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Government budget and revenue in Harlingen, Texas: official figures

Harlingen's city government took in $159.83 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, or $2,230 for each of its 71,678 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 155th lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$2,230
2024
City government spending per resident
$2,076
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$823
2024

How much does Harlingen spend and on what?

It spent $148.79 million in the same year, $2,076 per resident, the 152nd lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were airports (24.4%), police (11.8%) and the water utility (8.7%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Harlingen collect per resident?

Taxes raised $63.54 million ($886 per resident, the 177th lowest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, 42.8% 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 Harlingen rely on?

Of Harlingen's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, property tax made up 38.3%, general sales tax 52.2%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 7.9%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Harlingen's property tax share is the 179th 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 Harlingen get?

Payments from other governments made up 25.7% of Harlingen's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023: 21.8% from the federal government ($452 per resident), 2.3% from the state and 1.6% 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 Harlingen raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $36.80 million, 24.8% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $11.21 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Harlingen spend on police?

Harlingen's city government spent $17.55 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, $245 per resident (the 88th lowest of 582) and 11.8% 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 Harlingen spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $11.61 million, $162 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Harlingen have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, Harlingen's city government owed $58.98 million in long-term debt, $823 per resident (the 105th lowest of 582). During the year it issued no new long-term debt and repaid $6.21 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Harlingen pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $2.34 million in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, 1.6% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Harlingen city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 12.4% from $1,984 to $2,230, spending per resident rose 9.0% to $2,076, taxes per resident rose 0.1% to $886.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Harlingen 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))

Harlingen ranks 484 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
481Tigard$1,991
482Weston$1,987
483Fountain Valley$1,986
484Harlingen$1,984
485Deerfield Beach$1,983
486Pittsburg$1,982
487Midwest City$1,979
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))

Harlingen 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 government total spending per resident, 2022
449St. Charles$1,916
450Orange$1,915
451Santa Maria$1,906
452Harlingen$1,904
453Frederick$1,901
454St. Cloud$1,897
455Erie$1,892
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Harlingen ranks 435 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
432Monterey Park$891
433Albuquerque$887
434West Haven$886
435Harlingen$885
436Athens$884
437Chandler$884
438Davie$883
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))

Harlingen ranks 477 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
474Pocatello$275
475Durham$275
476St. Cloud$275
477Harlingen$273
478Lake Charles$272
479Ann Arbor$272
480Louisville/Jefferson County metro government$271
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))

Harlingen ranks 522 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
519Rocklin$1,113
520Bellingham$1,105
521San Clemente$1,097
522Harlingen$1,092
523Bloomington$1,091
524Cheyenne$1,085
525Fountain Valley$1,082
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))

Harlingen ranks 449 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
446Orange40.1%
447Grand Island40.1%
448Reading39.9%
449Harlingen39.9%
450West Sacramento39.8%
451West Covina39.8%
452Folsom39.8%
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))

Harlingen ranks 250 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
247Modesto23.4%
248Apopka23.3%
249Chula Vista23.2%
250Harlingen23.0%
251Livonia22.9%
252Janesville22.8%
253Bloomington22.7%
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))

Harlingen ranks 428 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
425Leander$2,242
426Burlington$2,238
427North Richland Hills$2,231
428Harlingen$2,230
429Sterling Heights$2,228
430Tamarac$2,226
431Janesville$2,222
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))

Harlingen ranks 431 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
428Burlington$2,096
429Warren$2,085
430Tamarac$2,079
431Harlingen$2,076
432Grand Forks$2,073
433Sanford$2,066
434Dearborn Heights$2,062
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Harlingen ranks 406 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
403Thousand Oaks$891
404Mount Prospect$889
405Colton$887
406Harlingen$886
407St. Clair Shores$882
408Ankeny$881
409Lacey$881
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))

Harlingen ranks 495 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
492Coon Rapids$253
493Fort Smith$247
494Kannapolis$246
495Harlingen$245
496Killeen$244
497Lake Forest$244
498Cary$244
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))

Harlingen ranks 478 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
475Vancouver$846
476Miami Gardens$841
477Kirkland$832
478Harlingen$823
479Deerfield Beach$821
480Palm Beach Gardens$816
481Great Falls$806
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))

Harlingen ranks 402 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
399Redlands38.8%
400North Port38.4%
401Santa Clarita38.4%
402Harlingen38.3%
403Cheyenne38.3%
404Lynwood38.0%
405Sherman37.9%
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))

Harlingen ranks 186 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
183Smyrna25.8%
184Kokomo25.8%
185New York25.8%
186Harlingen25.7%
187Grand Rapids25.7%
188Camden25.6%
189Sioux City25.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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