Government budget and revenue in Chesapeake, Virginia: official figures
Chesapeake's city government took in $1.4 billion in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $5,556 for each of its 252,488 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 78th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.
How much does Chesapeake spend and on what?
It spent $1.5 billion in the same year, $5,873 per resident, the 81st highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were elementary and secondary schools (48.8%), police (6.3%) and fire protection (5.2%) of the total.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does Chesapeake collect per resident?
Taxes raised $680.24 million ($2,694 per resident, the 32nd highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 50.1% of general revenue, compared with 49.3% for all US city governments combined in 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat taxes does Chesapeake rely on?
Of Chesapeake's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 72.5%, general sales tax 8.5%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 11.2%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Chesapeake's property tax share is the 158th highest of 580 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much federal and state money does Chesapeake get?
Payments from other governments made up 33.2% of Chesapeake's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 2.2% from the federal government ($118 per resident), 30.0% from the state and 1.0% from other local governments. For all US city governments in 2022 the aid share was 24.3%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Chesapeake raise from fees and utilities?
Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $145.16 million, 10.7% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $45.52 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Chesapeake spend on police?
Chesapeake's city government spent $92.92 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $368 per resident (the 274th highest of 582) and 6.3% of its total spending; police took 10.3% of spending across all US city governments in 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Chesapeake spend on fire protection?
Fire protection cost $77.22 million, $306 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyDoes Chesapeake city government run the schools?
Chesapeake's city government also pays for public schools: elementary and secondary education took $722.95 million, 48.8% of its spending in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, which in most US cities is spent by a separate school district instead.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much debt does Chesapeake have?
At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Chesapeake's city government owed $711.37 million in long-term debt, $2,817 per resident (the 210th highest of 582). During the year it issued $7.07 million of new long-term debt and repaid $12.72 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Chesapeake pay in interest on its debt?
Interest on debt cost $19.98 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 1.3% of total spending.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow has the Chesapeake city budget changed?
Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 18.5% from $4,688 to $5,556, spending per resident rose 19.5% to $5,873, taxes per resident rose 14.4% to $2,694.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Chesapeake 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))
Chesapeake ranks 94 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.
| Rank | City | City government total revenue per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 91 | Berkeley | $4,782 |
| 92 | Virginia Beach | $4,759 |
| 93 | Hampton | $4,699 |
| 94 | Chesapeake | $4,688 |
| 95 | Jacksonville | $4,684 |
| 96 | Bristol | $4,683 |
| 97 | Kansas City | $4,679 |
City government total spending per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Chesapeake ranks 97 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.
| Rank | City | City government total spending per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 94 | West New York | $4,967 |
| 95 | Nashua | $4,926 |
| 96 | Virginia Beach | $4,920 |
| 97 | Chesapeake | $4,917 |
| 98 | Bayonne | $4,908 |
| 99 | Warwick | $4,893 |
| 100 | Kansas City | $4,887 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Chesapeake ranks 49 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.
| Rank | City | City taxes collected per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 46 | St. Louis | $2,403 |
| 47 | Newport News | $2,398 |
| 48 | Weymouth Town | $2,363 |
| 49 | Chesapeake | $2,355 |
| 50 | Cranston | $2,351 |
| 51 | Broomfield | $2,329 |
| 52 | Medford | $2,304 |
City spending on police per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Chesapeake ranks 307 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.
| Rank | City | City spending on police per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 304 | Medford | $339 |
| 305 | Thornton | $339 |
| 306 | Olympia | $338 |
| 307 | Chesapeake | $338 |
| 308 | Shreveport | $338 |
| 309 | Edina | $337 |
| 310 | Bakersfield | $337 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Chesapeake ranks 204 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.
| Rank | City | City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 201 | Longmont | $3,178 |
| 202 | Oxnard | $3,174 |
| 203 | Orlando | $3,146 |
| 204 | Chesapeake | $3,138 |
| 205 | Stockton | $3,121 |
| 206 | White Plains | $3,115 |
| 207 | Broken Arrow | $3,097 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Chesapeake ranks 172 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.
| Rank | City | Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 169 | Mount Prospect | 71.2% |
| 170 | Richmond | 71.0% |
| 171 | Palatine | 70.9% |
| 172 | Chesapeake | 70.7% |
| 173 | West Palm Beach | 70.7% |
| 174 | Davenport | 70.5% |
| 175 | Lancaster | 70.4% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Chesapeake ranks 96 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.
| Rank | City | Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 93 | Columbus | 36.0% |
| 94 | Richmond | 35.8% |
| 95 | Battle Creek | 35.8% |
| 96 | Chesapeake | 35.4% |
| 97 | La Crosse | 34.9% |
| 98 | Baltimore | 34.9% |
| 99 | Paterson | 34.7% |
City government total revenue per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Chesapeake ranks 78 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.
| Rank | City | City government total revenue per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 75 | Fall River | $5,649 |
| 76 | Somerville | $5,634 |
| 77 | Revere | $5,587 |
| 78 | Chesapeake | $5,556 |
| 79 | Cleveland | $5,538 |
| 80 | Brockton | $5,511 |
| 81 | New Haven | $5,483 |
City government total spending per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Chesapeake ranks 81 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.
| Rank | City | City government total spending per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 78 | Los Angeles | $5,919 |
| 79 | Long Beach | $5,916 |
| 80 | Bayonne | $5,896 |
| 81 | Chesapeake | $5,873 |
| 82 | Chicago | $5,825 |
| 83 | Hampton | $5,824 |
| 84 | Warwick | $5,747 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Chesapeake 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.
| Rank | City | City taxes collected per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | Suffolk | $2,789 |
| 30 | Nashua | $2,777 |
| 31 | Palo Alto | $2,716 |
| 32 | Chesapeake | $2,694 |
| 33 | Hartford | $2,681 |
| 34 | Norfolk | $2,654 |
| 35 | Peabody | $2,621 |
City spending on police per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Chesapeake ranks 274 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.
| Rank | City | City spending on police per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 271 | Temecula | $369 |
| 272 | Tuscaloosa | $369 |
| 273 | Royal Oak | $369 |
| 274 | Chesapeake | $368 |
| 275 | Irvine | $367 |
| 276 | New Brunswick | $367 |
| 277 | Visalia | $366 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Chesapeake ranks 210 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.
| Rank | City | City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 207 | Conway | $2,849 |
| 208 | Amarillo | $2,837 |
| 209 | Port St. Lucie | $2,827 |
| 210 | Chesapeake | $2,817 |
| 211 | Richland | $2,817 |
| 212 | Kannapolis | $2,816 |
| 213 | Flint | $2,816 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Chesapeake ranks 158 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.
| Rank | City | Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 155 | Eugene | 72.8% |
| 156 | Cedar Rapids | 72.7% |
| 157 | Gulfport | 72.6% |
| 158 | Chesapeake | 72.5% |
| 159 | Homestead | 72.0% |
| 160 | Davenport | 71.9% |
| 161 | Boynton Beach | 71.9% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Chesapeake ranks 113 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.
| Rank | City | Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 110 | Wheaton | 33.7% |
| 111 | Athens | 33.6% |
| 112 | Harrisburg | 33.5% |
| 113 | Chesapeake | 33.2% |
| 114 | Lorain | 33.1% |
| 115 | Anchorage | 33.0% |
| 116 | Jersey City | 32.7% |
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Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit files (item amounts for every sampled government, directory with population and fiscal year end, state estimates by type of government), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0967c4d30466…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: 2022 Census of Governments: State and Local Government Finances, individual unit files (item amounts for every government, directory with population and fiscal year end, state estimates by type of government), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c8de889f6b33…)
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