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Government budget and revenue in Melbourne, Florida: official figures

Melbourne's city government took in $219.84 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, or $2,543 for each of its 86,441 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 231st lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$2,543
2024
City government spending per resident
$2,620
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$1,549
2024

How much does Melbourne spend and on what?

It spent $226.50 million in the same year, $2,620 per resident, the 279th lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were police (20.6%), airports (14.8%) and sewerage (14.5%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Melbourne collect per resident?

Taxes raised $80.69 million ($933 per resident, the 204th lowest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, 43.5% 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 Melbourne rely on?

Of Melbourne's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, property tax made up 58.8%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 25.9%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Melbourne's property tax share is the 256th 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 Melbourne get?

Payments from other governments made up 19.0% of Melbourne's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023: 6.5% from the federal government ($140 per resident), 5.9% from the state and 6.6% 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 Melbourne raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $52.17 million, 28.1% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $34.46 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Melbourne spend on police?

Melbourne's city government spent $46.70 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, $540 per resident (the 82nd highest of 582) and 20.6% 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 Melbourne spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $21.68 million, $251 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Melbourne have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, Melbourne's city government owed $133.91 million in long-term debt, $1,549 per resident (the 199th lowest of 582). During the year it issued no new long-term debt and repaid $5.25 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Melbourne pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $4.57 million in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, 2.0% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Melbourne city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident fell 2.5% from $2,610 to $2,543, spending per resident rose 21.2% to $2,620, taxes per resident rose 18.5% to $933.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Melbourne 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))

Melbourne ranks 309 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
306Pompano Beach$2,619
307Kirkland$2,615
308Vacaville$2,613
309Melbourne$2,610
310Des Plaines$2,608
311Troy$2,599
312Bothell$2,596
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))

Melbourne ranks 376 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
373Huntington Beach$2,174
374Commerce City$2,169
375Bellingham$2,164
376Melbourne$2,162
377Green Bay$2,154
378Rockford$2,146
379Albany$2,133
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Melbourne ranks 522 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
519San Antonio$794
520Brentwood$793
521Vineland$791
522Melbourne$788
523Janesville$787
524St. Clair Shores$786
525Racine$786
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))

Melbourne 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 spending on police per resident, 2022
504Flagstaff$262
505Corpus Christi$262
506Normal$261
507Melbourne$260
508Victorville$260
509Lawrence$260
510Springfield$260
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))

Melbourne ranks 528 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
525Fountain Valley$1,082
526South Jordan$1,073
527Warner Robins$1,072
528Melbourne$1,072
529Concord$1,066
530Idaho Falls$1,053
531Chandler$1,053
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))

Melbourne ranks 286 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
283North Las Vegas58.6%
284Kissimmee58.5%
285Boca Raton58.3%
286Melbourne58.3%
287Palm Bay58.2%
288Jacksonville58.2%
289Johns Creek58.0%
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))

Melbourne ranks 141 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
138Lafayette31.7%
139Plainfield31.5%
140Lake Havasu City31.5%
141Melbourne31.2%
142Somerville31.2%
143Iowa City31.1%
144Elgin30.8%
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))

Melbourne ranks 352 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
349Fairfield$2,554
350Whittier$2,547
351Hoffman Estates$2,544
352Melbourne$2,543
353Rancho Cordova$2,533
354Chapel Hill$2,529
355Medford$2,529
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))

Melbourne ranks 304 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
301Cary$2,639
302Fort Smith$2,638
303Richardson$2,632
304Melbourne$2,620
305Noblesville$2,619
306Des Plaines$2,617
307Taylor$2,604
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Melbourne ranks 379 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
376Pembroke Pines$940
377North Miami$939
378Gastonia$939
379Melbourne$933
380Bowie$928
381Chandler$926
382Marysville$925
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))

Melbourne ranks 82 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
79Anchorage$544
80Redding$544
81Santa Ana$543
82Melbourne$540
83San Bernardino$538
84San Jose$536
85Philadelphia$534
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))

Melbourne 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 long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024
381West Allis$1,572
382Franklin$1,569
383Springfield$1,566
384Melbourne$1,549
385Shoreline$1,546
386Killeen$1,530
387Champaign$1,504
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))

Melbourne ranks 256 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
253Pflugerville59.1%
254Newport Beach59.0%
255Elgin58.8%
256Melbourne58.8%
257Sunnyvale58.8%
258Utica58.8%
259Sunrise58.7%
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))

Melbourne ranks 281 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
278Sanford19.1%
279Marietta19.1%
280Raleigh19.0%
281Melbourne19.0%
282Waukesha19.0%
283Miami18.9%
284Bozeman18.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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