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Government budget and revenue in Carlsbad, California: official figures

Carlsbad's city government took in $400.71 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $3,510 for each of its 114,160 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 200th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$3,510
2024
City government spending per resident
$2,931
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$410
2024

How much does Carlsbad spend and on what?

It spent $334.61 million in the same year, $2,931 per resident, the 251st highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were police (17.8%), the water utility (16.9%) and roads and highways (12.7%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Carlsbad collect per resident?

Taxes raised $207.95 million ($1,822 per resident, the 95th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 58.9% 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 Carlsbad rely on?

Of Carlsbad's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 44.8%, general sales tax 28.6%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 20.2%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Carlsbad's property tax share is the 214th 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 Carlsbad get?

Payments from other governments made up 7.5% of Carlsbad's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 4.2% from the federal government ($131 per resident), 3.3% 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 Carlsbad raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $56.55 million, 16.0% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $47.68 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Carlsbad spend on police?

Carlsbad's city government spent $59.54 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $522 per resident (the 99th highest of 582) and 17.8% 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 Carlsbad spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $12.96 million, $114 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Carlsbad have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Carlsbad's city government owed $46.77 million in long-term debt, $410 per resident (the 41st lowest of 582). During the year it issued no new long-term debt and repaid $2.04 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Carlsbad pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $1.95 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 0.6% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Carlsbad city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 26.5% from $2,775 to $3,510, spending per resident rose 8.5% to $2,931, taxes per resident rose 14.3% to $1,822.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Carlsbad 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))

Carlsbad ranks 266 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
263Spokane$2,780
264Oak Lawn$2,778
265Phoenix$2,776
266Carlsbad$2,775
267West Haven$2,770
268Columbus$2,765
269Tempe$2,761
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))

Carlsbad ranks 262 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
259Jonesboro$2,746
260South Bend$2,719
261Naperville$2,715
262Carlsbad$2,702
263Lodi$2,691
264Vallejo$2,688
265Asheville$2,684
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Carlsbad ranks 119 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
116Pittsburgh$1,614
117Kansas City$1,612
118Detroit$1,595
119Carlsbad$1,594
120Salt Lake City$1,592
121Pleasanton$1,587
122San Rafael$1,583
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))

Carlsbad ranks 116 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
113Livermore$461
114Redlands$460
115Troy$460
116Carlsbad$459
117Galveston$458
118Stockton$456
119Bloomington$456
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))

Carlsbad ranks 653 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
650Chino Hills$492
651Columbus$490
652Brooklyn Park$488
653Carlsbad$481
654Margate$481
655San Bernardino$479
656Joplin$473
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))

Carlsbad ranks 416 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
413Santa Clara43.8%
414Midland43.7%
415Livermore43.5%
416Carlsbad43.4%
417Los Angeles43.2%
418Columbia43.0%
419San Marcos42.9%
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))

Carlsbad ranks 534 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
531Colorado Springs11.8%
532Clearwater11.8%
533Omaha11.8%
534Carlsbad11.8%
535Seattle11.8%
536Auburn11.7%
537Turlock11.7%
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))

Carlsbad ranks 200 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
197Tracy$3,532
198Lexington$3,526
199Charlotte$3,517
200Carlsbad$3,510
201Hillsboro$3,504
202Everett$3,503
203Schaumburg$3,502
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))

Carlsbad ranks 251 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
248Greensboro$2,964
249Council Bluffs$2,964
250Little Rock$2,957
251Carlsbad$2,931
252Pittsburgh$2,931
253Bellingham$2,922
254Southfield$2,920
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Carlsbad ranks 95 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
92Springfield$1,837
93West Palm Beach$1,833
94Queen Creek$1,826
95Carlsbad$1,822
96Auburn$1,821
97Fort Lauderdale$1,819
98Alameda$1,804
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))

Carlsbad ranks 99 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
96Flint$523
97Newark$522
98Fall River$522
99Carlsbad$522
100Sacramento$518
101Dallas$517
102Tacoma$516
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))

Carlsbad ranks 542 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
539Moreno Valley$446
540San Bernardino$443
541Smyrna$411
542Carlsbad$410
543Eden Prairie$404
544Hempstead$402
545Joplin$392
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))

Carlsbad ranks 367 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
364New York45.1%
365Baytown45.0%
366Sugar Land44.9%
367Carlsbad44.8%
368Pensacola44.8%
369Bend44.3%
370La Habra43.9%
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))

Carlsbad ranks 526 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
523Sunnyvale7.6%
524Pleasanton7.6%
525West Des Moines7.5%
526Carlsbad7.5%
527Bowie7.5%
528Auburn7.4%
529Sherman7.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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