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Government budget and revenue in Colorado Springs, Colorado: official figures

Colorado Springs' city government took in $1.9 billion in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, or $3,812 for each of its 486,248 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 168th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$3,812
2024
City government spending per resident
$4,710
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$5,614
2024

How much does Colorado Springs spend and on what?

It spent $2.3 billion in the same year, $4,710 per resident, the 116th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were the electric utility (36.5%), the water utility (13.9%) and the gas utility (9.7%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Colorado Springs collect per resident?

Taxes raised $406.29 million ($836 per resident, the 143rd lowest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 44.0% 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 Colorado Springs rely on?

Of Colorado Springs' tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, property tax made up 12.2%, general sales tax 75.6%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 11.3%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Colorado Springs' property tax share is the 26th 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 Colorado Springs get?

Payments from other governments made up 9.8% of Colorado Springs' city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023: 8.7% from the federal government ($166 per resident), 0.9% from the state. For all US city governments in 2022 the aid share was 24.3%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Colorado Springs raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $153.97 million, 16.7% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $929.11 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Colorado Springs spend on police?

Colorado Springs' city government spent $131.13 million on police in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, $270 per resident (the 122nd lowest of 582) and 5.7% 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 Colorado Springs spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $70.81 million, $146 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Colorado Springs have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, Colorado Springs' city government owed $2.7 billion in long-term debt, $5,614 per resident (the 71st highest of 582). During the year it issued $461.94 million of new long-term debt and repaid $389.72 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Colorado Springs pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $99.71 million in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 4.4% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Colorado Springs city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident fell 3.0% from $3,931 to $3,812, spending per resident rose 39.8% to $4,710, taxes per resident fell 9.8% to $836.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Colorado Springs 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))

Colorado Springs ranks 151 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
148Springfield$3,959
149Cleveland$3,952
150West Sacramento$3,941
151Colorado Springs$3,931
152Sunnyvale$3,926
153St. Louis$3,917
154Rocky Mount$3,885
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))

Colorado Springs ranks 185 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
182Hillsboro$3,435
183Dallas$3,425
184Hollywood$3,372
185Colorado Springs$3,369
186Concord$3,351
187Boca Raton$3,348
188Anderson$3,335
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Colorado Springs ranks 401 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
398Alpharetta$929
399Peoria$928
400Auburn$926
401Colorado Springs$926
402St. George$924
403Garden Grove$923
404Salem$923
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))

Colorado Springs ranks 489 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
486Cupertino$268
487Carson$268
488Broken Arrow$268
489Colorado Springs$267
490Bellevue$267
491Appleton$266
492Huntsville$266
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))

Colorado Springs ranks 81 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
78Pflugerville$5,307
79Queen Creek$5,305
80Mishawaka$5,283
81Colorado Springs$5,250
82Lubbock$5,231
83St. Louis$5,164
84Tempe$5,114
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))

Colorado Springs ranks 710 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
707Cincinnati11.7%
708Tucson11.5%
709Lake Havasu City11.3%
710Colorado Springs11.0%
711Commerce City10.6%
712Conway10.5%
713San Bernardino10.1%
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))

Colorado Springs ranks 531 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
528Conroe12.0%
529Santa Fe12.0%
530Redondo Beach12.0%
531Colorado Springs11.8%
532Clearwater11.8%
533Omaha11.8%
534Carlsbad11.8%
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))

Colorado Springs ranks 168 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
165Inglewood$3,881
166Dothan$3,862
167Olympia$3,844
168Colorado Springs$3,812
169San Jose$3,799
170Bowling Green$3,792
171Hollywood$3,785
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))

Colorado Springs ranks 116 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
113Pensacola$4,759
114Burbank$4,729
115Decatur$4,717
116Colorado Springs$4,710
117Brockton$4,698
118Sunnyvale$4,651
119Tampa$4,634
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Colorado Springs ranks 440 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
437Peoria$839
438Anderson$837
439Chula Vista$836
440Colorado Springs$836
441Mission Viejo$835
442Elgin$835
443Santa Ana$834
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))

Colorado Springs ranks 461 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
458San Angelo$270
459Bryan$270
460Erie$270
461Colorado Springs$270
462Huntersville$269
463Midland$269
464Middletown$269
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))

Colorado Springs ranks 71 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
68Oshkosh$5,621
69Waltham$5,619
70Fishers$5,617
71Colorado Springs$5,614
72Fayetteville$5,478
73Terre Haute$5,471
74Fort Lauderdale$5,416
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))

Colorado Springs ranks 555 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
552Lake Havasu City12.3%
553Springfield12.2%
554Rogers12.2%
555Colorado Springs12.2%
556Norman11.6%
557San Bernardino11.4%
558Mesa11.3%
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))

Colorado Springs ranks 471 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
468Thornton9.9%
469Port St. Lucie9.9%
470Alameda9.9%
471Colorado Springs9.8%
472Birmingham9.8%
473Camarillo9.8%
474Bossier City9.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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