State IntegrityReceipts, not verdicts

Government budget and revenue in Bowling Green, Kentucky: official figures

Bowling Green's city government took in $284.12 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $3,792 for each of its 74,926 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 170th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$3,792
2024
City government spending per resident
$3,220
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$0
2024

How much does Bowling Green spend and on what?

It spent $241.27 million in the same year, $3,220 per resident, the 216th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were the electric utility (37.3%), sewerage (12.9%) and fire protection (9.7%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Bowling Green collect per resident?

Taxes raised $111.39 million ($1,487 per resident, the 142nd highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 64.5% 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 Bowling Green rely on?

Of Bowling Green's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 17.7%, individual income tax 52.6%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 9.5%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Bowling Green's property tax share is the 56th 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 Bowling Green get?

Payments from other governments made up 11.9% of Bowling Green's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 1.1% from the federal government ($26 per resident), 10.4% 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 Bowling Green raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $29.86 million, 17.3% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $111.31 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Bowling Green spend on police?

Bowling Green's city government spent $22.28 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $297 per resident (the 179th lowest of 582) and 9.2% 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 Bowling Green spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $23.30 million, $311 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Bowling Green pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $2.10 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 0.9% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Bowling Green city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 15.8% from $3,274 to $3,792, spending per resident rose 26.6% to $3,220, taxes per resident rose 14.2% to $1,487.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Bowling Green 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))

Bowling Green ranks 197 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
194Cincinnati$3,339
195High Point$3,317
196San Jose$3,284
197Bowling Green$3,274
198Torrance$3,256
199Riverside$3,250
200Scottsdale$3,245
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))

Bowling Green ranks 287 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
284Homestead$2,547
285Pittsburgh$2,546
286La Habra$2,544
287Bowling Green$2,544
288Augusta$2,538
289Houston$2,534
290Greeley$2,526
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Bowling Green ranks 193 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
190Buckeye$1,310
191Shreveport$1,307
192Loveland$1,307
193Bowling Green$1,302
194Santa Clara$1,300
195Council Bluffs$1,295
196Tulsa$1,285
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))

Bowling Green ranks 650 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
647Meridian$207
648Lawrence$206
649Wyoming$206
650Bowling Green$206
651Jonesboro$206
652Yucaipa$206
653Dunwoody$205
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))

Bowling Green ranks 296 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
293San Angelo$2,423
294Pittsburg$2,415
295Bellevue$2,404
296Bowling Green$2,397
297Columbia$2,384
298Reading$2,382
299Loveland$2,376
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))

Bowling Green ranks 663 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
660Federal Way18.8%
661Peoria18.8%
662Kansas City18.8%
663Bowling Green18.3%
664Cathedral City18.1%
665Porterville18.1%
666Lacey18.0%
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))

Bowling Green ranks 307 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
304Troy20.3%
305Logan20.2%
306Oceanside20.2%
307Bowling Green20.1%
308Royal Oak20.1%
309Eugene20.1%
310Rochester Hills20.0%
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))

Bowling Green ranks 170 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
167Olympia$3,844
168Colorado Springs$3,812
169San Jose$3,799
170Bowling Green$3,792
171Hollywood$3,785
172Athens$3,758
173Elkhart$3,739
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))

Bowling Green ranks 216 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
213Asheville$3,258
214Jonesboro$3,242
215Waterloo$3,228
216Bowling Green$3,220
217Colton$3,215
218Edina$3,212
219Grand Rapids$3,198
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Bowling Green ranks 142 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
139Grand Island$1,494
140Collierville$1,491
141North Little Rock$1,487
142Bowling Green$1,487
143Bellingham$1,473
144Bothell$1,459
145Thornton$1,458
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))

Bowling Green ranks 404 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
401Surprise$298
402Perth Amboy$298
403La Crosse$298
404Bowling Green$297
405Spokane Valley$297
406Westland$297
407St. Cloud$296
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))

Bowling Green ranks 578 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
575Longmont$1
576Columbus$0
577Meridian$0
578Bowling Green$0
579Caldwell$0
580Gaithersburg$0
581Meriden$0
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))

Bowling Green ranks 525 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
522Renton19.1%
523Grand Island18.5%
524Federal Way17.7%
525Bowling Green17.7%
526Fort Smith17.6%
527Lacey17.5%
528Birmingham17.4%
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))

Bowling Green ranks 417 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
414Wilmington12.1%
415Burnsville12.0%
416Enid11.9%
417Bowling Green11.9%
418Kennewick11.8%
419Oxnard11.7%
420Sacramento11.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

More on Bowling Green: 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.