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Government budget and revenue in Fort Collins, Colorado: official figures

Fort Collins' city government took in $575.02 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2021, or $3,418 for each of its 168,234 residents (2022 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 185th highest of 731 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments.

City government revenue per resident
$3,418
2022
City government spending per resident
$4,260
2022
City long-term debt per resident
$1,333
2022

How much does Fort Collins spend and on what?

It spent $716.68 million in the same year, $4,260 per resident, the 117th highest of 731 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments. The largest identified functions were the electric utility (22.1%), sewerage (11.1%) and the water utility (10.3%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Fort Collins collect per resident?

Taxes raised $215.99 million ($1,284 per resident, the 197th highest of 731) in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2021, 56.2% 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 Fort Collins rely on?

Of Fort Collins' tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2021, property tax made up 22.7%, general sales tax 75.3%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 0.7%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Fort Collins' property tax share is the 105th lowest 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 Fort Collins get?

Payments from other governments made up 20.4% of Fort Collins' city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2021: 10.6% from the federal government ($242 per resident), 1.4% from the state and 8.4% 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 Fort Collins raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $79.76 million, 20.8% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $190.76 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Fort Collins spend on police?

Fort Collins' city government spent $47.74 million on police in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2021, $284 per resident (the 280th lowest of 731) and 6.7% 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 Fort Collins spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $30.99 million, $184 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2021.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Fort Collins have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 31 December 2021, Fort Collins' city government owed $224.21 million in long-term debt, $1,333 per resident (the 252nd lowest of 731). During the year it issued $1.65 million of new long-term debt and repaid $12.12 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Fort Collins pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $7.49 million in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2021, 1.0% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the latest budget data for Fort Collins?

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

Fort Collins ranks 185 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
182Springfield$3,470
183Woodland$3,448
184Manchester$3,445
185Fort Collins$3,418
186Bartlett$3,414
187Ontario$3,399
188Dallas$3,398
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))

Fort Collins ranks 117 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
114Fort Lauderdale$4,377
115Pawtucket$4,332
116Haverhill$4,326
117Fort Collins$4,260
118Berkeley$4,254
119Alameda$4,245
120Kansas City$4,223
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Fort Collins ranks 197 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
194Santa Clara$1,300
195Council Bluffs$1,295
196Tulsa$1,285
197Fort Collins$1,284
198Columbus$1,282
199Hayward$1,280
200Springfield$1,279
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))

Fort Collins ranks 452 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
449Grand Rapids$285
450Vista$285
451Las Cruces$284
452Fort Collins$284
453Tigard$283
454Decatur$283
455Kennewick$283
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))

Fort Collins 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 long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022
477Westland$1,348
478Joliet$1,339
479O'Fallon$1,335
480Fort Collins$1,333
481San Leandro$1,332
482Peoria$1,332
483Fontana$1,329
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))

Fort Collins ranks 626 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
623Riverside23.0%
624Ontario22.9%
625Indio22.8%
626Fort Collins22.7%
627Stockton22.5%
628Greeley22.5%
629Gardena22.5%
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))

Fort Collins ranks 301 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
298Elkhart20.5%
299Cathedral City20.5%
300Nashville20.5%
301Fort Collins20.4%
302Sioux City20.4%
303Scottsdale20.3%
304Troy20.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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