State IntegrityReceipts, not verdicts

Government budget and revenue in Chapel Hill, North Carolina: official figures

Chapel Hill's city government took in $157.07 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $2,529 for each of its 62,098 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 229th lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$2,529
2024
City government spending per resident
$2,712
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$1,681
2024

How much does Chapel Hill spend and on what?

It spent $168.43 million in the same year, $2,712 per resident, the 286th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were public transit (23.3%), parking (12.3%) and housing and community development (10.6%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Chapel Hill collect per resident?

Taxes raised $82.45 million ($1,328 per resident, the 188th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 52.7% 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 Chapel Hill rely on?

Of Chapel Hill's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 67.6%, general sales tax 25.7%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 2.1%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Chapel Hill's property tax share is the 191st 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 Chapel Hill get?

Payments from other governments made up 34.5% of Chapel Hill's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 14.2% from the federal government ($357 per resident), 9.1% from the state and 11.2% 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 Chapel Hill raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $11.18 million, 7.1% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Chapel Hill spend on police?

Chapel Hill's city government spent $16.96 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $273 per resident (the 133rd lowest of 582) and 10.1% 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 Chapel Hill spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $12.40 million, $200 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Chapel Hill have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Chapel Hill's city government owed $104.39 million in long-term debt, $1,681 per resident (the 218th lowest of 582). During the year it issued $16.16 million of new long-term debt and repaid $8.46 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Chapel Hill pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $3.69 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 2.2% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Chapel Hill city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 21.6% from $2,080 to $2,529, spending per resident rose 39.1% to $2,712, taxes per resident rose 15.1% to $1,328.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Chapel Hill 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))

Chapel Hill ranks 449 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
446Tucson$2,087
447Peoria$2,087
448Leander$2,082
449Chapel Hill$2,080
450Pomona$2,076
451El Paso$2,073
452Rogers$2,073
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))

Chapel Hill ranks 440 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
437St. Clair Shores$1,952
438Bend$1,952
439Medford$1,950
440Chapel Hill$1,949
441Rogers$1,947
442Cupertino$1,946
443Texas City$1,941
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Chapel Hill ranks 252 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
249Paterson$1,158
250Wake Forest$1,157
251Montgomery$1,157
252Chapel Hill$1,153
253Woodland$1,152
254Des Plaines$1,152
255Olathe$1,150
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))

Chapel Hill ranks 623 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
620Grand Forks$217
621Pico Rivera$216
622El Paso$216
623Chapel Hill$216
624Victoria$216
625Encinitas$215
626Kentwood$215
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))

Chapel Hill ranks 460 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
457Council Bluffs$1,420
458Miami$1,415
459Pembroke Pines$1,412
460Chapel Hill$1,407
461Herriman$1,403
462Indio$1,401
463Lebanon$1,394
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))

Chapel Hill ranks 204 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
201Deerfield Beach67.4%
202Hampton67.3%
203Bloomington67.0%
204Chapel Hill66.9%
205Fort Pierce66.8%
206Greenwood66.5%
207St. Cloud66.3%
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))

Chapel Hill ranks 106 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
103Aurora34.4%
104Passaic34.4%
105Baldwin Park34.3%
106Chapel Hill34.1%
107Lynchburg34.1%
108Cranston34.0%
109Detroit34.0%
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))

Chapel Hill ranks 354 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
351Hoffman Estates$2,544
352Melbourne$2,543
353Rancho Cordova$2,533
354Chapel Hill$2,529
355Medford$2,529
356Montgomery$2,528
357Palm Beach Gardens$2,524
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))

Chapel Hill ranks 286 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
283Elizabeth$2,723
284Cheyenne$2,716
285Naperville$2,713
286Chapel Hill$2,712
287Whittier$2,711
288Bloomington$2,706
289Raleigh$2,704
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Chapel Hill ranks 188 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
185Midland$1,335
186Glendale$1,335
187Minneapolis$1,328
188Chapel Hill$1,328
189Casa Grande$1,316
190Roseville$1,316
191Tulsa$1,313
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))

Chapel Hill ranks 450 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
447Bozeman$274
448Clifton$274
449Pontiac$273
450Chapel Hill$273
451Conway$273
452Olathe$272
453Dearborn Heights$272
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))

Chapel Hill ranks 365 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
362Euless$1,706
363Janesville$1,705
364Santa Ana$1,696
365Chapel Hill$1,681
366Pittsburgh$1,678
367Carrollton$1,677
368New Orleans$1,674
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))

Chapel Hill ranks 191 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
188Greenwood68.3%
189Dallas68.3%
190Ames67.8%
191Chapel Hill67.6%
192Tallahassee67.5%
193West Palm Beach67.4%
194Council Bluffs67.3%
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))

Chapel Hill ranks 103 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
100Peoria34.8%
101North Port34.6%
102Ann Arbor34.6%
103Chapel Hill34.5%
104Framingham34.3%
105Pontiac34.2%
106Plainfield34.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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