Government budget and revenue in Cleveland, Ohio: official figures
Cleveland's city government took in $2.0 billion in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, or $5,538 for each of its 361,607 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 79th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.
How much does Cleveland spend and on what?
It spent $1.6 billion in the same year, $4,385 per resident, the 134th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were police (24.3%), the water utility (16.8%) and the electric utility (10.9%) of the total.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does Cleveland collect per resident?
Taxes raised $731.90 million ($2,024 per resident, the 78th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 48.6% of general revenue, compared with 49.3% for all US city governments combined in 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat taxes does Cleveland rely on?
Of Cleveland's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, property tax made up 9.4%, individual income tax 73.1%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 4.2%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Cleveland's property tax share is the 14th lowest 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 Cleveland get?
Payments from other governments made up 21.9% of Cleveland's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023: 0.1% from the federal government ($3 per resident), 21.1% from the state and 0.7% 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 Cleveland raise from fees and utilities?
Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $298.81 million, 19.8% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $495.31 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Cleveland spend on police?
Cleveland's city government spent $385.08 million on police in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, $1,065 per resident (the 5th highest of 582) and 24.3% 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 Cleveland spend on fire protection?
Fire protection cost $149.00 million, $412 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much debt does Cleveland have?
At the end of the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, Cleveland's city government owed $3.0 billion in long-term debt, $8,273 per resident (the 29th highest of 582). During the year it issued $144.50 million of new long-term debt and repaid $323.25 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Cleveland pay in interest on its debt?
Interest on debt cost $74.84 million in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 4.7% of total spending.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow has the Cleveland city budget changed?
Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 40.1% from $3,952 to $5,538, spending per resident rose 31.9% to $4,385, taxes per resident rose 39.0% to $2,024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Cleveland 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))
Cleveland ranks 149 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 146 | Fort Pierce | $3,974 |
| 147 | Kingsport | $3,964 |
| 148 | Springfield | $3,959 |
| 149 | Cleveland | $3,952 |
| 150 | West Sacramento | $3,941 |
| 151 | Colorado Springs | $3,931 |
| 152 | Sunnyvale | $3,926 |
City government total spending per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Cleveland ranks 190 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 187 | Boca Raton | $3,348 |
| 188 | Anderson | $3,335 |
| 189 | Mooresville | $3,332 |
| 190 | Cleveland | $3,324 |
| 191 | Sunrise | $3,311 |
| 192 | Grapevine | $3,306 |
| 193 | Turlock | $3,282 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Cleveland ranks 150 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 147 | Jacksonville | $1,469 |
| 148 | Palm Desert | $1,467 |
| 149 | Parker | $1,459 |
| 150 | Cleveland | $1,457 |
| 151 | Grand Junction | $1,454 |
| 152 | San Leandro | $1,449 |
| 153 | Lake Charles | $1,447 |
City spending on police per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Cleveland ranks 41 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 38 | Long Beach | $589 |
| 39 | Hollywood | $587 |
| 40 | East Orange | $585 |
| 41 | Cleveland | $585 |
| 42 | Ocala | $579 |
| 43 | Boca Raton | $574 |
| 44 | Palm Beach Gardens | $574 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Cleveland ranks 109 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 106 | New Britain | $4,578 |
| 107 | Galveston | $4,574 |
| 108 | Commerce City | $4,562 |
| 109 | Cleveland | $4,560 |
| 110 | Fort Myers | $4,558 |
| 111 | Madison | $4,505 |
| 112 | Lynchburg | $4,503 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Cleveland ranks 721 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 718 | Mobile | 8.0% |
| 719 | Santa Fe | 7.8% |
| 720 | Arvada | 7.3% |
| 721 | Cleveland | 7.1% |
| 722 | Joplin | 5.7% |
| 723 | Columbus | 5.3% |
| 724 | Prescott Valley | 5.1% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Cleveland ranks 431 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 428 | Winter Haven | 15.6% |
| 429 | Birmingham | 15.6% |
| 430 | Spokane Valley | 15.5% |
| 431 | Cleveland | 15.5% |
| 432 | Wellington | 15.4% |
| 433 | Carmel | 15.4% |
| 434 | Fremont | 15.4% |
City government total revenue per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Cleveland ranks 79 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 82 | Nashua | $5,458 |
City government total spending per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Cleveland ranks 134 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 131 | Glendale | $4,468 |
| 132 | Kansas City | $4,426 |
| 133 | Newport Beach | $4,409 |
| 134 | Cleveland | $4,385 |
| 135 | Edmond | $4,379 |
| 136 | Sarasota | $4,371 |
| 137 | West Haven | $4,362 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Cleveland 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 taxes collected per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 75 | Providence | $2,059 |
| 76 | Inglewood | $2,051 |
| 77 | Boulder | $2,033 |
| 78 | Cleveland | $2,024 |
| 79 | Commerce City | $1,940 |
| 80 | Redwood City | $1,921 |
| 81 | Burbank | $1,916 |
City spending on police per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Cleveland ranks 5 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Santa Monica | $1,337 |
| 3 | Washington | $1,121 |
| 4 | San Francisco | $1,072 |
| 5 | Cleveland | $1,065 |
| 6 | Lafayette | $1,029 |
| 7 | Newport Beach | $954 |
| 8 | Fort Lauderdale | $928 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Cleveland ranks 29 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Richmond | $8,569 |
| 27 | Baton Rouge | $8,476 |
| 28 | Carmel | $8,425 |
| 29 | Cleveland | $8,273 |
| 30 | Rock Hill | $8,102 |
| 31 | Seattle | $7,889 |
| 32 | New Brunswick | $7,831 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Cleveland ranks 567 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 564 | Queen Creek | 10.3% |
| 565 | Casa Grande | 10.1% |
| 566 | Avondale | 9.4% |
| 567 | Cleveland | 9.4% |
| 568 | Midwest City | 8.5% |
| 569 | Tucson | 8.1% |
| 570 | Parker | 7.7% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Cleveland ranks 242 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 239 | Wichita | 22.0% |
| 240 | Miami Gardens | 21.9% |
| 241 | Dearborn Heights | 21.9% |
| 242 | Cleveland | 21.9% |
| 243 | Little Rock | 21.8% |
| 244 | Greenville | 21.7% |
| 245 | Inglewood | 21.6% |
More on Cleveland: 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.