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Government budget and revenue in Fort Worth, Texas: official figures

Fort Worth's city government took in $2.3 billion in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, or $2,415 for each of its 956,709 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 206th lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$2,415
2024
City government spending per resident
$2,602
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$2,975
2024

How much does Fort Worth spend and on what?

It spent $2.5 billion in the same year, $2,602 per resident, the 275th lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were the water utility (19.5%), police (18.3%) and sewerage (14.6%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Fort Worth collect per resident?

Taxes raised $1.1 billion ($1,191 per resident, the 238th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, 57.9% 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 Fort Worth rely on?

Of Fort Worth's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, property tax made up 58.6%, general sales tax 30.2%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 9.3%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Fort Worth's property tax share is the 260th 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 Worth get?

Payments from other governments made up 7.8% of Fort Worth's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023: 4.5% from the federal government ($93 per resident), 3.3% 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 Fort Worth raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $437.03 million, 22.2% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $341.28 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Fort Worth spend on police?

Fort Worth's city government spent $455.20 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, $476 per resident (the 145th highest of 582) and 18.3% 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 Fort Worth spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $200.66 million, $210 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Fort Worth have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, Fort Worth's city government owed $2.8 billion in long-term debt, $2,975 per resident (the 196th highest of 582). During the year it issued $472.37 million of new long-term debt and repaid $198.78 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Interest on debt cost $90.97 million in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, 3.7% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Fort Worth city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 15.4% from $2,092 to $2,415, spending per resident rose 18.5% to $2,602, taxes per resident rose 16.5% to $1,191.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Fort Worth 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 Worth ranks 444 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
441Pembroke Pines$2,097
442Ocoee$2,096
443Chandler$2,093
444Fort Worth$2,092
445Dublin$2,090
446Tucson$2,087
447Peoria$2,087
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 Worth ranks 367 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
364Salem$2,203
365Bothell$2,200
366Murfreesboro$2,199
367Fort Worth$2,195
368Corpus Christi$2,194
369Thornton$2,187
370Lauderhill$2,183
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 Worth ranks 325 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
322La Crosse$1,029
323Stockton$1,028
324Duluth$1,023
325Fort Worth$1,023
326Lawrence$1,020
327Eastvale$1,014
328Grand Forks$1,012
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 Worth ranks 209 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
206Nashville$393
207Manteca$393
208Minneapolis$391
209Fort Worth$390
210Eugene$388
211Reno$387
212Cedar Rapids$387
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 Worth ranks 245 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
242Westminster$2,792
243Weymouth Town$2,775
244Pensacola$2,774
245Fort Worth$2,761
246Wichita$2,754
247Pawtucket$2,751
248Murfreesboro$2,750
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 Worth ranks 268 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
265San Clemente60.8%
266Charlotte60.8%
267Rocky Mount60.6%
268Fort Worth60.6%
269Atlanta60.4%
270Lansing60.2%
271Homestead60.2%
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 Worth ranks 517 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
514Monterey Park12.3%
515St. Cloud12.3%
516Bend12.2%
517Fort Worth12.2%
518Wake Forest12.1%
519Gaithersburg12.1%
520Lakewood12.1%
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 Worth ranks 377 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
374Rogers$2,422
375Las Vegas$2,420
376Billings$2,415
377Fort Worth$2,415
378Lake Elsinore$2,413
379Berwyn$2,412
380Henderson$2,412
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 Worth ranks 308 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
305Noblesville$2,619
306Des Plaines$2,617
307Taylor$2,604
308Fort Worth$2,602
309Bloomington$2,602
310Westland$2,601
311Mobile$2,579
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 Worth ranks 238 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
235Waukesha$1,195
236Greensboro$1,195
237Huntington Beach$1,193
238Fort Worth$1,191
239Fairfield$1,190
240Eugene$1,188
241Rochester$1,180
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 Worth ranks 145 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
142Racine$478
143Lynn$476
144Lansing$476
145Fort Worth$476
146Pittsburgh$475
147Tinley Park$475
148Oxnard$474
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 Worth ranks 196 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
193Lexington$3,002
194St. Paul$2,998
195Oxnard$2,975
196Fort Worth$2,975
197Little Rock$2,956
198Roanoke$2,942
199New Bedford$2,940
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 Worth ranks 260 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
257Sunnyvale58.8%
258Utica58.8%
259Sunrise58.7%
260Fort Worth58.6%
261Pembroke Pines58.6%
262Alpharetta58.3%
263Bethlehem58.1%
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 Worth ranks 520 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
517Marysville7.9%
518Apex7.8%
519Broken Arrow7.8%
520Fort Worth7.8%
521Lafayette7.8%
522Garland7.7%
523Sunnyvale7.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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