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Government budget and revenue in Decatur, Alabama: official figures

Decatur's city government took in $283.68 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, or $4,898 for each of its 57,922 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 105th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$4,898
2024
City government spending per resident
$4,717
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$3,536
2024

How much does Decatur spend and on what?

It spent $273.20 million in the same year, $4,717 per resident, the 115th 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 (35.2%), sewerage (9.1%) and parks and recreation (6.7%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Decatur collect per resident?

Taxes raised $77.36 million ($1,336 per resident, the 183rd highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, 52.5% 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 Decatur rely on?

Of Decatur's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, property tax made up 6.4%, general sales tax 64.4%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 17.8%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Decatur's property tax share is the 8th 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 Decatur get?

Payments from other governments made up 13.1% of Decatur's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023: 0.0% from the federal government ($0 per resident), 12.8% 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 Decatur raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $37.04 million, 25.2% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $136.44 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Decatur spend on police?

Decatur's city government spent $16.35 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, $282 per resident (the 149th lowest of 582) and 6.0% 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 Decatur spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $12.49 million, $216 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Decatur have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, Decatur's city government owed $204.83 million in long-term debt, $3,536 per resident (the 159th highest of 582). During the year it issued no new long-term debt and repaid $5.40 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Decatur pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $6.53 million in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, 2.4% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Decatur city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 1.0% from $4,849 to $4,898, spending per resident rose 15.1% to $4,717, taxes per resident fell 19.1% to $1,336.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Decatur 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))

Decatur ranks 89 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
86New Britain$4,950
87Logan$4,948
88Oakland$4,895
89Decatur$4,849
90Warwick$4,804
91Berkeley$4,782
92Virginia Beach$4,759
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))

Decatur ranks 131 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
128Oakland$4,130
129Pensacola$4,129
130Malden$4,104
131Decatur$4,098
132Orlando$4,053
133Savannah$4,046
134Bentonville$4,031
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Decatur ranks 111 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
108Burbank$1,689
109Santa Fe$1,680
110Torrance$1,664
111Decatur$1,651
112Palm Beach Gardens$1,629
113Scottsdale$1,623
114New Bedford$1,622
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))

Decatur ranks 454 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
451Las Cruces$284
452Fort Collins$284
453Tigard$283
454Decatur$283
455Kennewick$283
456Beaumont$282
457Sherman$282
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))

Decatur ranks 603 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
600Rochester$730
601Cupertino$729
602Farmington Hills$724
603Decatur$717
604Eagan$714
605Norwalk$711
606Naperville$703
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))

Decatur ranks 674 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
671Huntsville17.4%
672Scottsdale17.1%
673Lake Elsinore17.0%
674Decatur17.0%
675Temecula16.9%
676Chandler16.9%
677Gilbert16.8%
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))

Decatur ranks 640 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
637Brooklyn Park8.1%
638Mission Viejo8.0%
639Palmdale7.9%
640Decatur7.9%
641Apex7.9%
642Blaine7.9%
643Weston7.8%
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))

Decatur ranks 105 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
102Warwick$4,957
103Berkeley$4,944
104San Antonio$4,922
105Decatur$4,898
106Fort Pierce$4,888
107West New York$4,859
108Collierville$4,851
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))

Decatur ranks 115 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
112Kingsport$4,763
113Pensacola$4,759
114Burbank$4,729
115Decatur$4,717
116Colorado Springs$4,710
117Brockton$4,698
118Sunnyvale$4,651
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Decatur ranks 183 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
180Perth Amboy$1,336
181Evanston$1,336
182Tampa$1,336
183Decatur$1,336
184Ann Arbor$1,335
185Midland$1,335
186Glendale$1,335
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))

Decatur ranks 434 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
431Cheyenne$283
432Camarillo$283
433Lancaster$283
434Decatur$282
435Amarillo$282
436Grand Island$281
437Livonia$280
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))

Decatur ranks 159 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
156Birmingham$3,587
157Burleson$3,560
158Boston$3,542
159Decatur$3,536
160Fall River$3,532
161Cincinnati$3,506
162Providence$3,483
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))

Decatur ranks 573 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
570Parker7.7%
571Canton7.2%
572Mobile7.0%
573Decatur6.4%
574Columbus6.1%
575Joplin5.7%
576Stillwater4.5%
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))

Decatur ranks 385 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
382Mission Viejo13.2%
383Wellington13.2%
384Turlock13.1%
385Decatur13.1%
386Springfield13.1%
387Moreno Valley13.1%
388Los Angeles13.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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