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.
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 copyHow 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 copyWhat 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 copyHow 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 copyHow 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 copyHow 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 copyHow 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 copyHow 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 copyHow 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 copyWhat 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 copyHow 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.
| Rank | City | City government total revenue per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 113 | Pawtucket | $4,400 |
| 114 | Redding | $4,374 |
| 115 | Bellevue | $4,347 |
| 116 | Columbia | $4,333 |
| 117 | Broomfield | $4,332 |
| 118 | Rochester | $4,323 |
| 119 | Loveland | $4,273 |
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.
| Rank | City | City government total spending per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 147 | Fort Pierce | $3,788 |
| 148 | White Plains | $3,778 |
| 149 | Rochester | $3,745 |
| 150 | Columbia | $3,727 |
| 151 | Queen Creek | $3,725 |
| 152 | Collierville | $3,714 |
| 153 | Garland | $3,701 |
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.
| Rank | City | City taxes collected per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 409 | Fort Wayne | $919 |
| 410 | Fargo | $917 |
| 411 | Champaign | $914 |
| 412 | Columbia | $912 |
| 413 | Fishers | $911 |
| 414 | Macon-Bibb County | $910 |
| 415 | San Bernardino | $909 |
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.
| Rank | City | City spending on police per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 580 | Marysville | $231 |
| 581 | Medford | $231 |
| 582 | Rio Rancho | $231 |
| 583 | Columbia | $231 |
| 584 | Holly Springs | $230 |
| 585 | Sioux Falls | $229 |
| 586 | Madera | $228 |
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.
| Rank | City | City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 536 | Parker | $1,038 |
| 537 | Palmdale | $1,034 |
| 538 | Valdosta | $1,034 |
| 539 | Columbia | $1,030 |
| 540 | Deerfield Beach | $1,028 |
| 541 | Hanford | $1,022 |
| 542 | Scranton | $1,019 |
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.
| Rank | City | Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 515 | Santa Clarita | 33.5% |
| 516 | Jurupa Valley | 33.4% |
| 517 | Menifee | 33.2% |
| 518 | Columbia | 33.1% |
| 519 | Sacramento | 33.0% |
| 520 | Eagle Mountain | 32.9% |
| 521 | Plainfield | 32.9% |
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.
| Rank | City | Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 474 | West Covina | 13.9% |
| 475 | Whittier | 13.9% |
| 476 | Bossier City | 13.9% |
| 477 | Columbia | 13.8% |
| 478 | National City | 13.8% |
| 479 | Gilroy | 13.8% |
| 480 | Columbus | 13.8% |
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Sources
- 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…)
- 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…)
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