State IntegrityReceipts, not verdicts

Government budget and revenue in Cincinnati, Ohio: official figures

Cincinnati's city government took in $1.3 billion in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, or $4,041 for each of its 309,513 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 156th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$4,041
2024
City government spending per resident
$3,620
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$3,506
2024

How much does Cincinnati spend and on what?

It spent $1.1 billion in the same year, $3,620 per resident, the 182nd highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were the water utility (17.6%), police (16.0%) and fire protection (11.2%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Cincinnati collect per resident?

Taxes raised $578.99 million ($1,871 per resident, the 87th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 55.1% 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 Cincinnati rely on?

Of Cincinnati's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, property tax made up 15.0%, individual income tax 60.7%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 6.0%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Cincinnati's property tax share is the 35th 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 Cincinnati get?

Payments from other governments made up 23.4% of Cincinnati's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023: 5.1% from the federal government ($174 per resident), 4.8% from the state and 13.5% 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 Cincinnati raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $141.19 million, 13.4% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $200.58 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Cincinnati spend on police?

Cincinnati's city government spent $179.50 million on police in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, $580 per resident (the 66th highest of 582) and 16.0% 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 Cincinnati spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $125.35 million, $405 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Cincinnati have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, Cincinnati's city government owed $1.1 billion in long-term debt, $3,506 per resident (the 161st highest of 582). During the year it issued $50.56 million of new long-term debt and repaid $134.38 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Cincinnati pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $37.07 million in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 3.3% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Cincinnati city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 21.0% from $3,339 to $4,041, spending per resident rose 28.2% to $3,620, taxes per resident fell 9.8% to $1,871.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Cincinnati 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))

Cincinnati ranks 194 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
191Redlands$3,372
192Sarasota$3,365
193Dubuque$3,361
194Cincinnati$3,339
195High Point$3,317
196San Jose$3,284
197Bowling Green$3,274
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))

Cincinnati ranks 247 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
244Waterloo$2,881
245Kalamazoo$2,861
246Brownsville$2,825
247Cincinnati$2,823
248Waukesha$2,819
249Evanston$2,794
250Stillwater$2,787
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Cincinnati ranks 70 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
67Lafayette$2,094
68Bellevue$2,086
69Commerce City$2,076
70Cincinnati$2,074
71Portsmouth$2,063
72Galveston$2,058
73Worcester$2,051
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))

Cincinnati ranks 53 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
50Redwood City$561
51Delray Beach$561
52West Palm Beach$560
53Cincinnati$551
54Cathedral City$550
55Vacaville$550
56Gardena$550
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))

Cincinnati ranks 123 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
120Shreveport$4,274
121Hammond$4,267
122Detroit$4,256
123Cincinnati$4,250
124Aurora$4,202
125Dubuque$4,177
126Palm Desert$4,158
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))

Cincinnati ranks 707 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
704Columbia12.2%
705Moore12.0%
706Springfield11.9%
707Cincinnati11.7%
708Tucson11.5%
709Lake Havasu City11.3%
710Colorado Springs11.0%
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))

Cincinnati ranks 725 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
722Richardson2.7%
723Kansas City2.4%
724Fulshear2.2%
725Cincinnati2.0%
726College Station2.0%
727Norman1.5%
728New Braunfels1.2%
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))

Cincinnati ranks 156 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
153Scottsdale$4,093
154Clearwater$4,070
155White Plains$4,061
156Cincinnati$4,041
157San Diego$4,032
158Canton$4,019
159Urban Honolulu$3,992
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))

Cincinnati ranks 182 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
179Sunrise$3,649
180Flagstaff$3,638
181Santa Ana$3,629
182Cincinnati$3,620
183Savannah$3,615
184High Point$3,607
185Columbia$3,595
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Cincinnati ranks 87 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
84Ontario$1,897
85West Des Moines$1,886
86Malden$1,886
87Cincinnati$1,871
88Scottsdale$1,866
89Torrance$1,864
90Olympia$1,864
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))

Cincinnati ranks 66 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
63Huntington Beach$585
64Providence$583
65Cambridge$582
66Cincinnati$580
67Boynton Beach$572
68Idaho Falls$572
69St. Paul$567
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))

Cincinnati ranks 161 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
158Boston$3,542
159Decatur$3,536
160Fall River$3,532
161Cincinnati$3,506
162Providence$3,483
163Oakland$3,481
164Clarksville$3,469
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))

Cincinnati ranks 546 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
543Oklahoma City15.4%
544Montgomery15.4%
545Flagstaff15.3%
546Cincinnati15.0%
547Tuscaloosa13.9%
548Tulsa13.8%
549Surprise12.7%
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))

Cincinnati ranks 221 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
218Rio Rancho23.8%
219Overland Park23.7%
220Casa Grande23.4%
221Cincinnati23.4%
222Quincy23.3%
223Nashville23.3%
224La Habra23.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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