Government budget and revenue in Lawrence, Kansas: official figures
Lawrence's city government took in $561.60 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2021, or $5,705 for each of its 98,448 residents (2022 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 61st highest of 731 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments.
How much does Lawrence spend and on what?
It spent $536.84 million in the same year, $5,453 per resident, the 72nd highest of 731 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments. The largest identified functions were hospitals (62.4%), central administration (5.2%) and police (4.8%) of the total.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does Lawrence collect per resident?
Taxes raised $100.41 million ($1,020 per resident, the 326th highest of 731) in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2021, 18.8% of general revenue, compared with 49.3% for all US city governments combined in 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat taxes does Lawrence rely on?
Of Lawrence's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2021, property tax made up 42.8%, general sales tax 46.7%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 8.6%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Lawrence's property tax share is the 311th 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 Lawrence get?
Payments from other governments made up 3.2% of Lawrence's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2021: 1.7% from the federal government ($95 per resident), 1.4% from the state. For all US city governments in 2022 the aid share was 24.3%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Lawrence raise from fees and utilities?
Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $399.14 million, 74.6% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $26.59 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Lawrence spend on police?
Lawrence's city government spent $25.58 million on police in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2021, $260 per resident (the 223rd lowest of 731) and 4.8% 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 Lawrence spend on fire protection?
Fire protection cost $24.79 million, $252 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2021.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much debt does Lawrence have?
At the end of the fiscal year ended 31 December 2021, Lawrence's city government owed $219.57 million in long-term debt, $2,230 per resident (the 325th highest of 731). During the year it issued $56.26 million of new long-term debt and repaid $51.53 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Lawrence pay in interest on its debt?
Interest on debt cost $13.22 million in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2021, 2.5% of total spending.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the latest budget data for Lawrence?
The Census Bureau imputed 56% of the revenue dollars in Lawrence'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 copyHow Lawrence 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))
Lawrence ranks 61 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 58 | New Orleans | $5,749 |
| 59 | Ocala | $5,743 |
| 60 | Salt Lake City | $5,730 |
| 61 | Lawrence | $5,705 |
| 62 | Lawrence | $5,683 |
| 63 | Springfield | $5,667 |
| 64 | Lafayette | $5,636 |
City government total spending per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Lawrence ranks 72 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 69 | Ames | $5,606 |
| 70 | Baton Rouge | $5,512 |
| 71 | Revere | $5,460 |
| 72 | Lawrence | $5,453 |
| 73 | Portsmouth | $5,391 |
| 74 | New Orleans | $5,344 |
| 75 | Lynn | $5,341 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Lawrence 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.
| Rank | City | City taxes collected per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 323 | Stockton | $1,028 |
| 324 | Duluth | $1,023 |
| 325 | Fort Worth | $1,023 |
| 326 | Lawrence | $1,020 |
| 327 | Eastvale | $1,014 |
| 328 | Grand Forks | $1,012 |
| 329 | Perris | $1,010 |
City spending on police per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Lawrence ranks 509 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 506 | Normal | $261 |
| 507 | Melbourne | $260 |
| 508 | Victorville | $260 |
| 509 | Lawrence | $260 |
| 510 | Springfield | $260 |
| 511 | Weston | $260 |
| 512 | Bellingham | $259 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Lawrence ranks 325 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 322 | Frederick | $2,242 |
| 323 | Alpharetta | $2,235 |
| 324 | Little Elm | $2,233 |
| 325 | Lawrence | $2,230 |
| 326 | Gardena | $2,227 |
| 327 | Ann Arbor | $2,223 |
| 328 | Marana | $2,220 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Lawrence ranks 420 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 417 | Los Angeles | 43.2% |
| 418 | Columbia | 43.0% |
| 419 | San Marcos | 42.9% |
| 420 | Lawrence | 42.8% |
| 421 | Cheyenne | 42.7% |
| 422 | New York | 42.6% |
| 423 | Pensacola | 42.5% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Lawrence ranks 721 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 718 | Hempstead | 3.5% |
| 719 | Lee's Summit | 3.5% |
| 720 | North Charleston | 3.5% |
| 721 | Lawrence | 3.2% |
| 722 | Richardson | 2.7% |
| 723 | Kansas City | 2.4% |
| 724 | Fulshear | 2.2% |
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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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