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Government budget and revenue in Grand Rapids, Michigan: official figures

Grand Rapids' city government took in $626.24 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $3,180 for each of its 196,908 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 235th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$3,180
2024
City government spending per resident
$3,198
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$2,764
2024

How much does Grand Rapids spend and on what?

It spent $629.66 million in the same year, $3,198 per resident, the 219th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were police (10.3%), the water utility (10.1%) and housing and community development (8.3%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Grand Rapids collect per resident?

Taxes raised $229.04 million ($1,163 per resident, the 249th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 40.4% 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 Grand Rapids rely on?

Of Grand Rapids' tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 36.7%, individual income tax 59.7%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Grand Rapids' property tax share is the 167th 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 Grand Rapids get?

Payments from other governments made up 25.7% of Grand Rapids' city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 13.8% from the federal government ($396 per resident), 11.5% 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 Grand Rapids raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $146.32 million, 25.8% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $59.05 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Grand Rapids spend on police?

Grand Rapids' city government spent $65.14 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $331 per resident (the 246th lowest of 582) and 10.3% 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 Grand Rapids spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $45.37 million, $230 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Grand Rapids have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Grand Rapids' city government owed $544.20 million in long-term debt, $2,764 per resident (the 225th highest of 582). During the year it issued $95.39 million of new long-term debt and repaid $27.69 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Grand Rapids pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $16.37 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 2.6% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Grand Rapids city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 19.6% from $2,660 to $3,180, spending per resident rose 24.5% to $3,198, taxes per resident rose 11.4% to $1,163.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Grand Rapids 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))

Grand Rapids ranks 297 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
294San Rafael$2,677
295Renton$2,673
296Bellingham$2,666
297Grand Rapids$2,660
298Stockton$2,650
299Oklahoma City$2,649
300Holly Springs$2,644
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))

Grand Rapids ranks 280 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
277St. George$2,611
278Spokane$2,595
279Winter Haven$2,588
280Grand Rapids$2,569
281Elizabeth$2,568
282Riverside$2,548
283Hawthorne$2,547
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Grand Rapids ranks 310 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
307Oxnard$1,051
308Medford$1,047
309Cary$1,045
310Grand Rapids$1,044
311Murray$1,043
312Midwest City$1,041
313Queen Creek$1,041
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))

Grand Rapids ranks 449 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
446Elk Grove$287
447Sandy Springs$286
448Lubbock$286
449Grand Rapids$285
450Vista$285
451Las Cruces$284
452Fort Collins$284
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))

Grand Rapids ranks 279 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
276Newport Beach$2,522
277Cary$2,519
278Lynwood$2,516
279Grand Rapids$2,515
280Amarillo$2,515
281Taunton$2,504
282League City$2,503
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))

Grand Rapids ranks 475 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
472Beaumont37.9%
473Long Beach37.8%
474Milpitas37.7%
475Grand Rapids37.5%
476Bothell37.4%
477Baton Rouge37.3%
478Union City37.2%
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))

Grand Rapids ranks 231 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
228Houston25.0%
229Anaheim25.0%
230Fairfield25.0%
231Grand Rapids24.9%
232Great Falls24.9%
233Lancaster24.6%
234Fayetteville24.6%
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))

Grand Rapids ranks 235 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
232Madison$3,186
233Naperville$3,184
234Columbia$3,183
235Grand Rapids$3,180
236Battle Creek$3,179
237Pleasanton$3,168
238Miami$3,162
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))

Grand Rapids ranks 219 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
216Bowling Green$3,220
217Colton$3,215
218Edina$3,212
219Grand Rapids$3,198
220Enid$3,195
221Lubbock$3,189
222Redlands$3,182
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Grand Rapids ranks 249 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
246Apex$1,172
247Boynton Beach$1,170
248Manchester$1,165
249Grand Rapids$1,163
250Corona$1,162
251Plantation$1,159
252Sioux City$1,158
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))

Grand Rapids ranks 337 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
334Parker$331
335Murfreesboro$331
336Madison$331
337Grand Rapids$331
338Burleson$331
339Hialeah$330
340Laredo$330
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))

Grand Rapids ranks 225 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
222Irvine$2,766
223Bloomington$2,766
224Tuscaloosa$2,764
225Grand Rapids$2,764
226Lawrence$2,763
227Leander$2,755
228Palatine$2,751
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))

Grand Rapids ranks 414 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
411Moreno Valley36.7%
412Redding36.7%
413Vacaville36.7%
414Grand Rapids36.7%
415Topeka36.6%
416Gallatin36.5%
417Seattle36.5%
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))

Grand Rapids ranks 187 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
184Kokomo25.8%
185New York25.8%
186Harlingen25.7%
187Grand Rapids25.7%
188Camden25.6%
189Sioux City25.6%
190Fayetteville25.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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