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Government budget and revenue in Denton, Texas: official figures

Denton's city government took in $774.22 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, or $5,149 for each of its 150,353 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 95th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$5,149
2024
City government spending per resident
$6,109
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$9,840
2024

How much does Denton spend and on what?

It spent $918.54 million in the same year, $6,109 per resident, the 71st 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 (40.4%), roads and highways (9.8%) and sewerage (9.4%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Denton collect per resident?

Taxes raised $200.94 million ($1,336 per resident, the 179th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, 50.9% 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 Denton rely on?

Of Denton's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, property tax made up 46.8%, general sales tax 27.8%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 21.4%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Denton's property tax share is the 228th 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 Denton get?

Payments from other governments made up 7.3% of Denton's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023: 2.7% from the federal government ($70 per resident), 3.8% from the state and 0.8% from other local governments. For all US city governments in 2022 the aid share was 24.3%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Denton raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $94.08 million, 23.8% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $379.29 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Denton spend on police?

Denton's city government spent $79.33 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, $528 per resident (the 88th highest of 582) and 8.6% 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 Denton spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $39.93 million, $266 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Denton have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, Denton's city government owed $1.5 billion in long-term debt, $9,840 per resident (the 20th highest of 582). During the year it issued $221.76 million of new long-term debt and repaid $119.38 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Denton pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $44.23 million in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, 4.8% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Denton city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 10.6% from $4,654 to $5,149, spending per resident rose 26.8% to $6,109, taxes per resident rose 17.6% to $1,336.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Denton 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))

Denton ranks 98 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
95Jacksonville$4,684
96Bristol$4,683
97Kansas City$4,679
98Denton$4,654
99Bentonville$4,622
100Gainesville$4,605
101Weymouth Town$4,592
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))

Denton ranks 102 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
99Warwick$4,893
100Kansas City$4,887
101New Bedford$4,856
102Denton$4,817
103Murray$4,787
104Celina$4,709
105Danbury$4,677
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Denton ranks 265 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
262San Diego$1,140
263Eugene$1,140
264Madison$1,138
265Denton$1,137
266Hawthorne$1,134
267Ann Arbor$1,130
268Holly Springs$1,126
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))

Denton ranks 178 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
175Santa Rosa$414
176San Leandro$413
177Tacoma$412
178Denton$411
179Lakewood$410
180Pomona$409
181Columbia$409
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))

Denton ranks 11 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
8Nashville$13,658
9Miami Beach$13,578
10Waco$13,237
11Denton$12,388
12Denver$11,796
13Springfield$11,105
14Celina$10,809
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))

Denton ranks 382 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
379Chino Hills49.0%
380Hialeah48.5%
381Apple Valley48.3%
382Denton48.3%
383Dublin48.0%
384Miami Beach47.9%
385Provo47.9%
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))

Denton ranks 629 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
626West Sacramento8.5%
627Milpitas8.5%
628La Mesa8.5%
629Denton8.5%
630Corpus Christi8.4%
631St. Peters8.4%
632Provo8.2%
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))

Denton ranks 95 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
92Detroit$5,193
93Virginia Beach$5,188
94Quincy$5,174
95Denton$5,149
96Redding$5,145
97Anaheim$5,124
98Greenville$5,122
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))

Denton 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 government total spending per resident, 2024
68Lynchburg$6,143
69Galveston$6,142
70Tacoma$6,121
71Denton$6,109
72Stamford$6,023
73Bridgeport$5,989
74Pasadena$5,975
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Denton ranks 179 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
176San Diego$1,346
177Olathe$1,342
178Lee's Summit$1,337
179Denton$1,336
180Perth Amboy$1,336
181Evanston$1,336
182Tampa$1,336
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))

Denton ranks 88 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
85Philadelphia$534
86Springfield$529
87Burlington$529
88Denton$528
89Tampa$527
90St. Petersburg$526
91Jersey City$526
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))

Denton ranks 20 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
17Los Angeles$10,297
18Owensboro$10,008
19Dallas$9,927
20Denton$9,840
21Kansas City$9,638
22San Antonio$9,460
23Tacoma$9,286
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))

Denton ranks 353 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
350Gainesville47.8%
351New Braunfels47.5%
352White Plains47.1%
353Denton46.8%
354Bismarck46.4%
355New Orleans46.3%
356San Jose46.0%
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))

Denton ranks 533 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
530Corpus Christi7.4%
531McKinney7.3%
532Hempstead7.3%
533Denton7.3%
534Santa Barbara7.2%
535Hillsboro7.0%
536Pflugerville6.8%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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