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Government budget and revenue in Lowell, Massachusetts: official figures

Lowell's city government took in $688.16 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $6,057 for each of its 113,608 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 62nd highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$6,057
2024
City government spending per resident
$7,075
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$3,610
2024

How much does Lowell spend and on what?

It spent $803.74 million in the same year, $7,075 per resident, the 46th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were elementary and secondary schools (58.5%), police (5.1%) and fire protection (4.0%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Lowell collect per resident?

Taxes raised $193.43 million ($1,703 per resident, the 111th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 28.9% 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 Lowell rely on?

Of Lowell's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 96.2%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 1.6%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Lowell's property tax share is the 32nd highest 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 Lowell get?

Payments from other governments made up 59.7% of Lowell's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 6.6% from the federal government ($389 per resident), 53.1% from the state. For all US city governments in 2022 the aid share was 24.3%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Lowell raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $54.13 million, 8.1% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $18.57 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Lowell spend on police?

Lowell's city government spent $41.18 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $362 per resident (the 286th highest of 582) and 5.1% 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 does Lowell spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $31.79 million, $280 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Does Lowell city government run the schools?

Lowell's city government also pays for public schools: elementary and secondary education took $470.25 million, 58.5% of its spending in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, which in most US cities is spent by a separate school district instead.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Lowell have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Lowell's city government owed $410.13 million in long-term debt, $3,610 per resident (the 154th highest of 582). During the year it issued $70.67 million of new long-term debt and repaid $22.72 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Lowell pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $11.28 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 1.4% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Lowell city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 16.7% from $5,191 to $6,057, spending per resident rose 35.6% to $7,075, taxes per resident rose 12.1% to $1,703.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Lowell 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))

Lowell ranks 76 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
73Chicago$5,341
74Bridgeport$5,315
75Norwalk$5,298
76Lowell$5,191
77Suffolk$5,161
78Quincy$5,159
79Kansas City$5,104
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))

Lowell ranks 85 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
82Los Angeles$5,245
83Hampton$5,237
84New Braunfels$5,228
85Lowell$5,218
86Tallahassee$5,208
87Somerville$5,191
88Jacksonville$5,156
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Lowell ranks 134 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
131Santa Cruz$1,526
132Miami$1,526
133West Palm Beach$1,526
134Lowell$1,518
135Las Cruces$1,517
136Bothell$1,510
137East Orange$1,509
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))

Lowell ranks 483 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
480Louisville/Jefferson County metro government$271
481Gilroy$270
482Arlington$269
483Lowell$269
484Kenner$269
485Valdosta$268
486Cupertino$268
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))

Lowell ranks 237 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
234Beaumont$2,842
235Augusta$2,831
236Midwest City$2,823
237Lowell$2,816
238Bothell$2,800
239Mooresville$2,796
240Lafayette$2,795
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))

Lowell ranks 36 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
33Sterling Heights96.9%
34Bristol96.8%
35Framingham96.8%
36Lowell96.8%
37Barnstable Town96.7%
38Paterson96.6%
39Vineland96.6%
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))

Lowell ranks 15 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
12Springfield69.6%
13New Bedford63.3%
14Brockton63.1%
15Lowell61.7%
16Bartlett60.6%
17Fall River58.8%
18Troy58.7%
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))

Lowell ranks 62 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
59Roseville$6,082
60Union City$6,068
61Roanoke$6,066
62Lowell$6,057
63Waltham$6,003
64Burbank$5,975
65Portsmouth$5,881
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))

Lowell ranks 46 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
43Harrisonburg$7,247
44Chicopee$7,180
45Portland$7,179
46Lowell$7,075
47Revere$7,030
48Norman$6,985
49Syracuse$6,966
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Lowell ranks 111 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
108Palm Beach Gardens$1,735
109Lenexa$1,730
110Jacksonville$1,729
111Lowell$1,703
112New Bedford$1,678
113San Jose$1,672
114Parker$1,665
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))

Lowell ranks 286 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
283Yakima$364
284Deerfield Beach$363
285High Point$363
286Lowell$362
287Kirkland$362
288Flagstaff$362
289Plainfield$362
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))

Lowell ranks 154 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
151Dubuque$3,676
152Mesa$3,641
153Wichita$3,617
154Lowell$3,610
155Newport News$3,592
156Birmingham$3,587
157Burleson$3,560
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))

Lowell ranks 32 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
29Westland96.7%
30Gary96.6%
31Framingham96.5%
32Lowell96.2%
33Lawrence96.2%
34Brockton96.1%
35Sterling Heights96.1%
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))

Lowell ranks 15 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
12Hartford62.0%
13New Bedford61.6%
14New Brunswick60.0%
15Lowell59.7%
16Fall River59.5%
17Bayonne59.4%
18Brockton56.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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