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Government budget and revenue in Lakewood, Colorado: official figures

Lakewood's city government took in $235.43 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2021, or $1,495 for each of its 157,429 residents (2022 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 90th lowest of 731 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments.

City government revenue per resident
$1,495
2022
City government spending per resident
$1,189
2022
City long-term debt per resident
$142
2022

How much does Lakewood spend and on what?

It spent $187.20 million in the same year, $1,189 per resident, the 60th 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 (30.1%), parks and recreation (26.0%) and roads and highways (17.9%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Lakewood collect per resident?

Taxes raised $148.00 million ($940 per resident, the 351st lowest of 731) in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2021, 63.2% 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 Lakewood rely on?

Of Lakewood's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2021, property tax made up 17.5%, general sales tax 78.1%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 4.1%. 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 63rd 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 copy

How much federal and state money does Lakewood get?

Payments from other governments made up 14.9% of Lakewood's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2021: 6.4% from the federal government ($96 per resident), 3.5% from the state and 5.0% 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 Lakewood raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $44.94 million, 19.2% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Lakewood spend on police?

Lakewood's city government spent $56.28 million on police in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2021, $357 per resident (the 275th highest of 731) and 30.1% 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 debt does Lakewood have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 31 December 2021, Lakewood's city government owed $22.35 million in long-term debt, $142 per resident (the 26th lowest of 731). During the year it issued no new long-term debt and repaid $1.05 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Lakewood pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $937,000 in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2021, 0.5% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the latest budget data for Lakewood?

The Census Bureau imputed 100% of the revenue dollars in Lakewood's 2024 record, so these facts use the 2022 Census of Governments, for which the city reported its figures.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How 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 642 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
639Westfield$1,506
640Irvine$1,502
641Yuba City$1,502
642Lakewood$1,495
643Norwalk$1,492
644Draper$1,491
645Warner Robins$1,483
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))

Lakewood ranks 672 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
669Antioch$1,210
670Murrieta$1,206
671Draper$1,202
672Lakewood$1,189
673Caldwell$1,185
674Hesperia$1,180
675Norwalk$1,177
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Lakewood ranks 381 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
378Passaic$944
379Union City$942
380Arlington$941
381Lakewood$940
382Bellevue$939
383Pico Rivera$937
384Shoreline$936
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))

Lakewood ranks 275 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
272Grand Prairie$358
273Goodyear$358
274Boulder$358
275Lakewood$357
276Denver$356
277Renton$356
278Fort Pierce$355
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))

Lakewood ranks 706 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
703Rochester Hills$177
704Pinellas Park$154
705Antioch$149
706Lakewood$142
707Spokane Valley$124
708Daly City$114
709Jurupa Valley$109
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))

Lakewood ranks 668 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
665Porterville18.1%
666Lacey18.0%
667Bentonville17.8%
668Lakewood17.5%
669Broken Arrow17.5%
670Phoenix17.4%
671Huntsville17.4%
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))

Lakewood ranks 445 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
442Salinas15.0%
443Urban Honolulu15.0%
444Jeffersonville15.0%
445Lakewood14.9%
446Berkeley14.9%
447Marysville14.9%
448Miami Gardens14.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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