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Government budget and revenue in Burlington, North Carolina: official figures

Burlington's city government took in $132.68 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $2,238 for each of its 59,287 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 157th lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$2,238
2024
City government spending per resident
$2,096
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$453
2024

How much does Burlington spend and on what?

It spent $124.29 million in the same year, $2,096 per resident, the 155th lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were police (25.2%), the water utility (23.5%) and fire protection (12.2%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Burlington collect per resident?

Taxes raised $63.01 million ($1,063 per resident, the 289th lowest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 70.8% 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 Burlington rely on?

Of Burlington's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 66.5%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Burlington's property tax share is the 202nd 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 Burlington get?

Payments from other governments made up 14.9% of Burlington's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 0.0% from the federal government ($0 per resident), 7.4% from the state and 7.5% 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 Burlington raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $10.08 million, 11.3% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $43.68 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Burlington spend on police?

Burlington's city government spent $31.35 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $529 per resident (the 87th highest of 582) and 25.2% 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 Burlington spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $15.10 million, $255 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Burlington have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Burlington's city government owed $26.88 million in long-term debt, $453 per resident (the 47th lowest of 582). During the year it issued no new long-term debt and repaid $3.06 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Burlington pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $192,000 in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 0.2% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Burlington city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 13.7% from $1,967 to $2,238, spending per resident rose 29.3% to $2,096, taxes per resident rose 14.3% to $1,063.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Burlington 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))

Burlington ranks 489 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
486Pittsburg$1,982
487Midwest City$1,979
488Garden Grove$1,970
489Burlington$1,967
490Boise City$1,967
491Gresham$1,967
492Eau Claire$1,964
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))

Burlington ranks 554 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
551Modesto$1,630
552Rapid City$1,628
553Valdosta$1,623
554Burlington$1,622
555Fulshear$1,620
556Prescott Valley$1,618
557Lakeville$1,612
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Burlington ranks 395 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
392Palmdale$932
393Buena Park$932
394Bakersfield$930
395Burlington$930
396Winston-Salem$930
397Arvada$929
398Alpharetta$929
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))

Burlington ranks 230 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
227Lakeland$377
228Miami Gardens$377
229Mount Prospect$376
230Burlington$376
231Palatine$374
232West Allis$373
233Hemet$373
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))

Burlington ranks 627 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
624Texas City$610
625Concord$609
626New Rochelle$607
627Burlington$606
628Hempstead$599
629Merced$595
630Fullerton$586
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))

Burlington ranks 242 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
239Arlington Heights63.1%
240Fort Wayne63.1%
241High Point63.0%
242Burlington62.8%
243Des Moines62.8%
244Evanston62.7%
245Pleasanton62.7%
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))

Burlington ranks 388 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
385Fort Pierce16.9%
386Denver16.8%
387Lubbock16.8%
388Burlington16.8%
389Pasadena16.7%
390Des Moines16.6%
391Palm Coast16.6%
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))

Burlington ranks 426 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
423Rockville$2,258
424St. Charles$2,251
425Leander$2,242
426Burlington$2,238
427North Richland Hills$2,231
428Harlingen$2,230
429Sterling Heights$2,228
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))

Burlington ranks 428 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
425Lakeville$2,102
426St. Cloud$2,100
427Pittsburg$2,097
428Burlington$2,096
429Warren$2,085
430Tamarac$2,079
431Harlingen$2,076
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Burlington ranks 294 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
291Salinas$1,066
292Avondale$1,065
293Passaic$1,065
294Burlington$1,063
295Davie$1,060
296Bloomington$1,059
297Rogers$1,058
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))

Burlington ranks 87 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
84San Jose$536
85Philadelphia$534
86Springfield$529
87Burlington$529
88Denton$528
89Tampa$527
90St. Petersburg$526
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))

Burlington ranks 536 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
533Overland Park$469
534St. Cloud$466
535Casper$456
536Burlington$453
537Troy$453
538North Miami$448
539Moreno Valley$446
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))

Burlington ranks 202 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
199Pompano Beach67.0%
200Orlando66.8%
201Leander66.7%
202Burlington66.5%
203Raleigh66.5%
204Lansing66.0%
205Coconut Creek65.9%
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))

Burlington ranks 348 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
345Plymouth15.1%
346Albuquerque15.0%
347Pompano Beach15.0%
348Burlington14.9%
349Tinley Park14.9%
350Albany14.9%
351San Antonio14.8%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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