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Government budget and revenue in Clearwater, Florida: official figures

Clearwater's city government took in $476.34 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, or $4,070 for each of its 117,027 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 154th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$4,070
2024
City government spending per resident
$4,268
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$1,395
2024

How much does Clearwater spend and on what?

It spent $499.49 million in the same year, $4,268 per resident, the 142nd 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 (16.0%), parks and recreation (15.3%) and sewerage (13.6%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Clearwater collect per resident?

Taxes raised $161.51 million ($1,380 per resident, the 169th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, 43.2% 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 Clearwater rely on?

Of Clearwater's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, property tax made up 53.6%, general sales tax 16.6%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 17.9%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Clearwater's property tax share is the 281st 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 Clearwater get?

Payments from other governments made up 10.8% of Clearwater's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023: 0.9% from the federal government ($28 per resident), 4.6% from the state and 5.3% 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 Clearwater raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $132.90 million, 35.6% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $102.74 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Clearwater spend on police?

Clearwater's city government spent $56.90 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, $486 per resident (the 136th highest of 582) and 11.4% 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 Clearwater spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $27.98 million, $239 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Clearwater have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, Clearwater's city government owed $163.28 million in long-term debt, $1,395 per resident (the 186th lowest of 582). During the year it issued no new long-term debt and repaid $8.31 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Clearwater pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $6.61 million in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, 1.3% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Clearwater city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 15.0% from $3,540 to $4,070, spending per resident rose 22.9% to $4,268, taxes per resident rose 16.3% to $1,380.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Clearwater 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))

Clearwater 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 government total revenue per resident, 2022
173Delray Beach$3,569
174Cedar Rapids$3,549
175North Little Rock$3,549
176Clearwater$3,540
177Redmond$3,518
178Perth Amboy$3,511
179Fargo$3,495
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))

Clearwater ranks 177 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
174Bartlett$3,520
175Birmingham$3,518
176Duluth$3,480
177Clearwater$3,472
178Evansville$3,461
179Owensboro$3,457
180North Little Rock$3,447
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Clearwater ranks 238 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
235Redondo Beach$1,191
236Manchester$1,190
237Davenport$1,190
238Clearwater$1,187
239Madison$1,181
240Southfield$1,177
241Flower Mound$1,176
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))

Clearwater ranks 147 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
144Santa Ana$437
145Pittsburgh$436
146Carson City$435
147Clearwater$434
148Brookhaven$433
149Lansing$433
150Wheaton$433
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))

Clearwater ranks 464 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
461Herriman$1,403
462Indio$1,401
463Lebanon$1,394
464Clearwater$1,392
465West Haven$1,389
466Pasco$1,388
467Tinley Park$1,379
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))

Clearwater ranks 343 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
340Pasadena53.2%
341Daytona Beach53.2%
342St. Charles53.2%
343Clearwater53.1%
344Lenexa53.1%
345Winter Haven53.1%
346Grand Prairie53.0%
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))

Clearwater ranks 532 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
529Santa Fe12.0%
530Redondo Beach12.0%
531Colorado Springs11.8%
532Clearwater11.8%
533Omaha11.8%
534Carlsbad11.8%
535Seattle11.8%
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))

Clearwater ranks 154 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
151Boca Raton$4,131
152Richland$4,127
153Scottsdale$4,093
154Clearwater$4,070
155White Plains$4,061
156Cincinnati$4,041
157San Diego$4,032
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))

Clearwater ranks 142 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
139Haverhill$4,347
140Redding$4,334
141Alameda$4,320
142Clearwater$4,268
143Dallas$4,212
144White Plains$4,164
145Orlando$4,152
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Clearwater ranks 169 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
166Fort Myers$1,387
167Bentonville$1,385
168Long Beach$1,384
169Clearwater$1,380
170Houston$1,376
171Sugar Land$1,369
172Flagstaff$1,366
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))

Clearwater ranks 136 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
133Portsmouth$489
134Seattle$489
135North Miami$487
136Clearwater$486
137Hoffman Estates$484
138Chattanooga$482
139Elizabeth$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))

Clearwater ranks 397 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
394Middletown$1,449
395Fayetteville$1,438
396Peoria$1,407
397Clearwater$1,395
398Fontana$1,384
399Homestead$1,383
400Blaine$1,379
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))

Clearwater ranks 300 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
297McKinney54.8%
298Reno54.7%
299Aurora54.1%
300Clearwater53.6%
301College Station53.6%
302Fontana53.5%
303Winter Haven53.4%
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))

Clearwater ranks 447 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
444Coral Springs10.9%
445Rockville10.8%
446Oklahoma City10.8%
447Clearwater10.8%
448Oakland10.7%
449Pasadena10.6%
450San Jose10.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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