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Government budget and revenue in Burien, Washington: official figures

Burien's city government took in $51.86 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2021, or $1,012 for each of its 51,268 residents (2022 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 19th lowest of 731 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments.

City government revenue per resident
$1,012
2022
City government spending per resident
$810
2022
City long-term debt per resident
$313
2022

How much does Burien spend and on what?

It spent $41.52 million in the same year, $810 per resident, the 14th lowest of 731 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments. The largest identified functions were police (30.7%), roads and highways (17.5%) and parks and recreation (12.2%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Burien collect per resident?

Taxes raised $32.99 million ($644 per resident, the 102nd lowest of 731) in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2021, 63.6% 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 Burien rely on?

Of Burien's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2021, property tax made up 25.4%, general sales tax 32.1%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 18.2%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Burien's property tax share is the 132nd lowest 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 Burien get?

Payments from other governments made up 25.9% of Burien's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2021: 0.2% from the federal government ($2 per resident), 21.3% from the state and 4.4% 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 Burien raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $4.79 million, 9.2% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Burien spend on police?

Burien's city government spent $12.74 million on police in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2021, $248 per resident (the 190th lowest of 731) and 30.7% 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 debt does Burien have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 31 December 2021, Burien's city government owed $16.03 million in long-term debt, $313 per resident (the 55th lowest of 731). During the year it issued $10.02 million of new long-term debt and repaid $13.66 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Burien pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $667,000 in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2021, 1.6% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the latest budget data for Burien?

Burien is not in the Census Bureau's 2024 sample of local governments, so its latest full figures are from the 2022 Census of Governments, which covers every government.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Burien 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))

Burien ranks 713 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
710Deltona$1,056
711Miami Gardens$1,054
712Mission Viejo$1,035
713Burien$1,012
714Goose Creek$976
715Federal Way$971
716Bellflower$949
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))

Burien ranks 718 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
715Taylorsville$850
716Federal Way$834
717Deltona$814
718Burien$810
719Lawrence$805
720Highland$795
721Meridian$780
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Burien ranks 630 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
627South Gate$650
628Gainesville$645
629Yuba City$645
630Burien$644
631Plymouth$643
632Rochester$639
633Federal Way$639
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))

Burien ranks 542 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
539Harrisonburg$249
540Manchester$249
541Billings$248
542Burien$248
543Conroe$248
544Jeffersonville$248
545Janesville$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))

Burien 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 long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022
674Huntington Park$350
675Federal Way$349
676Rancho Cucamonga$325
677Burien$313
678Jonesboro$307
679Dublin$306
680Jupiter$305
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))

Burien ranks 599 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
596South Gate25.5%
597Saratoga Springs25.5%
598Whittier25.5%
599Burien25.4%
600Taylorsville25.4%
601Lancaster25.4%
602Beaumont25.4%
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))

Burien ranks 217 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
214Warren26.2%
215Harrisonburg26.1%
216Waltham26.0%
217Burien25.9%
218Pico Rivera25.8%
219Orlando25.6%
220Moreno Valley25.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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