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Government budget and revenue in Modesto, California: official figures

Modesto's city government took in $535.36 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $2,455 for each of its 218,069 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 214th lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$2,455
2024
City government spending per resident
$2,195
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$1,480
2024

How much does Modesto spend and on what?

It spent $478.66 million in the same year, $2,195 per resident, the 177th lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were police (16.9%), the water utility (15.0%) and fire protection (14.1%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Modesto collect per resident?

Taxes raised $151.35 million ($694 per resident, the 71st lowest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 33.7% 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 Modesto rely on?

Of Modesto's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 29.2%, general sales tax 35.4%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 21.3%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Modesto's property tax share is the 118th 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 Modesto get?

Payments from other governments made up 24.7% of Modesto's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 3.7% from the federal government ($75 per resident), 10.0% from the state and 11.0% 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 Modesto raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $138.33 million, 30.8% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $86.22 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Modesto spend on police?

Modesto's city government spent $81.06 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $372 per resident (the 265th highest of 582) and 16.9% 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 Modesto spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $67.64 million, $310 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Modesto have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Modesto's city government owed $322.66 million in long-term debt, $1,480 per resident (the 192nd lowest of 582). During the year it issued no new long-term debt and repaid $29.89 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Modesto pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $7.93 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 1.7% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Modesto city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 14.4% from $2,145 to $2,455, spending per resident rose 34.7% to $2,195, taxes per resident fell 2.5% to $694.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Modesto 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))

Modesto ranks 430 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
427Lauderhill$2,154
428Columbus$2,151
429Tulare$2,150
430Modesto$2,145
431Mount Pleasant$2,145
432Lake Charles$2,135
433Prescott Valley$2,127
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))

Modesto ranks 551 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
548Menifee$1,640
549Peoria$1,636
550Reno$1,632
551Modesto$1,630
552Rapid City$1,628
553Valdosta$1,623
554Burlington$1,622
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Modesto ranks 582 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
579Escondido$716
580Chico$714
581Wichita$712
582Modesto$712
583Reno$711
584Taylor$710
585Troy$708
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))

Modesto ranks 341 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
338Passaic$326
339Winston-Salem$325
340Joliet$325
341Modesto$325
342Waco$325
343North Richland Hills$324
344Davis$324
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))

Modesto ranks 410 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
407El Monte$1,713
408Arcadia$1,708
409Lauderhill$1,701
410Modesto$1,693
411Hawthorne$1,691
412Thornton$1,691
413Bozeman$1,690
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))

Modesto ranks 605 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
602Beaumont25.4%
603Concord25.3%
604Louisville/Jefferson County metro government25.2%
605Modesto25.0%
606Vancouver24.9%
607Westminster24.8%
608Torrance24.7%
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))

Modesto ranks 247 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
244South Gate23.6%
245Southfield23.5%
246Columbus23.4%
247Modesto23.4%
248Apopka23.3%
249Chula Vista23.2%
250Harlingen23.0%
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))

Modesto ranks 369 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
366Avondale$2,479
367Olathe$2,465
368Macon-Bibb County$2,461
369Modesto$2,455
370Joliet$2,448
371Oak Park$2,441
372Gary$2,436
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))

Modesto ranks 406 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
403Appleton$2,209
404Corvallis$2,208
405Chandler$2,205
406Modesto$2,195
407Erie$2,189
408Lauderhill$2,189
409Wake Forest$2,182
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Modesto ranks 512 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
509Gary$700
510Milwaukee$698
511Federal Way$695
512Modesto$694
513South Gate$689
514Lakeland$688
515Woodbury$685
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))

Modesto ranks 265 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
262Methuen$373
263Westminster$372
264Schenectady$372
265Modesto$372
266Manhattan$372
267Duluth$371
268Albany$371
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))

Modesto ranks 391 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
388Miramar$1,496
389Sioux Falls$1,491
390Turlock$1,487
391Modesto$1,480
392Palm Coast$1,476
393Oceanside$1,457
394Middletown$1,449
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))

Modesto ranks 463 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
460Everett29.7%
461Washington29.5%
462Vallejo29.5%
463Modesto29.2%
464Sioux Falls29.2%
465Auburn29.1%
466Ontario29.0%
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))

Modesto ranks 201 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
198South Bend25.0%
199Rogers24.8%
200Oshkosh24.7%
201Modesto24.7%
202St. Cloud24.6%
203Salem24.5%
204Bloomington24.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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