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Government budget and revenue in Dallas, Texas: official figures

Dallas' city government took in $5.7 billion in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, or $4,400 for each of its 1,299,544 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 131st highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$4,400
2024
City government spending per resident
$4,212
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$9,927
2024

How much does Dallas spend and on what?

It spent $5.5 billion in the same year, $4,212 per resident, the 143rd highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were airports (26.9%), police (12.3%) and the water utility (8.2%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Dallas collect per resident?

Taxes raised $2.1 billion ($1,643 per resident, the 117th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, 41.1% 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 Dallas rely on?

Of Dallas' tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, property tax made up 68.3%, general sales tax 19.9%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 9.3%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Dallas' property tax share is the 189th highest 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 Dallas get?

Payments from other governments made up 10.5% of Dallas' city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023: 8.8% from the federal government ($353 per resident), 1.3% 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 Dallas raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $2.2 billion, 42.6% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $519.56 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Dallas spend on police?

Dallas' city government spent $672.30 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, $517 per resident (the 101st highest of 582) and 12.3% 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 Dallas spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $444.81 million, $342 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Dallas have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, Dallas' city government owed $12.9 billion in long-term debt, $9,927 per resident (the 19th highest of 582). During the year it issued $1.9 billion of new long-term debt and repaid $1.5 billion.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Dallas pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $486.14 million in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, 8.9% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Dallas city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 29.5% from $3,398 to $4,400, spending per resident rose 23.0% to $4,212, taxes per resident rose 23.7% to $1,643.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Dallas 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))

Dallas ranks 188 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
185Fort Collins$3,418
186Bartlett$3,414
187Ontario$3,399
188Dallas$3,398
189Concord$3,393
190Schaumburg$3,374
191Redlands$3,372
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))

Dallas ranks 183 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
180North Little Rock$3,447
181Atlanta$3,441
182Hillsboro$3,435
183Dallas$3,425
184Hollywood$3,372
185Colorado Springs$3,369
186Concord$3,351
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Dallas ranks 184 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
181Arcadia$1,338
182Tacoma$1,337
183Collierville$1,330
184Dallas$1,328
185Flagstaff$1,322
186Long Beach$1,322
187Mishawaka$1,318
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))

Dallas ranks 135 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
132San Buenaventura (Ventura)$445
133Rockford$445
134San Diego$442
135Dallas$442
136Terre Haute$442
137Pittsburg$441
138Petaluma$441
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))

Dallas ranks 25 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
22Tacoma$8,614
23Oshkosh$8,504
24Lansing$8,494
25Dallas$8,280
26Owensboro$8,229
27Lakeland$8,007
28Portland$7,860
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))

Dallas ranks 179 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
176Council Bluffs70.4%
177Winston-Salem70.3%
178Mooresville70.3%
179Dallas70.2%
180Concord70.1%
181Kannapolis69.9%
182Cedar Rapids69.7%
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))

Dallas ranks 495 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
492Napa13.1%
493Midwest City13.1%
494San Jose13.0%
495Dallas13.0%
496Everett13.0%
497Queen Creek12.9%
498Reading12.9%
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))

Dallas ranks 131 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
128Bentonville$4,435
129Portland$4,429
130Savannah$4,414
131Dallas$4,400
132New Braunfels$4,381
133Redwood City$4,376
134West Palm Beach$4,374
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))

Dallas ranks 143 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
140Redding$4,334
141Alameda$4,320
142Clearwater$4,268
143Dallas$4,212
144White Plains$4,164
145Orlando$4,152
146Sacramento$4,146
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Dallas ranks 117 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
114Parker$1,665
115Santa Clara$1,664
116Hoover$1,645
117Dallas$1,643
118Hillsboro$1,634
119Mooresville$1,631
120Hollywood$1,628
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))

Dallas ranks 101 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
98Fall River$522
99Carlsbad$522
100Sacramento$518
101Dallas$517
102Tacoma$516
103Commerce City$514
104Tracy$513
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))

Dallas ranks 19 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
16Chicago$10,324
17Los Angeles$10,297
18Owensboro$10,008
19Dallas$9,927
20Denton$9,840
21Kansas City$9,638
22San Antonio$9,460
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))

Dallas ranks 189 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
186Concord68.5%
187St. Petersburg68.4%
188Greenwood68.3%
189Dallas68.3%
190Ames67.8%
191Chapel Hill67.6%
192Tallahassee67.5%
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))

Dallas ranks 452 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
449Pasadena10.6%
450San Jose10.6%
451Greeley10.6%
452Dallas10.5%
453Redlands10.5%
454Vancouver10.4%
455Bothell10.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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