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Government budget and revenue in Huntsville, Alabama: official figures

Huntsville's city government took in $1.5 billion in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, or $6,677 for each of its 221,933 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 42nd highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$6,677
2024
City government spending per resident
$5,680
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$4,882
2024

How much does Huntsville spend and on what?

It spent $1.3 billion in the same year, $5,680 per resident, the 87th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were the electric utility (49.3%), the water utility (6.3%) and the gas utility (5.6%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Huntsville collect per resident?

Taxes raised $552.50 million ($2,490 per resident, the 43rd highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, 72.9% 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 Huntsville rely on?

Of Huntsville's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, property tax made up 26.1%, general sales tax 54.9%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 11.4%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Huntsville's property tax share is the 102nd 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 Huntsville get?

Payments from other governments made up 3.0% of Huntsville's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023: 0.0% from the federal government ($0 per resident), 3.0% 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 Huntsville raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $96.96 million, 12.8% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $723.96 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Huntsville spend on police?

Huntsville's city government spent $66.45 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, $299 per resident (the 185th lowest of 582) and 5.3% 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 Huntsville spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $51.63 million, $233 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Huntsville have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, Huntsville's city government owed $1.1 billion in long-term debt, $4,882 per resident (the 93rd highest of 582). During the year it issued $166.62 million of new long-term debt and repaid $65.83 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Huntsville pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $40.23 million in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, 3.2% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Huntsville city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 6.2% from $6,288 to $6,677, spending per resident fell 1.9% to $5,680, taxes per resident rose 15.0% to $2,490.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Huntsville 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))

Huntsville ranks 35 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
32Kissimmee$6,392
33Brockton$6,366
34East Orange$6,306
35Huntsville$6,288
36Philadelphia$6,279
37Providence$6,275
38New Brunswick$6,217
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))

Huntsville ranks 61 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
58Worcester$5,870
59Gainesville$5,825
60Norfolk$5,793
61Huntsville$5,790
62Ocala$5,722
63Broomfield$5,718
64Providence$5,715
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Huntsville ranks 62 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
59Revere$2,211
60Hampton$2,170
61Methuen$2,167
62Huntsville$2,164
63San Luis Obispo$2,161
64Berkeley$2,115
65South San Francisco$2,111
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))

Huntsville ranks 492 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
489Colorado Springs$267
490Bellevue$267
491Appleton$266
492Huntsville$266
493Carmel$265
494Newton$265
495Dubuque$265
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))

Huntsville ranks 76 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
73Broomfield$5,430
74Rock Hill$5,402
75Harrisonburg$5,346
76Huntsville$5,324
77Garland$5,323
78Pflugerville$5,307
79Queen Creek$5,305
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))

Huntsville ranks 671 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
668Lakewood17.5%
669Broken Arrow17.5%
670Phoenix17.4%
671Huntsville17.4%
672Scottsdale17.1%
673Lake Elsinore17.0%
674Decatur17.0%
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))

Huntsville ranks 622 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
619Hollywood8.7%
620Woodbury8.7%
621St. Louis Park8.7%
622Huntsville8.6%
623Topeka8.6%
624Aurora8.6%
625Carson City8.6%
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))

Huntsville ranks 42 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
39New Orleans$6,740
40Mountain View$6,699
41Chicopee$6,691
42Huntsville$6,677
43New Bedford$6,600
44Lafayette$6,577
45Syracuse$6,509
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))

Huntsville ranks 87 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
84Warwick$5,747
85Virginia Beach$5,746
86Manchester$5,728
87Huntsville$5,680
88Marietta$5,643
89Nashua$5,610
90Ontario$5,520
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Huntsville ranks 43 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
40Roanoke$2,574
41Oakland$2,550
42Harrisonburg$2,507
43Huntsville$2,490
44Urban Honolulu$2,471
45Chicago$2,452
46Yonkers$2,446
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))

Huntsville ranks 398 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
395Bend$301
396Conroe$301
397Raleigh$300
398Huntsville$299
399Richardson$299
400Cape Coral$299
401Surprise$298
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))

Huntsville ranks 93 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
90Worcester$4,965
91Lynchburg$4,940
92Portland$4,916
93Huntsville$4,882
94Harrisonburg$4,826
95Brockton$4,787
96Salem$4,785
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))

Huntsville ranks 479 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
476Riverside26.3%
477Auburn26.2%
478Tacoma26.1%
479Huntsville26.1%
480Marysville25.9%
481Hamilton25.7%
482Westminster25.7%
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))

Huntsville ranks 571 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
568Rowlett3.6%
569Baytown3.4%
570Palo Alto3.3%
571Huntsville3.0%
572Euless2.9%
573College Station2.9%
574Midwest City2.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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