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Government budget and revenue in Iowa City, Iowa: official figures

Iowa City's city government took in $174.82 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $2,324 for each of its 75,233 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 177th lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$2,324
2024
City government spending per resident
$2,173
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$861
2024

How much does Iowa City spend and on what?

It spent $163.45 million in the same year, $2,173 per resident, the 170th lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were housing and community development (10.9%), sewerage (9.8%) and police (9.4%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Iowa City collect per resident?

Taxes raised $77.40 million ($1,029 per resident, the 267th lowest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 47.5% 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 Iowa City rely on?

Of Iowa City's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 91.1%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 4.9%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Iowa City's property tax share is the 92nd 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 Iowa City get?

Payments from other governments made up 21.2% of Iowa City's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 13.4% from the federal government ($290 per resident), 7.3% 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 Iowa City raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $36.80 million, 22.6% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $11.92 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Iowa City spend on police?

Iowa City's city government spent $15.43 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $205 per resident (the 44th lowest of 582) and 9.4% 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 Iowa City spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $9.88 million, $131 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Iowa City have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Iowa City's city government owed $64.78 million in long-term debt, $861 per resident (the 116th lowest of 582). During the year it issued $10.93 million of new long-term debt and repaid $14.19 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Iowa City pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $2.21 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 1.4% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Iowa City city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident fell 2.5% from $2,384 to $2,324, spending per resident rose 17.5% to $2,173, taxes per resident rose 2.3% to $1,029.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Iowa City 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))

Iowa City ranks 360 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
357Santa Maria$2,397
358Oak Park$2,396
359Smyrna$2,393
360Iowa City$2,384
361Bloomington$2,379
362Rockford$2,375
363Casper$2,364
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))

Iowa City ranks 478 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
475Downers Grove$1,852
476Miramar$1,852
477Plymouth$1,851
478Iowa City$1,848
479Pasco$1,843
480Franklin$1,841
481Corvallis$1,841
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Iowa City ranks 332 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
329Perris$1,010
330Plantation$1,007
331Rockville$1,007
332Iowa City$1,005
333Owensboro$1,002
334Overland Park$1,001
335Raleigh$1,000
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))

Iowa City ranks 686 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
683Lincoln$185
684O'Fallon$185
685Owensboro$182
686Iowa City$182
687Ankeny$181
688Taylor$179
689Cary$172
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))

Iowa City ranks 553 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
550Vacaville$968
551Mission Viejo$967
552Plainfield$963
553Iowa City$959
554Tamarac$950
555Pasadena$944
556Manteca$943
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))

Iowa City ranks 95 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
92Lawrence92.2%
93Newark92.1%
94Boston92.0%
95Iowa City91.7%
96Evansville91.7%
97Rochester Hills91.6%
98Waltham91.5%
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))

Iowa City ranks 143 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
140Lake Havasu City31.5%
141Melbourne31.2%
142Somerville31.2%
143Iowa City31.1%
144Elgin30.8%
145Salem30.7%
146Council Bluffs30.5%
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))

Iowa City 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 government total revenue per resident, 2024
403Kent$2,330
404Huntington Beach$2,329
405St. Louis Park$2,325
406Iowa City$2,324
407West Allis$2,323
408Shoreline$2,315
409Cary$2,299
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))

Iowa City ranks 413 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
410Henderson$2,178
411Little Elm$2,177
412Alpharetta$2,173
413Iowa City$2,173
414Eau Claire$2,172
415Visalia$2,171
416Santa Maria$2,170
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Iowa City ranks 316 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
313Oak Park$1,030
314La Crosse$1,030
315Tucson$1,029
316Iowa City$1,029
317Fayetteville$1,026
318Turlock$1,025
319Sunrise$1,024
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))

Iowa City ranks 539 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
536Owensboro$208
537Rockville$207
538Union City$207
539Iowa City$205
540Great Falls$202
541Taylor$200
542Lawrence$197
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))

Iowa City ranks 467 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
464Albany$866
465Parker$864
466Hanford$861
467Iowa City$861
468Las Vegas$860
469Springfield$855
470Farmington Hills$854
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))

Iowa City ranks 92 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
89Blaine91.7%
90Southaven91.6%
91Portland91.2%
92Iowa City91.1%
93Newark91.0%
94Vineland90.8%
95Janesville90.7%
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))

Iowa City ranks 251 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
248Missoula21.4%
249Scottsdale21.4%
250Hoffman Estates21.3%
251Iowa City21.2%
252Atlanta21.1%
253Southfield21.1%
254Sterling Heights21.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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