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Government budget and revenue in Erie, Pennsylvania: official figures

Erie's city government took in $190.38 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, or $2,036 for each of its 93,511 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 108th lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$2,036
2024
City government spending per resident
$2,189
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$604
2024

How much does Erie spend and on what?

It spent $204.71 million in the same year, $2,189 per resident, the 176th lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were financial administration (14.4%), police (12.3%) and roads and highways (12.3%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Erie collect per resident?

Taxes raised $84.29 million ($901 per resident, the 183rd lowest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 44.9% 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 Erie rely on?

Of Erie's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, property tax made up 51.5%, individual income tax 39.8%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Erie's property tax share is the 256th 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 Erie get?

Payments from other governments made up 31.6% of Erie's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023: 13.1% from the federal government ($264 per resident), 9.4% from the state and 9.0% 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 Erie raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $37.23 million, 19.8% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $2.56 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Erie spend on police?

Erie's city government spent $25.25 million on police in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, $270 per resident (the 123rd lowest 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 Erie spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $15.24 million, $163 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Erie have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, Erie's city government owed $56.49 million in long-term debt, $604 per resident (the 74th lowest of 582). During the year it issued $5.81 million of new long-term debt and repaid $5.41 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Erie pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $2.24 million in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 1.1% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Erie city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 10.1% from $1,849 to $2,036, spending per resident rose 15.7% to $2,189, taxes per resident rose 9.4% to $901.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Erie 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))

Erie ranks 534 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
531Kenosha$1,859
532Rio Rancho$1,858
533Chula Vista$1,857
534Erie$1,849
535Texas City$1,845
536Warren$1,844
537Jersey City$1,842
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))

Erie ranks 455 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
452Harlingen$1,904
453Frederick$1,901
454St. Cloud$1,897
455Erie$1,892
456Irving$1,890
457Lebanon$1,889
458Lehi$1,886
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Erie ranks 490 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
487Sammamish$825
488Joliet$825
489Elgin$824
490Erie$824
491Thousand Oaks$824
492Pinellas Park$822
493St. Petersburg$822
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))

Erie ranks 630 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
627Warner Robins$215
628Rowlett$214
629Goose Creek$214
630Erie$214
631Haverhill$214
632Conway$211
633Huntersville$211
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))

Erie ranks 631 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
628Hempstead$599
629Merced$595
630Fullerton$586
631Erie$584
632Vancouver$582
633Lee's Summit$575
634Plainfield$574
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))

Erie ranks 314 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
311Monterey Park56.0%
312Houston56.0%
313Battle Creek55.8%
314Erie55.7%
315Chicago55.6%
316Mission Viejo55.6%
317Warner Robins55.5%
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))

Erie ranks 156 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
153Huntington Park30.1%
154San Francisco30.1%
155Flagstaff30.0%
156Erie29.9%
157Marana29.8%
158Louisville/Jefferson County metro government29.6%
159Portland29.4%
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))

Erie ranks 475 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
472Yakima$2,042
473Roswell$2,042
474Bethlehem$2,038
475Erie$2,036
476Utica$2,034
477Carrollton$2,024
478Warren$2,024
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))

Erie ranks 407 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
404Corvallis$2,208
405Chandler$2,205
406Modesto$2,195
407Erie$2,189
408Lauderhill$2,189
409Wake Forest$2,182
410Henderson$2,178
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Erie ranks 400 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
397Battle Creek$902
398San Angelo$902
399Farmington Hills$902
400Erie$901
401Wellington$897
402Kokomo$892
403Thousand Oaks$891
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))

Erie ranks 460 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
457Lacey$271
458San Angelo$270
459Bryan$270
460Erie$270
461Colorado Springs$270
462Huntersville$269
463Midland$269
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))

Erie ranks 509 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
506Coeur d'Alene$625
507Lynn$611
508Boca Raton$607
509Erie$604
510Jacksonville$590
511Springfield$587
512Wyoming$587
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))

Erie ranks 325 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
322Manhattan52.0%
323Fort Myers51.9%
324Brownsville51.6%
325Erie51.5%
326Berkeley51.5%
327Nashville51.5%
328Corpus Christi51.4%
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))

Erie ranks 128 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
125Gilbert32.0%
126Oak Park32.0%
127Elkhart32.0%
128Erie31.6%
129Phoenix31.5%
130Arlington Heights31.4%
131Peoria31.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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