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Government budget and revenue in Durham, North Carolina: official figures

Durham's city government took in $571.31 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, or $1,998 for each of its 285,897 residents (2022 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 252nd lowest of 731 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments.

City government revenue per resident
$1,998
2022
City government spending per resident
$2,031
2022
City long-term debt per resident
$920
2022

How much does Durham spend and on what?

It spent $580.64 million in the same year, $2,031 per resident, the 326th lowest of 731 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments. The largest identified functions were sewerage (16.1%), police (13.5%) and the water utility (12.5%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Durham collect per resident?

Taxes raised $296.27 million ($1,036 per resident, the 315th highest of 731) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, 58.0% 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 Durham rely on?

Of Durham's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, property tax made up 73.3%, general sales tax 23.9%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 1.4%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Durham's property tax share is the 155th highest 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 Durham get?

Payments from other governments made up 17.3% of Durham's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022: 6.3% from the federal government ($112 per resident), 8.6% from the state and 2.5% 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 Durham raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $114.84 million, 22.5% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $60.44 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Durham spend on police?

Durham's city government spent $78.55 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, $275 per resident (the 257th lowest of 731) and 13.5% 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 Durham spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $46.54 million, $163 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Durham have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, Durham's city government owed $263.07 million in long-term debt, $920 per resident (the 171st lowest of 731). During the year it issued $26.84 million of new long-term debt and repaid $321.06 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Durham pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $19.65 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, 3.4% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the latest budget data for Durham?

The Census Bureau imputed 100% of the revenue dollars in Durham'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 Durham 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))

Durham ranks 480 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
477Janesville$2,006
478West Allis$2,005
479Henderson$2,000
480Durham$1,998
481Tigard$1,991
482Weston$1,987
483Fountain Valley$1,986
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))

Durham ranks 406 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
403Schenectady$2,055
404Lenexa$2,051
405Irvine$2,041
406Durham$2,031
407Auburn$2,030
408North Port$2,021
409Fresno$2,019
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Durham ranks 315 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
312Midwest City$1,041
313Queen Creek$1,041
314Concord$1,037
315Durham$1,036
316Santa Rosa$1,035
317Santa Maria$1,035
318Concord$1,034
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))

Durham ranks 475 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
472Rancho Cucamonga$276
473Eden Prairie$276
474Pocatello$275
475Durham$275
476St. Cloud$275
477Harlingen$273
478Lake Charles$272
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))

Durham ranks 561 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
558Kokomo$937
559Rapid City$935
560Clifton$928
561Durham$920
562St. Peters$920
563Macon-Bibb County$901
564Middletown$894
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))

Durham ranks 155 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
152Downers Grove74.6%
153Bloomington74.5%
154St. Paul74.2%
155Durham73.3%
156Miami72.9%
157Gulfport72.9%
158Suffolk72.8%
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))

Durham ranks 367 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
364Apple Valley17.6%
365Fort Wayne17.5%
366Clifton17.5%
367Durham17.3%
368Gastonia17.3%
369Miramar17.3%
370Marietta17.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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