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Government budget and revenue in Columbia, Tennessee: official figures

Columbia's city government took in $181.21 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, or $4,333 for each of its 41,826 residents (2022 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 116th highest of 731 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments.

City government revenue per resident
$4,333
2022
City government spending per resident
$3,727
2022
City long-term debt per resident
$1,030
2022

How much does Columbia spend and on what?

It spent $155.90 million in the same year, $3,727 per resident, the 150th highest of 731 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments. The largest identified functions were the electric utility (50.1%), the water utility (11.6%) and police (6.2%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Columbia collect per resident?

Taxes raised $38.16 million ($912 per resident, the 320th lowest of 731) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, 42.0% 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 Columbia rely on?

Of Columbia's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, property tax made up 33.1%, general sales tax 44.6%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 7.7%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Columbia's property tax share is the 213th lowest of 730 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much federal and state money does Columbia get?

Payments from other governments made up 13.8% of Columbia's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022: 0.0% from the federal government ($0 per resident), 13.4% 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 Columbia raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $26.61 million, 29.3% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $90.28 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Columbia spend on police?

Columbia's city government spent $9.65 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, $231 per resident (the 149th lowest of 731) and 6.2% 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 Columbia spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $8.41 million, $201 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Columbia have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, Columbia's city government owed $43.08 million in long-term debt, $1,030 per resident (the 193rd lowest of 731). During the year it issued $16.95 million of new long-term debt and repaid $28.07 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Columbia pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $2.17 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, 1.4% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the latest budget data for Columbia?

The Census Bureau imputed 100% of the revenue dollars in Columbia's 2024 record, so these facts use the 2022 Census of Governments, for which the city reported its figures.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Columbia 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))

Columbia ranks 116 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
113Pawtucket$4,400
114Redding$4,374
115Bellevue$4,347
116Columbia$4,333
117Broomfield$4,332
118Rochester$4,323
119Loveland$4,273
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))

Columbia 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.

RankCityCity government total spending per resident, 2022
147Fort Pierce$3,788
148White Plains$3,778
149Rochester$3,745
150Columbia$3,727
151Queen Creek$3,725
152Collierville$3,714
153Garland$3,701
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Columbia ranks 412 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
409Fort Wayne$919
410Fargo$917
411Champaign$914
412Columbia$912
413Fishers$911
414Macon-Bibb County$910
415San Bernardino$909
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))

Columbia ranks 583 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
580Marysville$231
581Medford$231
582Rio Rancho$231
583Columbia$231
584Holly Springs$230
585Sioux Falls$229
586Madera$228
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))

Columbia ranks 539 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
536Parker$1,038
537Palmdale$1,034
538Valdosta$1,034
539Columbia$1,030
540Deerfield Beach$1,028
541Hanford$1,022
542Scranton$1,019
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))

Columbia ranks 518 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
515Santa Clarita33.5%
516Jurupa Valley33.4%
517Menifee33.2%
518Columbia33.1%
519Sacramento33.0%
520Eagle Mountain32.9%
521Plainfield32.9%
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))

Columbia ranks 477 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
474West Covina13.9%
475Whittier13.9%
476Bossier City13.9%
477Columbia13.8%
478National City13.8%
479Gilroy13.8%
480Columbus13.8%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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