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Government budget and revenue in Lexington, Kentucky: official figures

Lexington's city government took in $1.1 billion in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $3,526 for each of its 320,347 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 198th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$3,526
2024
City government spending per resident
$2,751
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$3,002
2024

How much does Lexington spend and on what?

It spent $881.16 million in the same year, $2,751 per resident, the 277th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were central administration (30.9%), sewerage (10.2%) and housing and community development (9.4%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Lexington collect per resident?

Taxes raised $557.19 million ($1,739 per resident, the 106th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 49.5% 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 Lexington rely on?

Of Lexington's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 23.8%, individual income tax 48.2%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 15.0%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Lexington's property tax share is the 85th 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 Lexington get?

Payments from other governments made up 15.1% of Lexington's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 7.6% from the federal government ($268 per resident), 6.6% from the state and 0.9% 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 Lexington raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $374.76 million, 33.3% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Lexington spend on police?

Lexington's city government spent $23.37 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $73 per resident (the 21st lowest of 582) and 2.7% 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 Lexington spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $82.29 million, $257 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Lexington have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Lexington's city government owed $961.74 million in long-term debt, $3,002 per resident (the 193rd highest of 582). During the year it issued $87.10 million of new long-term debt and repaid $353.93 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Lexington pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $18.44 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 2.1% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Lexington city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 20.8% from $2,918 to $3,526, spending per resident rose 57.6% to $2,751, taxes per resident rose 13.9% to $1,739.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Lexington 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))

Lexington ranks 248 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
245Grand Junction$2,926
246Carson City$2,923
247South Bend$2,922
248Lexington$2,918
249Murray$2,917
250Newark$2,901
251Fayetteville$2,874
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))

Lexington ranks 507 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
504Lynwood$1,758
505Rancho Cordova$1,749
506Midwest City$1,747
507Lexington$1,745
508Kent$1,743
509Burleson$1,742
510Pittsburg$1,739
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Lexington ranks 128 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
125Richardson$1,553
126Westminster$1,531
127Pawtucket$1,530
128Lexington$1,527
129Los Angeles$1,526
130Napa$1,526
131Santa Cruz$1,526
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))

Lexington ranks 588 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
585Sioux Falls$229
586Madera$228
587Pasco$228
588Lexington$228
589San Angelo$228
590Methuen$228
591Jacksonville$228
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))

Lexington ranks 420 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
417Santa Ana$1,676
418Pico Rivera$1,668
419Tucson$1,664
420Lexington$1,645
421Battle Creek$1,645
422Gallatin$1,641
423Tustin$1,639
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))

Lexington ranks 616 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
613North Little Rock24.1%
614Shreveport24.1%
615San Jacinto24.0%
616Lexington23.8%
617Perris23.6%
618Anaheim23.4%
619Pittsburg23.4%
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))

Lexington ranks 405 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
402Bozeman16.4%
403Tampa16.3%
404Portland16.3%
405Lexington16.3%
406Jurupa Valley16.2%
407Medford16.2%
408Plymouth16.2%
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))

Lexington ranks 198 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
195Lake Havasu City$3,550
196Columbia$3,548
197Tracy$3,532
198Lexington$3,526
199Charlotte$3,517
200Carlsbad$3,510
201Hillsboro$3,504
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))

Lexington ranks 277 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
274Madison$2,765
275Mooresville$2,759
276Clarksville$2,756
277Lexington$2,751
278Lenexa$2,749
279Watsonville$2,748
280Chula Vista$2,747
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Lexington ranks 106 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
103Pittsburgh$1,745
104Los Angeles$1,742
105Westminster$1,740
106Lexington$1,739
107Sarasota$1,738
108Palm Beach Gardens$1,735
109Lenexa$1,730
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))

Lexington ranks 562 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
559Sammamish$141
560Louisville/Jefferson County metro government$137
561Brockton$78
562Lexington$73
563Palm Coast$66
564Avondale$40
565Las Vegas$32
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))

Lexington ranks 193 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
190Omaha$3,051
191Stockton$3,024
192Tulsa$3,003
193Lexington$3,002
194St. Paul$2,998
195Oxnard$2,975
196Fort Worth$2,975
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))

Lexington ranks 496 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
493Turlock24.1%
494Longmont24.0%
495Stockton23.9%
496Lexington23.8%
497Chico23.8%
498Yakima23.8%
499Grapevine23.3%
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))

Lexington ranks 343 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
340Brooklyn Park15.5%
341Davenport15.4%
342Yakima15.3%
343Lexington15.1%
344Santa Monica15.1%
345Plymouth15.1%
346Albuquerque15.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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