Government budget and revenue in Lakewood, California: official figures
Lakewood's city government took in $95.11 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, or $1,218 for each of its 78,119 residents (2022 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 40th lowest of 731 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments.
How much does Lakewood spend and on what?
It spent $91.58 million in the same year, $1,172 per resident, the 54th lowest of 731 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments. The largest identified functions were parks and recreation (17.7%), police (16.2%) and central administration (14.2%) of the total.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does Lakewood collect per resident?
Taxes raised $59.54 million ($762 per resident, the 183rd lowest of 731) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, 73.2% of general revenue, compared with 49.3% for all US city governments combined in 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat taxes does Lakewood rely on?
Of Lakewood's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, property tax made up 28.4%, general sales tax 35.9%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 8.5%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Lakewood's property tax share is the 162nd 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 Lakewood get?
Payments from other governments made up 12.1% of Lakewood's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022: 1.5% from the federal government ($15 per resident), 5.5% from the state and 5.2% 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 Lakewood raise from fees and utilities?
Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $8.89 million, 10.9% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $13.79 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Lakewood spend on police?
Lakewood's city government spent $14.81 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, $190 per resident (the 53rd lowest of 731) and 16.2% 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 debt does Lakewood have?
At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, Lakewood's city government owed $7.27 million in long-term debt, $93 per resident (the 21st lowest of 731). During the year it issued no new long-term debt and repaid $1.03 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Lakewood pay in interest on its debt?
Interest on debt cost $227,000 in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, 0.2% of total spending.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the latest budget data for Lakewood?
Lakewood is not in the Census Bureau's 2024 sample of local governments, so its latest full figures are from the 2022 Census of Governments, which covers every government.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Lakewood 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))
Lakewood ranks 692 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 689 | Eagan | $1,234 |
| 690 | Lakeville | $1,225 |
| 691 | Hesperia | $1,225 |
| 692 | Lakewood | $1,218 |
| 693 | Baldwin Park | $1,217 |
| 694 | West Jordan | $1,208 |
| 695 | Palmdale | $1,206 |
City government total spending per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Lakewood ranks 678 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 675 | Norwalk | $1,177 |
| 676 | Apple Valley | $1,173 |
| 677 | Clifton | $1,173 |
| 678 | Lakewood | $1,172 |
| 679 | Killeen | $1,164 |
| 680 | Brookhaven | $1,140 |
| 681 | Lorain | $1,140 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Lakewood ranks 549 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 546 | Lafayette | $765 |
| 547 | Novi | $763 |
| 548 | Lakewood | $762 |
| 549 | Lakewood | $762 |
| 550 | Hemet | $758 |
| 551 | Anderson | $757 |
| 552 | Hammond | $757 |
City spending on police per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Lakewood ranks 679 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 676 | Mount Pleasant | $194 |
| 677 | McKinney | $192 |
| 678 | Fargo | $190 |
| 679 | Lakewood | $190 |
| 680 | Fishers | $189 |
| 681 | St. George | $188 |
| 682 | Palm Bay | $187 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Lakewood ranks 711 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 708 | Daly City | $114 |
| 709 | Jurupa Valley | $109 |
| 710 | Kentwood | $103 |
| 711 | Lakewood | $93 |
| 712 | Lake Forest | $74 |
| 713 | Taylorsville | $39 |
| 714 | Westminster | $25 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Lakewood ranks 569 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 566 | Tacoma | 28.4% |
| 567 | Huntington Park | 28.4% |
| 568 | Cupertino | 28.4% |
| 569 | Lakewood | 28.4% |
| 570 | Boulder | 28.3% |
| 571 | Loveland | 28.3% |
| 572 | Denver | 28.1% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Lakewood ranks 520 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 517 | Fort Worth | 12.2% |
| 518 | Wake Forest | 12.1% |
| 519 | Gaithersburg | 12.1% |
| 520 | Lakewood | 12.1% |
| 521 | Ocala | 12.1% |
| 522 | Minnetonka | 12.1% |
| 523 | Tustin | 12.1% |
More on Lakewood: 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 State and Local Government Finances: survey methodology (sample design; survey year covers fiscal years ended 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 6a8d82a94335…)
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