State IntegrityReceipts, not verdicts

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

Charlotte's city government took in $3.2 billion in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $3,517 for each of its 897,720 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 199th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$3,517
2024
City government spending per resident
$3,880
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$5,740
2024

How much does Charlotte spend and on what?

It spent $3.5 billion in the same year, $3,880 per resident, the 160th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were airports (22.2%), sewerage (12.8%) and police (11.2%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Charlotte collect per resident?

Taxes raised $1.1 billion ($1,254 per resident, the 215th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 38.6% 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 Charlotte rely on?

Of Charlotte's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 52.0%, general sales tax 32.0%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 11.5%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Charlotte's property tax share is the 260th 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 Charlotte get?

Payments from other governments made up 16.6% of Charlotte's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 10.1% from the federal government ($328 per resident), 5.0% from the state and 1.4% 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 Charlotte raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $1.1 billion, 36.7% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $243.47 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Charlotte spend on police?

Charlotte's city government spent $388.59 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $433 per resident (the 193rd highest of 582) and 11.2% 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 Charlotte spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $195.18 million, $217 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Charlotte have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Charlotte's city government owed $5.2 billion in long-term debt, $5,740 per resident (the 64th highest of 582). During the year it issued $1.4 billion of new long-term debt and repaid $567.30 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Charlotte pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $236.49 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 6.8% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Charlotte city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 34.0% from $2,625 to $3,517, spending per resident rose 18.9% to $3,880, taxes per resident rose 28.6% to $1,254.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Charlotte 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))

Charlotte ranks 304 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
301Westminster$2,641
302Commerce City$2,640
303Grand Forks$2,639
304Charlotte$2,625
305Waco$2,619
306Pompano Beach$2,619
307Kirkland$2,615
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))

Charlotte ranks 197 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
194Whittier$3,279
195Fargo$3,276
196Santa Cruz$3,275
197Charlotte$3,263
198High Point$3,257
199Portland$3,254
200Anaheim$3,253
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Charlotte ranks 352 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
349Watsonville$978
350Turlock$977
351La Mesa$976
352Charlotte$975
353Phoenix$972
354Edina$972
355St. Peters$970
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))

Charlotte ranks 253 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
250Colton$368
251Warren$368
252Lauderhill$368
253Charlotte$367
254Bloomington$366
255Pasadena$365
256Miramar$365
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))

Charlotte ranks 95 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
92Tallahassee$4,994
93Woodland$4,944
94Fishers$4,898
95Charlotte$4,835
96Ontario$4,790
97Phoenix$4,778
98Corona$4,774
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))

Charlotte ranks 266 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
263Naperville61.0%
264Weston60.9%
265San Clemente60.8%
266Charlotte60.8%
267Rocky Mount60.6%
268Fort Worth60.6%
269Atlanta60.4%
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))

Charlotte ranks 337 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
334Albany19.0%
335Waukesha18.9%
336Buena Park18.8%
337Charlotte18.8%
338Greensboro18.8%
339Santa Monica18.7%
340Yakima18.7%
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))

Charlotte ranks 199 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
196Columbia$3,548
197Tracy$3,532
198Lexington$3,526
199Charlotte$3,517
200Carlsbad$3,510
201Hillsboro$3,504
202Everett$3,503
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))

Charlotte ranks 160 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
157Redwood City$3,922
158Owensboro$3,912
159Hollywood$3,907
160Charlotte$3,880
161Fayetteville$3,877
162Bentonville$3,857
163Rock Hill$3,836
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Charlotte ranks 215 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
212Royal Oak$1,261
213Joplin$1,258
214Chattanooga$1,257
215Charlotte$1,254
216Waterloo$1,251
217Oxnard$1,250
218Sacramento$1,248
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))

Charlotte ranks 193 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
190Elkhart$435
191Columbus$434
192Troy$434
193Charlotte$433
194Fairfield$432
195Hillsboro$432
196Phoenix$431
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))

Charlotte ranks 64 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
61Galveston$5,849
62Garland$5,818
63White Plains$5,766
64Charlotte$5,740
65Evanston$5,734
66Louisville/Jefferson County metro government$5,708
67Bridgeport$5,658
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))

Charlotte ranks 321 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
318Bartlett52.1%
319Fayetteville52.0%
320Clarksville52.0%
321Charlotte52.0%
322Manhattan52.0%
323Fort Myers51.9%
324Brownsville51.6%
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))

Charlotte ranks 319 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
316Salinas16.9%
317Gastonia16.8%
318Lincoln16.7%
319Charlotte16.6%
320Lakeville16.5%
321Houston16.5%
322St. Petersburg16.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

More on Charlotte: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · all cities in the United States

Sources

Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.