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.
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 copyHow 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 copyWhat 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 copyHow 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 copyHow 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 copyHow 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 copyHow 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 copyHow 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 copyHow 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 copyWhat 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 copyHow 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.
| Rank | City | City government total revenue per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 182 | Springfield | $3,470 |
| 183 | Woodland | $3,448 |
| 184 | Manchester | $3,445 |
| 185 | Fort Collins | $3,418 |
| 186 | Bartlett | $3,414 |
| 187 | Ontario | $3,399 |
| 188 | Dallas | $3,398 |
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.
| Rank | City | City government total spending per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 114 | Fort Lauderdale | $4,377 |
| 115 | Pawtucket | $4,332 |
| 116 | Haverhill | $4,326 |
| 117 | Fort Collins | $4,260 |
| 118 | Berkeley | $4,254 |
| 119 | Alameda | $4,245 |
| 120 | Kansas City | $4,223 |
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.
| Rank | City | City taxes collected per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 194 | Santa Clara | $1,300 |
| 195 | Council Bluffs | $1,295 |
| 196 | Tulsa | $1,285 |
| 197 | Fort Collins | $1,284 |
| 198 | Columbus | $1,282 |
| 199 | Hayward | $1,280 |
| 200 | Springfield | $1,279 |
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.
| Rank | City | City spending on police per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 449 | Grand Rapids | $285 |
| 450 | Vista | $285 |
| 451 | Las Cruces | $284 |
| 452 | Fort Collins | $284 |
| 453 | Tigard | $283 |
| 454 | Decatur | $283 |
| 455 | Kennewick | $283 |
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.
| Rank | City | City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 477 | Westland | $1,348 |
| 478 | Joliet | $1,339 |
| 479 | O'Fallon | $1,335 |
| 480 | Fort Collins | $1,333 |
| 481 | San Leandro | $1,332 |
| 482 | Peoria | $1,332 |
| 483 | Fontana | $1,329 |
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.
| Rank | City | Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 623 | Riverside | 23.0% |
| 624 | Ontario | 22.9% |
| 625 | Indio | 22.8% |
| 626 | Fort Collins | 22.7% |
| 627 | Stockton | 22.5% |
| 628 | Greeley | 22.5% |
| 629 | Gardena | 22.5% |
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.
| Rank | City | Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 298 | Elkhart | 20.5% |
| 299 | Cathedral City | 20.5% |
| 300 | Nashville | 20.5% |
| 301 | Fort Collins | 20.4% |
| 302 | Sioux City | 20.4% |
| 303 | Scottsdale | 20.3% |
| 304 | Troy | 20.3% |
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Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: 2022 Census of Governments: State and Local Government Finances, individual unit files (item amounts for every government, directory with population and fiscal year end, state estimates by type of government), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c8de889f6b33…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit files (item amounts for every sampled government, directory with population and fiscal year end, state estimates by type of government), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0967c4d30466…)
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