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Government budget and revenue in Bristol, Connecticut: official figures

Bristol's city government took in $279.73 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, or $4,683 for each of its 59,734 residents (2022 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 96th highest of 731 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments.

City government revenue per resident
$4,683
2022
City government spending per resident
$6,390
2022
City long-term debt per resident
$2,050
2022

How much does Bristol spend and on what?

It spent $381.68 million in the same year, $6,390 per resident, the 41st highest of 731 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments. The largest identified functions were elementary and secondary schools (59.2%), police (5.1%) and fire protection (2.5%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Bristol collect per resident?

Taxes raised $163.29 million ($2,734 per resident, the 28th highest of 731) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, 60.3% 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 Bristol rely on?

Of Bristol's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, property tax made up 96.8%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Bristol's property tax share is the 34th highest of 730 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much federal and state money does Bristol get?

Payments from other governments made up 32.8% of Bristol's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022: 0.3% from the federal government ($16 per resident), 32.5% 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 Bristol raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $14.54 million, 5.4% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $8.97 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Bristol spend on police?

Bristol's city government spent $19.50 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, $326 per resident (the 337th highest of 731) and 5.1% 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 Bristol spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $9.71 million, $163 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Does Bristol city government run the schools?

Bristol's city government also pays for public schools: elementary and secondary education took $226.06 million, 59.2% of its spending in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, which in most US cities is spent by a separate school district instead.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Bristol have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, Bristol's city government owed $122.47 million in long-term debt, $2,050 per resident (the 346th highest of 731). During the year it issued $25.50 million of new long-term debt and repaid $9.42 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Bristol pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $7.90 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, 2.1% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the latest budget data for Bristol?

The Census Bureau imputed 71% of the revenue dollars in Bristol's 2024 record, so these facts use the 2022 Census of Governments, for which the city reported its figures.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Bristol 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))

Bristol ranks 96 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
93Hampton$4,699
94Chesapeake$4,688
95Jacksonville$4,684
96Bristol$4,683
97Kansas City$4,679
98Denton$4,654
99Bentonville$4,622
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))

Bristol ranks 41 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
38Norman$6,428
39Kissimmee$6,422
40Brockton$6,420
41Bristol$6,390
42Quincy$6,309
43Waltham$6,251
44Harrisonburg$6,246
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Bristol ranks 28 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
25Philadelphia$2,884
26Seattle$2,766
27Richmond$2,735
28Bristol$2,734
29Danbury$2,711
30Nashua$2,687
31Denver$2,609
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))

Bristol ranks 337 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
334Pawtucket$327
335Chandler$327
336Portland$327
337Bristol$326
338Passaic$326
339Winston-Salem$325
340Joliet$325
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))

Bristol ranks 346 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
343Spokane$2,077
344Palatine$2,075
345South Bend$2,052
346Bristol$2,050
347Carson$2,046
348Apex$2,044
349Minneapolis$2,030
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))

Bristol ranks 34 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
31Quincy97.0%
32Springfield96.9%
33Sterling Heights96.9%
34Bristol96.8%
35Framingham96.8%
36Lowell96.8%
37Barnstable Town96.7%
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))

Bristol ranks 124 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
121Dubuque33.2%
122Arlington Heights33.1%
123Springdale33.0%
124Bristol32.8%
125Palatine32.8%
126Oak Park32.6%
127Chattanooga32.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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