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Government budget and revenue in Chattanooga, Tennessee: official figures

Chattanooga's city government took in $1.6 billion in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $8,776 for each of its 184,086 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 13th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$8,776
2024
City government spending per resident
$7,740
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$4,105
2024

How much does Chattanooga spend and on what?

It spent $1.4 billion in the same year, $7,740 per resident, the 32nd highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were the electric utility (54.3%), sewerage (7.2%) and police (6.2%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Chattanooga collect per resident?

Taxes raised $231.36 million ($1,257 per resident, the 214th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 29.1% 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 Chattanooga rely on?

Of Chattanooga's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 82.7%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 10.5%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Chattanooga's property tax share is the 125th 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 Chattanooga get?

Payments from other governments made up 27.4% of Chattanooga's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 6.1% from the federal government ($262 per resident), 7.6% from the state and 13.7% 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 Chattanooga raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $293.65 million, 36.9% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $820.64 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Chattanooga spend on police?

Chattanooga's city government spent $88.77 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $482 per resident (the 138th highest of 582) and 6.2% 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 Chattanooga spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $66.42 million, $361 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Chattanooga have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Chattanooga's city government owed $755.76 million in long-term debt, $4,105 per resident (the 125th highest of 582). During the year it issued $157.59 million of new long-term debt and repaid $50.81 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Chattanooga pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $21.74 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 1.5% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Chattanooga city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 6.5% from $8,241 to $8,776, spending per resident rose 8.1% to $7,740, taxes per resident rose 3.7% to $1,257.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Chattanooga 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))

Chattanooga ranks 10 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
7Santa Monica$8,672
8Miami Beach$8,559
9Palo Alto$8,404
10Chattanooga$8,241
11Flint$8,179
12Nashville$8,119
13Baltimore$8,099
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))

Chattanooga ranks 24 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
21Denver$7,357
22New Brunswick$7,342
23Taunton$7,181
24Chattanooga$7,157
25Newton$7,082
26Salt Lake City$6,989
27Yonkers$6,768
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Chattanooga ranks 224 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
221Rancho Cucamonga$1,218
222Burleson$1,214
223Spokane$1,213
224Chattanooga$1,212
225Lebanon$1,209
226Carson City$1,208
227Conroe$1,204
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))

Chattanooga ranks 107 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
104St. Paul$469
105Kansas City$468
106Pensacola$466
107Chattanooga$466
108Elgin$465
109National City$465
110Oak Lawn$463
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))

Chattanooga ranks 176 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
173Turlock$3,550
174Revere$3,549
175Buckeye$3,533
176Chattanooga$3,523
177Philadelphia$3,520
178El Paso$3,504
179Terre Haute$3,463
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))

Chattanooga ranks 132 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
129Woodbury83.6%
130Noblesville83.5%
131Brooklyn Park82.8%
132Chattanooga82.6%
133Coon Rapids82.1%
134Caldwell82.0%
135Edina82.0%
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))

Chattanooga ranks 127 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
124Bristol32.8%
125Palatine32.8%
126Oak Park32.6%
127Chattanooga32.6%
128Appleton32.3%
129St. Paul32.3%
130Noblesville32.3%
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))

Chattanooga ranks 13 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
10Santa Monica$10,109
11Boston$9,533
12Richmond$8,799
13Chattanooga$8,776
14Baltimore$8,670
15Denver$8,494
16Perth Amboy$8,465
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))

Chattanooga ranks 32 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
29Lansing$7,896
30Denver$7,841
31Peabody$7,830
32Chattanooga$7,740
33Newport News$7,721
34Quincy$7,661
35Seattle$7,611
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Chattanooga ranks 214 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
211Madison$1,261
212Royal Oak$1,261
213Joplin$1,258
214Chattanooga$1,257
215Charlotte$1,254
216Waterloo$1,251
217Oxnard$1,250
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))

Chattanooga ranks 138 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
135North Miami$487
136Clearwater$486
137Hoffman Estates$484
138Chattanooga$482
139Elizabeth$479
140Colton$479
141Maricopa$479
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))

Chattanooga ranks 125 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
122West Palm Beach$4,219
123Norman$4,170
124Eau Claire$4,157
125Chattanooga$4,105
126Fort Myers$4,094
127Madison$4,082
128Framingham$4,021
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))

Chattanooga ranks 125 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
122Brooklyn Park84.0%
123St. Louis Park83.3%
124Springfield82.7%
125Chattanooga82.7%
126Gaithersburg82.6%
127Woodbury82.5%
128Coon Rapids82.4%
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))

Chattanooga ranks 167 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
164Kentwood27.5%
165Anderson27.5%
166Medford27.4%
167Chattanooga27.4%
168Eau Claire27.1%
169Evanston27.1%
170Buckeye26.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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