State IntegrityReceipts, not verdicts

Government budget and revenue in Los Angeles, California: official figures

Los Angeles' city government took in $22.2 billion in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $5,808 for each of its 3,822,238 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 69th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$5,808
2024
City government spending per resident
$5,919
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$10,297
2024

How much does Los Angeles spend and on what?

It spent $22.6 billion in the same year, $5,919 per resident, the 78th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were police (15.0%), airports (12.9%) and the electric utility (11.9%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Los Angeles collect per resident?

Taxes raised $6.7 billion ($1,742 per resident, the 104th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 41.6% 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 Los Angeles rely on?

Of Los Angeles' tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 43.7%, general sales tax 14.9%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 20.3%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Los Angeles' property tax share is the 209th 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 Los Angeles get?

Payments from other governments made up 13.1% of Los Angeles' city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 4.0% from the federal government ($168 per resident), 5.8% from the state and 3.2% 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 Los Angeles raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $5.7 billion, 35.3% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $6.2 billion.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Los Angeles spend on police?

Los Angeles' city government spent $3.4 billion on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $888 per resident (the 10th highest of 582) and 15.0% 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 Los Angeles spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $881.35 million, $231 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Los Angeles have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Los Angeles' city government owed $39.4 billion in long-term debt, $10,297 per resident (the 17th highest of 582). During the year it issued $3.0 billion of new long-term debt and repaid $5.1 billion.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Los Angeles pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $1.2 billion in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 5.3% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Los Angeles city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 14.1% from $5,088 to $5,808, spending per resident rose 12.9% to $5,919, taxes per resident rose 14.1% to $1,742.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Los Angeles 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))

Los Angeles ranks 80 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
77Suffolk$5,161
78Quincy$5,159
79Kansas City$5,104
80Los Angeles$5,088
81Roanoke$5,077
82Santa Barbara$5,067
83Portsmouth$5,043
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))

Los Angeles ranks 82 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
79Sunnyvale$5,254
80Lafayette$5,254
81Marietta$5,254
82Los Angeles$5,245
83Hampton$5,237
84New Braunfels$5,228
85Lowell$5,218
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Los Angeles ranks 129 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
126Westminster$1,531
127Pawtucket$1,530
128Lexington$1,527
129Los Angeles$1,526
130Napa$1,526
131Santa Cruz$1,526
132Miami$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))

Los Angeles ranks 14 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
11Baltimore$792
12Oakland$757
13St. Louis$755
14Los Angeles$749
15Bridgeport$747
16Albany$737
17Inglewood$714
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))

Los Angeles ranks 16 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
13Springfield$11,105
14Celina$10,809
15Anaheim$9,693
16Los Angeles$9,401
17Kansas City$9,151
18Quincy$9,035
19Waukesha$8,895
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))

Los Angeles ranks 417 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
414Midland43.7%
415Livermore43.5%
416Carlsbad43.4%
417Los Angeles43.2%
418Columbia43.0%
419San Marcos42.9%
420Lawrence42.8%
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))

Los Angeles ranks 381 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
378Bloomington17.0%
379Yucaipa17.0%
380Newton16.9%
381Los Angeles16.9%
382Tinley Park16.9%
383Kent16.9%
384Layton16.9%
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))

Los Angeles ranks 69 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
66Lawrence$5,866
67Memphis$5,855
68Yonkers$5,816
69Los Angeles$5,808
70Norwalk$5,805
71East Orange$5,782
72Anchorage$5,700
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))

Los Angeles ranks 78 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
75Jacksonville$5,974
76Lafayette$5,940
77Inglewood$5,932
78Los Angeles$5,919
79Long Beach$5,916
80Bayonne$5,896
81Chesapeake$5,873
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Los Angeles ranks 104 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
101Richardson$1,785
102Lynn$1,773
103Pittsburgh$1,745
104Los Angeles$1,742
105Westminster$1,740
106Lexington$1,739
107Sarasota$1,738
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))

Los Angeles ranks 10 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
7Newport Beach$954
8Fort Lauderdale$928
9Vacaville$915
10Los Angeles$888
11Scottsdale$885
12Baltimore$867
13Palo Alto$851
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))

Los Angeles ranks 17 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
14Quincy$10,437
15Waukesha$10,415
16Chicago$10,324
17Los Angeles$10,297
18Owensboro$10,008
19Dallas$9,927
20Denton$9,840
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))

Los Angeles ranks 372 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
369Bend44.3%
370La Habra43.9%
371Arlington43.7%
372Los Angeles43.7%
373Lawrence43.4%
374Springfield43.4%
375Santa Clara42.9%
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))

Los Angeles ranks 388 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
385Decatur13.1%
386Springfield13.1%
387Moreno Valley13.1%
388Los Angeles13.1%
389Davie13.0%
390El Paso13.0%
391Topeka13.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

More on Los Angeles: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · all cities in the United States

Sources

Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.