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Government budget and revenue in Elizabeth, New Jersey: official figures

Elizabeth's city government took in $377.94 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $2,815 for each of its 134,283 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 290th lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$2,815
2024
City government spending per resident
$2,723
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$1,292
2024

How much does Elizabeth spend and on what?

It spent $365.67 million in the same year, $2,723 per resident, the 283rd highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were police (17.6%), housing and community development (13.9%) and fire protection (10.6%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Elizabeth collect per resident?

Taxes raised $209.41 million ($1,559 per resident, the 127th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 60.7% 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 Elizabeth rely on?

Of Elizabeth's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 95.9%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 3.3%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Elizabeth's property tax share is the 41st 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 Elizabeth get?

Payments from other governments made up 26.5% of Elizabeth's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 14.6% from the federal government ($376 per resident), 11.9% 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 Elizabeth raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $7.52 million, 2.2% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $32.74 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Elizabeth spend on police?

Elizabeth's city government spent $64.39 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $479 per resident (the 139th highest of 582) and 17.6% 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 Elizabeth spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $38.64 million, $288 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Elizabeth have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Elizabeth's city government owed $173.55 million in long-term debt, $1,292 per resident (the 171st lowest of 582). During the year it issued $21.35 million of new long-term debt and repaid $20.41 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Elizabeth pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $5.08 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 1.4% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Elizabeth city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 0.9% from $2,791 to $2,815, spending per resident rose 6.0% to $2,723, taxes per resident fell 3.7% to $1,559.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Elizabeth 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))

Elizabeth ranks 259 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
256Everett$2,849
257Athens$2,819
258Corona$2,815
259Elizabeth$2,791
260South Jordan$2,791
261Battle Creek$2,790
262Fort Myers$2,782
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))

Elizabeth ranks 281 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
278Spokane$2,595
279Winter Haven$2,588
280Grand Rapids$2,569
281Elizabeth$2,568
282Riverside$2,548
283Hawthorne$2,547
284Homestead$2,547
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Elizabeth ranks 115 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
112Palm Beach Gardens$1,629
113Scottsdale$1,623
114New Bedford$1,622
115Elizabeth$1,619
116Pittsburgh$1,614
117Kansas City$1,612
118Detroit$1,595
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))

Elizabeth 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 spending on police per resident, 2022
128Boynton Beach$448
129Glendale$448
130Des Plaines$446
131Elizabeth$446
132San Buenaventura (Ventura)$445
133Rockford$445
134San Diego$442
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))

Elizabeth ranks 468 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
465West Haven$1,389
466Pasco$1,388
467Tinley Park$1,379
468Elizabeth$1,377
469Salem$1,372
470Clovis$1,369
471Greeley$1,364
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))

Elizabeth ranks 87 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
84Royal Oak93.5%
85Appleton93.4%
86Milwaukee93.3%
87Elizabeth93.1%
88Kenosha93.1%
89Ann Arbor93.1%
90Eagan93.0%
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))

Elizabeth ranks 197 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
194Boston27.1%
195Kenosha27.1%
196Plainfield27.1%
197Elizabeth27.0%
198St. Cloud26.9%
199Dearborn26.8%
200Delano26.8%
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))

Elizabeth ranks 293 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
290Peoria$2,825
291Sugar Land$2,821
292Pembroke Pines$2,815
293Elizabeth$2,815
294Lebanon$2,813
295Racine$2,806
296Lee's Summit$2,806
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))

Elizabeth ranks 283 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
280Chula Vista$2,747
281Irvine$2,745
282Boise City$2,745
283Elizabeth$2,723
284Cheyenne$2,716
285Naperville$2,713
286Chapel Hill$2,712
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Elizabeth ranks 127 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
124Akron$1,591
125Aurora$1,586
126Dothan$1,579
127Elizabeth$1,559
128Mishawaka$1,554
129Las Cruces$1,542
130North Charleston$1,542
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))

Elizabeth ranks 139 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
136Clearwater$486
137Hoffman Estates$484
138Chattanooga$482
139Elizabeth$479
140Colton$479
141Maricopa$479
142Racine$478
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))

Elizabeth ranks 412 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
409Jersey City$1,311
410Utica$1,301
411Camden$1,296
412Elizabeth$1,292
413Coon Rapids$1,282
414Palmdale$1,256
415Smyrna$1,252
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))

Elizabeth ranks 41 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
38Southfield95.9%
39Hartford95.9%
40Newton95.9%
41Elizabeth95.9%
42St. Clair Shores95.9%
43Worcester95.8%
44Malden95.8%
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))

Elizabeth ranks 176 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
173Bismarck26.7%
174Gallatin26.6%
175Boston26.6%
176Elizabeth26.5%
177Warwick26.4%
178Gresham26.3%
179Lancaster26.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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