Government budget and revenue in Lake Charles, Louisiana: official figures
Lake Charles' city government took in $167.42 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2021, or $2,135 for each of its 78,433 residents (2022 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 300th lowest of 731 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments.
How much does Lake Charles spend and on what?
It spent $116.08 million in the same year, $1,480 per resident, the 124th lowest of 731 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments. The largest identified functions were police (18.4%), fire protection (15.9%) and housing and community development (15.3%) of the total.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does Lake Charles collect per resident?
Taxes raised $113.52 million ($1,447 per resident, the 153rd highest of 731) in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2021, 73.7% of general revenue, compared with 49.3% for all US city governments combined in 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat taxes does Lake Charles rely on?
Of Lake Charles' tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2021, property tax made up 9.5%, general sales tax 72.9%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 11.5%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Lake Charles' property tax share is the 16th lowest of 730 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much federal and state money does Lake Charles get?
Payments from other governments made up 11.5% of Lake Charles' city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2021: 6.0% from the federal government ($119 per resident), 3.6% from the state and 1.8% from other local governments. For all US city governments in 2022 the aid share was 24.3%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Lake Charles raise from fees and utilities?
Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $12.71 million, 8.2% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $13.40 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Lake Charles spend on police?
Lake Charles' city government spent $21.34 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2021, $272 per resident (the 254th lowest of 731) and 18.4% of its total spending; police took 10.3% of spending across all US city governments in 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Lake Charles spend on fire protection?
Fire protection cost $18.48 million, $236 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2021.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much debt does Lake Charles have?
At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 September 2021, Lake Charles' city government owed $53.39 million in long-term debt, $681 per resident (the 118th lowest of 731). During the year it issued no new long-term debt and repaid $8.75 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Lake Charles pay in interest on its debt?
Interest on debt cost $1.82 million in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2021, 1.6% of total spending.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the latest budget data for Lake Charles?
The Census Bureau imputed 91% of the revenue dollars in Lake Charles' 2024 record, so these facts use the 2022 Census of Governments, for which the city reported its figures.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Lake Charles 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))
Lake Charles ranks 432 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.
| Rank | City | City government total revenue per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 429 | Tulare | $2,150 |
| 430 | Modesto | $2,145 |
| 431 | Mount Pleasant | $2,145 |
| 432 | Lake Charles | $2,135 |
| 433 | Prescott Valley | $2,127 |
| 434 | Montgomery | $2,116 |
| 435 | Appleton | $2,112 |
City government total spending per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Lake Charles ranks 608 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.
| Rank | City | City government total spending per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 605 | Warner Robins | $1,489 |
| 606 | Coeur d'Alene | $1,488 |
| 607 | Marana | $1,488 |
| 608 | Lake Charles | $1,480 |
| 609 | Wylie | $1,475 |
| 610 | Simi Valley | $1,475 |
| 611 | Perris | $1,471 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Lake Charles ranks 153 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.
| Rank | City | City taxes collected per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 150 | Cleveland | $1,457 |
| 151 | Grand Junction | $1,454 |
| 152 | San Leandro | $1,449 |
| 153 | Lake Charles | $1,447 |
| 154 | Dothan | $1,447 |
| 155 | South Jordan | $1,445 |
| 156 | Fort Lauderdale | $1,439 |
City spending on police per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Lake Charles 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.
| Rank | City | City spending on police per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 475 | Durham | $275 |
| 476 | St. Cloud | $275 |
| 477 | Harlingen | $273 |
| 478 | Lake Charles | $272 |
| 479 | Ann Arbor | $272 |
| 480 | Louisville/Jefferson County metro government | $271 |
| 481 | Gilroy | $270 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Lake Charles ranks 614 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.
| Rank | City | City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 611 | Eden Prairie | $685 |
| 612 | Woodbury | $685 |
| 613 | Bellevue | $682 |
| 614 | Lake Charles | $681 |
| 615 | Springfield | $677 |
| 616 | North Port | $657 |
| 617 | Huntersville | $657 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Lake Charles ranks 715 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.
| Rank | City | Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 712 | Conway | 10.5% |
| 713 | San Bernardino | 10.1% |
| 714 | Norman | 10.0% |
| 715 | Lake Charles | 9.5% |
| 716 | Parker | 8.3% |
| 717 | Midwest City | 8.1% |
| 718 | Mobile | 8.0% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Lake Charles ranks 545 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.
| Rank | City | Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 542 | Burnsville | 11.6% |
| 543 | Escondido | 11.6% |
| 544 | Eagle Mountain | 11.5% |
| 545 | Lake Charles | 11.5% |
| 546 | Cary | 11.5% |
| 547 | Herriman | 11.4% |
| 548 | Montebello | 11.4% |
More on Lake Charles: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · all cities in the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: 2022 Census of Governments: State and Local Government Finances, individual unit files (item amounts for every government, directory with population and fiscal year end, state estimates by type of government), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c8de889f6b33…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit files (item amounts for every sampled government, directory with population and fiscal year end, state estimates by type of government), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0967c4d30466…)
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