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Government budget and revenue in Lakeland, Florida: official figures

Lakeland's city government took in $758.77 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, or $6,319 for each of its 120,071 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 50th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$6,319
2024
City government spending per resident
$6,222
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$6,046
2024

How much does Lakeland spend and on what?

It spent $747.02 million in the same year, $6,222 per resident, the 65th 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 (41.2%), financial administration (19.0%) and police (7.9%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Lakeland collect per resident?

Taxes raised $82.56 million ($688 per resident, the 69th lowest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, 25.2% 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 Lakeland rely on?

Of Lakeland's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, property tax made up 61.0%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 32.3%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Lakeland's property tax share is the 240th 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 Lakeland get?

Payments from other governments made up 13.5% of Lakeland's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023: 2.4% from the federal government ($65 per resident), 5.3% from the state and 5.8% 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 Lakeland raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $95.14 million, 29.1% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $431.37 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Lakeland spend on police?

Lakeland's city government spent $58.86 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, $490 per resident (the 131st highest of 582) and 7.9% 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 Lakeland spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $24.06 million, $200 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Lakeland have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, Lakeland's city government owed $725.90 million in long-term debt, $6,046 per resident (the 56th highest of 582). During the year it issued $155.03 million of new long-term debt and repaid $128.25 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Lakeland pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $20.89 million in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, 2.8% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Lakeland city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 7.4% from $5,887 to $6,319, spending per resident rose 0.4% to $6,222, taxes per resident rose 4.6% to $688.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Lakeland 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))

Lakeland ranks 52 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
49Yonkers$5,925
50Waltham$5,902
51Long Beach$5,892
52Lakeland$5,887
53Ames$5,846
54Norfolk$5,837
55Anchorage$5,806
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))

Lakeland ranks 46 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
43Waltham$6,251
44Harrisonburg$6,246
45Norwalk$6,244
46Lakeland$6,197
47Suffolk$6,185
48Mountain View$6,167
49Stamford$6,149
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Lakeland ranks 622 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
619Fayetteville$660
620North Port$660
621Milwaukee$659
622Lakeland$657
623Draper$655
624Greenville$654
625Gresham$653
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))

Lakeland ranks 227 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
224Flint$378
225Fountain Valley$378
226Coconut Creek$378
227Lakeland$377
228Miami Gardens$377
229Mount Prospect$376
230Burlington$376
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))

Lakeland ranks 27 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
24Lansing$8,494
25Dallas$8,280
26Owensboro$8,229
27Lakeland$8,007
28Portland$7,860
29Redondo Beach$7,855
30Carmel$7,823
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))

Lakeland ranks 252 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
249Leander61.8%
250Nashville61.7%
251Gastonia61.6%
252Lakeland61.6%
253Ocoee61.6%
254Rock Hill61.5%
255Raleigh61.5%
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))

Lakeland ranks 472 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
469Folsom14.1%
470Temecula14.1%
471Vacaville14.0%
472Lakeland14.0%
473Warner Robins13.9%
474West Covina13.9%
475Whittier13.9%
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))

Lakeland ranks 50 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
47Tacoma$6,442
48Ocala$6,433
49Atlanta$6,401
50Lakeland$6,319
51Framingham$6,303
52Buffalo$6,252
53Everett$6,233
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))

Lakeland ranks 65 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
62Ames$6,272
63Baton Rouge$6,268
64Roseville$6,264
65Lakeland$6,222
66Anchorage$6,210
67Gainesville$6,165
68Lynchburg$6,143
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Lakeland ranks 514 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
511Federal Way$695
512Modesto$694
513South Gate$689
514Lakeland$688
515Woodbury$685
516Gainesville$682
517Idaho Falls$681
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))

Lakeland ranks 131 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
128San Diego$491
129Vancouver$490
130Coconut Creek$490
131Lakeland$490
132Worcester$490
133Portsmouth$489
134Seattle$489
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))

Lakeland ranks 56 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
53Santa Monica$6,273
54Bryan$6,213
55Yonkers$6,124
56Lakeland$6,046
57Berwyn$6,026
58Arlington$5,997
59Portsmouth$5,985
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))

Lakeland ranks 240 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
237Carrollton61.4%
238Fort Wayne61.4%
239Wichita Falls61.3%
240Lakeland61.0%
241Lauderhill61.0%
242North Miami60.8%
243Chicago60.6%
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))

Lakeland ranks 376 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
373San Bernardino13.6%
374Ocala13.5%
375Fontana13.5%
376Lakeland13.5%
377Lubbock13.4%
378Boca Raton13.4%
379Columbus13.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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