birmingham spend and on what?

It spent $779.77 million in the same year, $3,960 per resident, the 154th 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 (21.0%), police (14.0%) and fire protection (11.4%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Birmingham collect per resident?

Taxes raised $554.12 million ($2,814 per resident, the 28th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 79.8% 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 Birmingham rely on?

Of Birmingham's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 17.4%, general sales tax 39.9%, individual income tax 21.9%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 5.7%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Birmingham's property tax share is the 53rd 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 Birmingham get?

Payments from other governments made up 9.8% of Birmingham's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 5.3% from the federal government ($187 per resident), 3.1% from the state and 1.4% 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 Birmingham raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $22.19 million, 3.2% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $207.47 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Birmingham spend on police?

Birmingham's city government spent $109.47 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $556 per resident (the 75th highest of 582) and 14.0% 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 Birmingham spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $88.67 million, $450 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Birmingham have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Birmingham's city government owed $706.26 million in long-term debt, $3,587 per resident (the 156th highest of 582). During the year it issued $24.32 million of new long-term debt and repaid $470.89 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Birmingham pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $45.53 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 5.8% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Birmingham city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 10.7% from $4,140 to $4,581, spending per resident rose 12.6% to $3,960, taxes per resident rose 16.2% to $2,814.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Birmingham 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))

Birmingham ranks 131 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
128Greenville$4,155
129Newport Beach$4,147
130Collierville$4,143
131Birmingham$4,140
132Danbury$4,139
133Santa Fe$4,130
134Detroit$4,112
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))

Birmingham ranks 175 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
172Vineland$3,538
173Tampa$3,525
174Bartlett$3,520
175Birmingham$3,518
176Duluth$3,480
177Clearwater$3,472
178Evansville$3,461
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Birmingham ranks 42 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
39Peabody$2,429
40White Plains$2,427
41Celina$2,425
42Birmingham$2,422
43Suffolk$2,416
44Bridgeport$2,409
45New Haven$2,408
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))

Birmingham ranks 65 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
62San Rafael$536
63Santa Barbara$535
64Milpitas$534
65Birmingham$528
66Milwaukee$528
67Orange$526
68Tucson$522
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))

Birmingham ranks 32 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
29Redondo Beach$7,855
30Carmel$7,823
31Richmond$7,717
32Birmingham$7,692
33Norfolk$7,596
34Urban Honolulu$7,572
35Waterbury$7,529
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))

Birmingham ranks 689 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
686Tuscaloosa15.5%
687Tracy15.4%
688Montgomery15.4%
689Birmingham15.3%
690Springdale15.3%
691Bossier City15.3%
692Flagstaff15.3%
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))

Birmingham ranks 429 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
426Oakland15.7%
427West Des Moines15.6%
428Winter Haven15.6%
429Birmingham15.6%
430Spokane Valley15.5%
431Cleveland15.5%
432Wellington15.4%
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))

Birmingham ranks 120 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
117North Little Rock$4,597
118Eugene$4,595
119Owensboro$4,588
120Birmingham$4,581
121Rochester$4,572
122Methuen$4,571
123Kingsport$4,547
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))

Birmingham ranks 154 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
151Rocky Mount$4,051
152Garland$3,993
153San Luis Obispo$3,983
154Birmingham$3,960
155Boulder$3,943
156Urban Honolulu$3,935
157Redwood City$3,922
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Birmingham ranks 28 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
25Grapevine$2,911
26Newport Beach$2,882
27Virginia Beach$2,822
28Birmingham$2,814
29Suffolk$2,789
30Nashua$2,777
31Palo Alto$2,716
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))

Birmingham ranks 75 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
72South Bend$561
73Watsonville$560
74Redlands$558
75Birmingham$556
76Whittier$555
77Davie$552
78Sunrise$545
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))

Birmingham ranks 156 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
153Wichita$3,617
154Lowell$3,610
155Newport News$3,592
156Birmingham$3,587
157Burleson$3,560
158Boston$3,542
159Decatur$3,536
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))

Birmingham ranks 528 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
525Bowling Green17.7%
526Fort Smith17.6%
527Lacey17.5%
528Birmingham17.4%
529Lakewood17.4%
530Gilbert17.4%
531Bentonville17.2%
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))

Birmingham ranks 472 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
469Port St. Lucie9.9%
470Alameda9.9%
471Colorado Springs9.8%
472Birmingham9.8%
473Camarillo9.8%
474Bossier City9.7%
475Fremont9.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

More on Birmingham: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · all cities in the United States

Sources

Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.