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Government budget and revenue in Lafayette, Louisiana: official figures

Lafayette's city government took in $798.36 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 October 2023, or $6,577 for each of its 121,389 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 44th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$6,577
2024
City government spending per resident
$5,940
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$3,214
2024

How much does Lafayette spend and on what?

It spent $721.02 million in the same year, $5,940 per resident, the 76th 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 (28.2%), police (17.3%) and roads and highways (8.5%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Lafayette collect per resident?

Taxes raised $286.34 million ($2,359 per resident, the 54th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 31 October 2023, 56.0% 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 Lafayette rely on?

Of Lafayette's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 October 2023, property tax made up 52.1%, general sales tax 41.3%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 4.2%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Lafayette's property tax share is the 264th 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 Lafayette get?

Payments from other governments made up 7.8% of Lafayette's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 October 2023: 4.5% from the federal government ($191 per resident), 2.6% from the state and 0.7% 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 Lafayette raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $144.96 million, 28.3% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $286.89 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Lafayette spend on police?

Lafayette's city government spent $124.92 million on police in the fiscal year ended 31 October 2023, $1,029 per resident (the 6th highest of 582) and 17.3% 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 Lafayette spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $32.30 million, $266 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 31 October 2023.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Lafayette have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 31 October 2023, Lafayette's city government owed $390.11 million in long-term debt, $3,214 per resident (the 182nd highest of 582). During the year it issued $14.19 million of new long-term debt and repaid $52.07 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Lafayette pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $16.97 million in the fiscal year ended 31 October 2023, 2.4% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Lafayette city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 16.7% from $5,636 to $6,577, spending per resident rose 13.1% to $5,940, taxes per resident rose 12.7% to $2,359.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Lafayette 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))

Lafayette ranks 64 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
61Lawrence$5,705
62Lawrence$5,683
63Springfield$5,667
64Lafayette$5,636
65Peabody$5,605
66Framingham$5,580
67Fall River$5,538
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))

Lafayette ranks 80 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
77Portland$5,306
78Weymouth Town$5,271
79Sunnyvale$5,254
80Lafayette$5,254
81Marietta$5,254
82Los Angeles$5,245
83Hampton$5,237
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Lafayette ranks 67 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
64Berkeley$2,115
65South San Francisco$2,111
66Providence$2,094
67Lafayette$2,094
68Bellevue$2,086
69Commerce City$2,076
70Cincinnati$2,074
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))

Lafayette ranks 8 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
5Corona$956
6Washington$943
7San Francisco$890
8Lafayette$870
9Newport Beach$860
10Mooresville$850
11Baltimore$792
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))

Lafayette ranks 164 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
161Port St. Lucie$3,650
162Tulare$3,636
163Chino$3,629
164Lafayette$3,628
165Topeka$3,627
166Santa Clara$3,616
167Oklahoma City$3,615
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))

Lafayette ranks 373 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
370Duluth50.1%
371Yonkers50.0%
372Corpus Christi49.8%
373Lafayette49.8%
374Compton49.5%
375San Ramon49.2%
376Flint49.2%
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))

Lafayette ranks 607 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
604Parker9.5%
605Sammamish9.5%
606Delray Beach9.4%
607Lafayette9.3%
608Scranton9.3%
609Grand Island9.3%
610Arlington9.2%
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))

Lafayette ranks 44 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
41Chicopee$6,691
42Huntsville$6,677
43New Bedford$6,600
44Lafayette$6,577
45Syracuse$6,509
46Norman$6,455
47Tacoma$6,442
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))

Lafayette ranks 76 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
73Bridgeport$5,989
74Pasadena$5,975
75Jacksonville$5,974
76Lafayette$5,940
77Inglewood$5,932
78Los Angeles$5,919
79Long Beach$5,916
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Lafayette ranks 54 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
51Stamford$2,397
52Taunton$2,370
53Bridgeport$2,363
54Lafayette$2,359
55New Haven$2,335
56Cranston$2,334
57Kansas City$2,321
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))

Lafayette ranks 6 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
3Washington$1,121
4San Francisco$1,072
5Cleveland$1,065
6Lafayette$1,029
7Newport Beach$954
8Fort Lauderdale$928
9Vacaville$915
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))

Lafayette ranks 182 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
179Muncie$3,240
180Ames$3,238
181Sarasota$3,222
182Lafayette$3,214
183Scottsdale$3,190
184Santa Clara$3,169
185Sunnyvale$3,129
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))

Lafayette ranks 317 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
314Valdosta52.2%
315Burleson52.1%
316Laredo52.1%
317Lafayette52.1%
318Bartlett52.1%
319Fayetteville52.0%
320Clarksville52.0%
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))

Lafayette ranks 521 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
518Apex7.8%
519Broken Arrow7.8%
520Fort Worth7.8%
521Lafayette7.8%
522Garland7.7%
523Sunnyvale7.6%
524Pleasanton7.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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