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Government budget and revenue in Merced, California: official figures

Merced's city government took in $170.48 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, or $1,932 for each of its 88,235 residents (2022 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 226th lowest of 731 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments.

City government revenue per resident
$1,932
2022
City government spending per resident
$1,555
2022
City long-term debt per resident
$595
2022

How much does Merced spend and on what?

It spent $137.20 million in the same year, $1,555 per resident, the 146th lowest of 731 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments. The largest identified functions were police (20.6%), solid waste (12.1%) and fire protection (11.7%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Merced collect per resident?

Taxes raised $60.54 million ($686 per resident, the 130th lowest of 731) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, 40.1% 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 Merced rely on?

Of Merced's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, property tax made up 29.1%, general sales tax 49.6%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 7.0%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Merced's property tax share is the 170th lowest of 730 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much federal and state money does Merced get?

Payments from other governments made up 14.5% of Merced's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022: 2.0% from the federal government ($35 per resident), 12.5% 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 Merced raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $66.57 million, 44.1% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $19.46 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Merced spend on police?

Merced's city government spent $28.27 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, $320 per resident (the 353rd highest of 731) 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 Merced spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $16.08 million, $182 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Merced have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, Merced's city government owed $52.46 million in long-term debt, $595 per resident (the 103rd lowest of 731). During the year it issued no new long-term debt and repaid $6.53 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Merced pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $2.36 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, 1.7% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the latest budget data for Merced?

Merced is not in the Census Bureau's 2024 sample of local governments, so its latest full figures are from the 2022 Census of Governments, which covers every government.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Merced 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))

Merced ranks 506 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
503San Clemente$1,940
504Terre Haute$1,939
505Kokomo$1,936
506Merced$1,932
507Bozeman$1,932
508McKinney$1,931
509Fulshear$1,930
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))

Merced ranks 586 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
583Mission Viejo$1,557
584Arlington Heights$1,556
585Huntersville$1,555
586Merced$1,555
587Parker$1,550
588Wilmington$1,548
589Livonia$1,545
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Merced ranks 602 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
599Bethlehem$690
600Greenwood$689
601Lancaster$687
602Merced$686
603Augusta$686
604Bradenton$686
605Weston$684
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))

Merced ranks 353 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
350West New York$322
351Rochester$322
352Phoenix$321
353Merced$320
354Council Bluffs$320
355Mobile$319
356Loveland$319
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))

Merced ranks 629 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
626New Rochelle$607
627Burlington$606
628Hempstead$599
629Merced$595
630Fullerton$586
631Erie$584
632Vancouver$582
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))

Merced ranks 561 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
558Woodland29.6%
559Overland Park29.2%
560Little Rock29.1%
561Merced29.1%
562Washington29.0%
563Sioux Falls28.8%
564Rio Rancho28.6%
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))

Merced ranks 457 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
454Orange14.6%
455Petaluma14.5%
456Thousand Oaks14.5%
457Merced14.5%
458Santee14.5%
459Fishers14.5%
460Davie14.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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