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Government budget and revenue in Fort Lauderdale, Florida: official figures

Fort Lauderdale's city government took in $880.77 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, or $4,809 for each of its 183,146 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 109th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$4,809
2024
City government spending per resident
$4,825
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$5,416
2024

How much does Fort Lauderdale spend and on what?

It spent $883.72 million in the same year, $4,825 per resident, the 111th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were police (19.2%), the water utility (19.0%) and financial administration (16.6%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Fort Lauderdale collect per resident?

Taxes raised $333.13 million ($1,819 per resident, the 97th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, 47.6% 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 Lauderdale rely on?

Of Fort Lauderdale's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, property tax made up 63.0%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 16.2%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Fort Lauderdale's property tax share is the 226th 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 Fort Lauderdale get?

Payments from other governments made up 11.0% of Fort Lauderdale's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023: 4.2% from the federal government ($162 per resident), 3.5% from the state and 3.2% 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 Lauderdale raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $113.21 million, 16.2% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $181.34 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Fort Lauderdale spend on police?

Fort Lauderdale's city government spent $170.00 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, $928 per resident (the 8th highest of 582) and 19.2% 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 Lauderdale spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $95.33 million, $521 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Fort Lauderdale have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, Fort Lauderdale's city government owed $991.85 million in long-term debt, $5,416 per resident (the 74th highest of 582). During the year it issued $150.33 million of new long-term debt and repaid $22.96 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Interest on debt cost $31.09 million in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, 3.5% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Fort Lauderdale city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 25.1% from $3,845 to $4,809, spending per resident rose 10.2% to $4,825, taxes per resident rose 26.4% to $1,819.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Fort Lauderdale 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 Lauderdale ranks 159 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
156Boca Raton$3,866
157San Luis Obispo$3,866
158Albany$3,866
159Fort Lauderdale$3,845
160Mishawaka$3,803
161Mooresville$3,791
162Vineland$3,780
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 Lauderdale ranks 114 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
111Galveston$4,455
112Redding$4,426
113Cranston$4,408
114Fort Lauderdale$4,377
115Pawtucket$4,332
116Haverhill$4,326
117Fort Collins$4,260
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 Lauderdale ranks 156 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
153Lake Charles$1,447
154Dothan$1,447
155South Jordan$1,445
156Fort Lauderdale$1,439
157Aurora$1,433
158Hillsboro$1,415
159Carmel$1,412
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 Lauderdale ranks 20 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
17Inglewood$714
18New York$711
19White Plains$701
20Fort Lauderdale$699
21Berkeley$698
22Palo Alto$681
23South San Francisco$679
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 Lauderdale ranks 87 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
84Tempe$5,114
85Berwyn$5,111
86Pasadena$5,110
87Fort Lauderdale$5,083
88West Palm Beach$5,044
89Goodyear$5,037
90Victorville$5,021
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 Lauderdale ranks 216 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
213Sioux City65.7%
214Orlando65.7%
215Norfolk65.5%
216Fort Lauderdale65.5%
217Columbus65.4%
218Oak Park65.0%
219Davie65.0%
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))

Fort Lauderdale ranks 613 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
610Arlington9.2%
611Menifee9.0%
612Waco9.0%
613Fort Lauderdale9.0%
614Compton8.9%
615Concord8.9%
616Santa Barbara8.9%
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))

Fort Lauderdale ranks 109 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
106Fort Pierce$4,888
107West New York$4,859
108Collierville$4,851
109Fort Lauderdale$4,809
110Delray Beach$4,767
111Cranston$4,763
112Bellevue$4,746
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))

Fort Lauderdale ranks 111 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
108Eugene$4,908
109Duluth$4,873
110Berkeley$4,828
111Fort Lauderdale$4,825
112Kingsport$4,763
113Pensacola$4,759
114Burbank$4,729
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Fort Lauderdale ranks 97 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
94Queen Creek$1,826
95Carlsbad$1,822
96Auburn$1,821
97Fort Lauderdale$1,819
98Alameda$1,804
99Detroit$1,803
100Pleasanton$1,799
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))

Fort Lauderdale ranks 8 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
5Cleveland$1,065
6Lafayette$1,029
7Newport Beach$954
8Fort Lauderdale$928
9Vacaville$915
10Los Angeles$888
11Scottsdale$885
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))

Fort Lauderdale ranks 74 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
71Colorado Springs$5,614
72Fayetteville$5,478
73Terre Haute$5,471
74Fort Lauderdale$5,416
75Houston$5,400
76Kalamazoo$5,273
77Cambridge$5,256
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))

Fort Lauderdale ranks 226 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
223Evanston63.4%
224Coral Springs63.4%
225Hillsboro63.3%
226Fort Lauderdale63.0%
227Rockville62.8%
228Boca Raton62.8%
229Naperville62.8%
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))

Fort Lauderdale ranks 440 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
437Woodbury11.1%
438Frederick11.1%
439Santa Maria11.1%
440Fort Lauderdale11.0%
441Palm Bay10.9%
442Jeffersonville10.9%
443Omaha10.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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