Government budget and revenue in Chicago, Illinois: official figures
Chicago's city government took in $14.4 billion in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, or $5,400 for each of its 2,665,039 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 84th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.
How much does Chicago spend and on what?
It spent $15.5 billion in the same year, $5,825 per resident, the 82nd highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were financial administration (28.8%), police (14.4%) and airports (12.3%) of the total.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does Chicago collect per resident?
Taxes raised $6.5 billion ($2,452 per resident, the 45th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 48.1% of general revenue, compared with 49.3% for all US city governments combined in 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat taxes does Chicago rely on?
Of Chicago's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, property tax made up 60.6%, general sales tax 7.8%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 28.9%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Chicago's property tax share is the 243rd 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 Chicago get?
Payments from other governments made up 20.1% of Chicago's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023: 7.8% from the federal government ($397 per resident), 12.3% from the state. For all US city governments in 2022 the aid share was 24.3%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Chicago raise from fees and utilities?
Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $2.8 billion, 20.8% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $803.61 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Chicago spend on police?
Chicago's city government spent $2.2 billion on police in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, $840 per resident (the 16th highest of 582) and 14.4% 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 Chicago spend on fire protection?
Fire protection cost $697.06 million, $262 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much debt does Chicago have?
At the end of the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, Chicago's city government owed $27.5 billion in long-term debt, $10,324 per resident (the 16th highest of 582). During the year it issued $3.7 billion of new long-term debt and repaid $3.4 billion.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Chicago pay in interest on its debt?
Interest on debt cost $1.4 billion in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 9.1% of total spending.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow has the Chicago city budget changed?
Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 1.1% from $5,341 to $5,400, spending per resident rose 27.8% to $5,825, taxes per resident rose 9.0% to $2,452.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Chicago 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))
Chicago ranks 73 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 70 | Barnstable Town | $5,397 |
| 71 | Pasadena | $5,394 |
| 72 | New Haven | $5,347 |
| 73 | Chicago | $5,341 |
| 74 | Bridgeport | $5,315 |
| 75 | Norwalk | $5,298 |
| 76 | Lowell | $5,191 |
City government total spending per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Chicago 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.
| Rank | City | City government total spending per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 104 | Celina | $4,709 |
| 105 | Danbury | $4,677 |
| 106 | Manchester | $4,632 |
| 107 | Chicago | $4,557 |
| 108 | Lynchburg | $4,525 |
| 109 | Springfield | $4,515 |
| 110 | Roseville | $4,492 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Chicago ranks 54 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Broomfield | $2,329 |
| 52 | Medford | $2,304 |
| 53 | Norfolk | $2,266 |
| 54 | Chicago | $2,250 |
| 55 | Palo Alto | $2,247 |
| 56 | Roanoke | $2,245 |
| 57 | Taunton | $2,232 |
City spending on police per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Chicago ranks 32 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | Ontario | $638 |
| 30 | Sarasota | $634 |
| 31 | Mountain View | $621 |
| 32 | Chicago | $619 |
| 33 | Torrance | $605 |
| 34 | Burbank | $596 |
| 35 | Miami | $596 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Chicago ranks 21 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Quincy | $9,035 |
| 19 | Waukesha | $8,895 |
| 20 | Baton Rouge | $8,842 |
| 21 | Chicago | $8,649 |
| 22 | Tacoma | $8,614 |
| 23 | Oshkosh | $8,504 |
| 24 | Lansing | $8,494 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Chicago ranks 315 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 312 | Houston | 56.0% |
| 313 | Battle Creek | 55.8% |
| 314 | Erie | 55.7% |
| 315 | Chicago | 55.6% |
| 316 | Mission Viejo | 55.6% |
| 317 | Warner Robins | 55.5% |
| 318 | Bellevue | 55.4% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Chicago ranks 221 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 218 | Pico Rivera | 25.8% |
| 219 | Orlando | 25.6% |
| 220 | Moreno Valley | 25.6% |
| 221 | Chicago | 25.6% |
| 222 | Bloomington | 25.6% |
| 223 | Overland Park | 25.5% |
| 224 | Nashua | 25.4% |
City government total revenue per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Chicago ranks 84 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 81 | New Haven | $5,483 |
| 82 | Nashua | $5,458 |
| 83 | Kansas City | $5,437 |
| 84 | Chicago | $5,400 |
| 85 | Bridgeport | $5,367 |
| 86 | Waterbury | $5,360 |
| 87 | Worcester | $5,339 |
City government total spending per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Chicago ranks 82 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 85 | Virginia Beach | $5,746 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Chicago ranks 45 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 42 | Harrisonburg | $2,507 |
| 43 | Huntsville | $2,490 |
| 44 | Urban Honolulu | $2,471 |
| 45 | Chicago | $2,452 |
| 46 | Yonkers | $2,446 |
| 47 | Delray Beach | $2,444 |
| 48 | Everett | $2,439 |
City spending on police per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Chicago ranks 16 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Palo Alto | $851 |
| 14 | Boston | $847 |
| 15 | Fort Myers | $840 |
| 16 | Chicago | $840 |
| 17 | Inglewood | $839 |
| 18 | Pasadena | $831 |
| 19 | Sarasota | $819 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Chicago ranks 16 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Alexandria | $10,616 |
| 14 | Quincy | $10,437 |
| 15 | Waukesha | $10,415 |
| 16 | Chicago | $10,324 |
| 17 | Los Angeles | $10,297 |
| 18 | Owensboro | $10,008 |
| 19 | Dallas | $9,927 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Chicago ranks 243 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 240 | Lakeland | 61.0% |
| 241 | Lauderhill | 61.0% |
| 242 | North Miami | 60.8% |
| 243 | Chicago | 60.6% |
| 244 | Asheville | 60.4% |
| 245 | Palm Bay | 60.3% |
| 246 | Rocky Mount | 60.0% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Chicago ranks 263 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 260 | Akron | 20.5% |
| 261 | Cape Coral | 20.2% |
| 262 | Renton | 20.2% |
| 263 | Chicago | 20.1% |
| 264 | Cedar Rapids | 20.0% |
| 265 | Cambridge | 20.0% |
| 266 | Santa Clarita | 19.8% |
More on Chicago: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · all cities in the United States
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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.