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

Cary's city government took in $414.80 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $2,299 for each of its 180,388 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 174th lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$2,299
2024
City government spending per resident
$2,639
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$2,247
2024

How much does Cary spend and on what?

It spent $476.05 million in the same year, $2,639 per resident, the 282nd lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were the water utility (14.7%), roads and highways (12.8%) and parks and recreation (10.8%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Cary collect per resident?

Taxes raised $217.20 million ($1,204 per resident, the 230th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 57.4% 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 Cary rely on?

Of Cary's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 56.7%, general sales tax 26.9%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 2.3%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Cary's property tax share is the 275th 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 Cary get?

Payments from other governments made up 9.4% of Cary's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 2.4% from the federal government ($50 per resident), 6.8% 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 Cary raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $86.35 million, 22.8% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $36.52 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Cary spend on police?

Cary's city government spent $43.98 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $244 per resident (the 85th 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 Cary spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $39.51 million, $219 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Cary have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Cary's city government owed $405.26 million in long-term debt, $2,247 per resident (the 291st highest of 582). During the year it issued no new long-term debt and repaid $28.46 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Cary pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $12.55 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 2.6% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Cary city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 14.6% from $2,007 to $2,299, spending per resident rose 49.7% to $2,639, taxes per resident rose 15.2% to $1,204.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Cary 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))

Cary ranks 476 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
473Taylor$2,015
474Yakima$2,011
475Pinellas Park$2,008
476Cary$2,007
477Janesville$2,006
478West Allis$2,005
479Henderson$2,000
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))

Cary ranks 501 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
498Lake Elsinore$1,782
499Lancaster$1,775
500Manteca$1,770
501Cary$1,763
502Utica$1,763
503Omaha$1,759
504Lynwood$1,758
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Cary ranks 309 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
306Murfreesboro$1,053
307Oxnard$1,051
308Medford$1,047
309Cary$1,045
310Grand Rapids$1,044
311Murray$1,043
312Midwest City$1,041
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))

Cary ranks 689 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
686Iowa City$182
687Ankeny$181
688Taylor$179
689Cary$172
690Eastvale$170
691Gaithersburg$170
692Orem$169
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))

Cary ranks 277 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
274Mountain View$2,539
275New Bedford$2,525
276Newport Beach$2,522
277Cary$2,519
278Lynwood$2,516
279Grand Rapids$2,515
280Amarillo$2,515
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))

Cary ranks 222 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
219Davie65.0%
220Wake Forest64.9%
221Holly Springs64.7%
222Cary64.5%
223Miramar64.4%
224Rockville64.4%
225Wilmington64.3%
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))

Cary ranks 546 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
543Escondido11.6%
544Eagle Mountain11.5%
545Lake Charles11.5%
546Cary11.5%
547Herriman11.4%
548Montebello11.4%
549Margate11.4%
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))

Cary ranks 409 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
406Iowa City$2,324
407West Allis$2,323
408Shoreline$2,315
409Cary$2,299
410Alpharetta$2,298
411Tinley Park$2,292
412Plantation$2,289
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))

Cary ranks 301 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
298Holly Springs$2,650
299Homestead$2,642
300Racine$2,642
301Cary$2,639
302Fort Smith$2,638
303Richardson$2,632
304Melbourne$2,620
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Cary ranks 230 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
227Bloomington$1,210
228Tinley Park$1,209
229Mount Pleasant$1,208
230Cary$1,204
231Wake Forest$1,204
232Skokie$1,199
233Frederick$1,198
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))

Cary ranks 498 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
495Harlingen$245
496Killeen$244
497Lake Forest$244
498Cary$244
499Corvallis$244
500West Des Moines$242
501Overland Park$242
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))

Cary ranks 291 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
288North Charleston$2,265
289Alameda$2,262
290Racine$2,259
291Cary$2,247
292Rancho Cordova$2,244
293Largo$2,229
294South Bend$2,228
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))

Cary ranks 275 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
272Medford56.8%
273Mission Viejo56.7%
274Tampa56.7%
275Cary56.7%
276Hialeah56.6%
277Jacksonville56.6%
278Sanford56.6%
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))

Cary ranks 485 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
482Stillwater9.6%
483Roseville9.5%
484Scranton9.5%
485Cary9.4%
486Palm Beach Gardens9.3%
487Greenwood9.3%
488Deerfield Beach9.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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