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Government budget and revenue in Las Cruces, New Mexico: official figures

Las Cruces' city government took in $358.54 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $3,148 for each of its 113,888 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 239th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$3,148
2024
City government spending per resident
$2,267
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$2,473
2024

How much does Las Cruces spend and on what?

It spent $258.24 million in the same year, $2,267 per resident, the 199th lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were police (15.4%), fire protection (9.7%) and the gas utility (9.5%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Las Cruces collect per resident?

Taxes raised $175.64 million ($1,542 per resident, the 129th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 56.4% 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 Las Cruces rely on?

Of Las Cruces' tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 15.4%, general sales tax 77.7%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 3.1%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Las Cruces' property tax share is the 40th 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 Las Cruces get?

Payments from other governments made up 18.8% of Las Cruces' city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 9.9% from the federal government ($269 per resident), 7.0% from the state and 2.0% 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 Las Cruces raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $40.22 million, 12.9% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $47.21 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Las Cruces spend on police?

Las Cruces' city government spent $39.66 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $348 per resident (the 273rd lowest of 582) and 15.4% 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 Las Cruces spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $24.92 million, $219 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Las Cruces have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Las Cruces' city government owed $281.69 million in long-term debt, $2,473 per resident (the 258th highest of 582). During the year it issued $32.34 million of new long-term debt and repaid $41.43 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Las Cruces pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $11.63 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 4.5% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Las Cruces city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 16.7% from $2,697 to $3,148, spending per resident fell 4.9% to $2,267, taxes per resident rose 1.6% to $1,542.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Las Cruces 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))

Las Cruces ranks 289 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
286Waterloo$2,698
287Lancaster$2,698
288Lenexa$2,697
289Las Cruces$2,697
290Brownsville$2,688
291Montebello$2,687
292Folsom$2,681
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))

Las Cruces ranks 326 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
323Tuscaloosa$2,398
324Royal Oak$2,391
325Phoenix$2,390
326Las Cruces$2,386
327Richmond$2,384
328Jeffersonville$2,382
329Encinitas$2,363
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Las Cruces ranks 135 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
132Miami$1,526
133West Palm Beach$1,526
134Lowell$1,518
135Las Cruces$1,517
136Bothell$1,510
137East Orange$1,509
138Marana$1,507
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))

Las Cruces ranks 451 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
448Lubbock$286
449Grand Rapids$285
450Vista$285
451Las Cruces$284
452Fort Collins$284
453Tigard$283
454Decatur$283
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))

Las Cruces ranks 262 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
259Milwaukee$2,629
260Fort Smith$2,624
261Mount Pleasant$2,609
262Las Cruces$2,597
263Leander$2,579
264Bloomington$2,574
265Santa Cruz$2,573
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))

Las Cruces ranks 695 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
692Flagstaff15.3%
693Fayetteville14.9%
694Palm Desert14.9%
695Las Cruces14.9%
696Oklahoma City14.1%
697Carson14.1%
698Logan13.8%
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))

Las Cruces ranks 550 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
547Herriman11.4%
548Montebello11.4%
549Margate11.4%
550Las Cruces11.3%
551Fort Myers11.2%
552Hanford11.2%
553Texas City11.2%
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))

Las Cruces ranks 239 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
236Battle Creek$3,179
237Pleasanton$3,168
238Miami$3,162
239Las Cruces$3,148
240Watsonville$3,145
241Cheyenne$3,131
242Westminster$3,129
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))

Las Cruces ranks 384 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
381Irving$2,281
382Normal$2,276
383Janesville$2,274
384Las Cruces$2,267
385North Miami$2,265
386Oak Park$2,263
387Auburn$2,262
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Las Cruces ranks 129 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
126Dothan$1,579
127Elizabeth$1,559
128Mishawaka$1,554
129Las Cruces$1,542
130North Charleston$1,542
131Pompano Beach$1,537
132Greeley$1,531
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))

Las Cruces ranks 310 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
307Normal$350
308Oklahoma City$349
309Waco$349
310Las Cruces$348
311Plainfield$347
312Coeur d'Alene$347
313Norman$346
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))

Las Cruces ranks 258 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
255Redding$2,494
256Brookhaven$2,481
257Albuquerque$2,477
258Las Cruces$2,473
259Midwest City$2,451
260Sunrise$2,440
261Stillwater$2,440
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))

Las Cruces ranks 541 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
538Akron16.1%
539Fayetteville16.0%
540Philadelphia15.5%
541Las Cruces15.4%
542Thornton15.4%
543Oklahoma City15.4%
544Montgomery15.4%
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))

Las Cruces ranks 287 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
284Bozeman18.9%
285St. Clair Shores18.9%
286Wichita Falls18.9%
287Las Cruces18.8%
288Margate18.8%
289Long Beach18.8%
290Columbia18.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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