Government budget and revenue in Memphis, Tennessee: official figures
Memphis' city government took in $3.6 billion in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $5,855 for each of its 621,056 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 67th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.
How much does Memphis spend and on what?
It spent $3.2 billion in the same year, $5,192 per resident, the 96th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were the electric utility (43.2%), police (9.6%) and the gas utility (7.1%) of the total.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does Memphis collect per resident?
Taxes raised $597.37 million ($962 per resident, the 224th lowest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 32.0% of general revenue, compared with 49.3% for all US city governments combined in 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat taxes does Memphis rely on?
Of Memphis' tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 48.1%, general sales tax 39.5%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 10.3%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Memphis' property tax share is the 233rd lowest of 580 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much federal and state money does Memphis get?
Payments from other governments made up 34.8% of Memphis' city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 3.2% from the federal government ($97 per resident), 25.7% from the state and 5.9% from other local governments. For all US city governments in 2022 the aid share was 24.3%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Memphis raise from fees and utilities?
Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $347.31 million, 18.6% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $1.8 billion.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Memphis spend on police?
Memphis' city government spent $309.27 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $498 per resident (the 117th highest of 582) and 9.6% 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 Memphis spend on fire protection?
Fire protection cost $215.11 million, $346 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much debt does Memphis have?
At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Memphis' city government owed $1.7 billion in long-term debt, $2,811 per resident (the 214th highest of 582). During the year it issued no new long-term debt and repaid $199.43 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Memphis pay in interest on its debt?
Interest on debt cost $24.92 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 0.8% of total spending.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Memphis compares with other cities in the United States
City government total revenue per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Memphis ranks 67 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.
| Rank | City | City government total revenue per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 64 | Burbank | $5,975 |
| 65 | Portsmouth | $5,881 |
| 66 | Lawrence | $5,866 |
| 67 | Memphis | $5,855 |
| 68 | Yonkers | $5,816 |
| 69 | Los Angeles | $5,808 |
| 70 | Norwalk | $5,805 |
City government total spending per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Memphis ranks 96 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.
| Rank | City | City government total spending per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 93 | Atlanta | $5,426 |
| 94 | Tallahassee | $5,339 |
| 95 | Santa Barbara | $5,223 |
| 96 | Memphis | $5,192 |
| 97 | Methuen | $5,141 |
| 98 | New Braunfels | $5,108 |
| 99 | San Diego | $5,099 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Memphis ranks 359 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.
| Rank | City | City taxes collected per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 356 | Fargo | $967 |
| 357 | Pensacola | $966 |
| 358 | Rocky Mount | $965 |
| 359 | Memphis | $962 |
| 360 | Miramar | $961 |
| 361 | Daytona Beach | $959 |
| 362 | Largo | $958 |
City spending on police per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Memphis ranks 117 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.
| Rank | City | City spending on police per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 114 | Nashville | $504 |
| 115 | Pembroke Pines | $503 |
| 116 | Grapevine | $502 |
| 117 | Memphis | $498 |
| 118 | Newport News | $497 |
| 119 | Quincy | $497 |
| 120 | Carson City | $496 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Memphis ranks 214 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.
| Rank | City | City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 211 | Richland | $2,817 |
| 212 | Kannapolis | $2,816 |
| 213 | Flint | $2,816 |
| 214 | Memphis | $2,811 |
| 215 | Weymouth Town | $2,801 |
| 216 | Manhattan | $2,792 |
| 217 | Westminster | $2,789 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Memphis ranks 348 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.
| Rank | City | Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 345 | St. Cloud | 48.9% |
| 346 | Palmdale | 48.5% |
| 347 | Pasadena | 48.4% |
| 348 | Memphis | 48.1% |
| 349 | Oak Lawn | 47.9% |
| 350 | Gainesville | 47.8% |
| 351 | New Braunfels | 47.5% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Memphis ranks 99 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.
| Rank | City | Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 96 | Aurora | 35.1% |
| 97 | Richmond | 35.1% |
| 98 | Harrisonburg | 34.9% |
| 99 | Memphis | 34.8% |
| 100 | Peoria | 34.8% |
| 101 | North Port | 34.6% |
| 102 | Ann Arbor | 34.6% |
More on Memphis: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · all cities in the United States
Sources
- 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.