State IntegrityReceipts, not verdicts

Government budget and revenue in Nashville, Tennessee: official figures

The Nashville-Davidson County Metropolitan Government took in $5.6 billion in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $8,257 for each of its 683,622 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 17th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$8,257
2024
City government spending per resident
$9,448
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$16,121
2024

How much does Nashville spend and on what?

It spent $6.5 billion in the same year, $9,448 per resident, the 16th 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 (24.5%), the electric utility (22.4%) and police (5.3%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Nashville collect per resident?

Taxes raised $2.1 billion ($3,089 per resident, the 22nd highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 52.3% 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 Nashville rely on?

Of Nashville's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 51.5%, general sales tax 34.2%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 11.0%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Nashville's property tax share is the 254th 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 Nashville get?

Payments from other governments made up 23.3% of the Nashville-Davidson County Metropolitan Government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 6.4% from the federal government ($376 per resident), 16.6% 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 Nashville raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $518.55 million, 12.8% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $1.6 billion.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Nashville spend on police?

The Nashville-Davidson County Metropolitan Government spent $344.40 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $504 per resident (the 114th highest of 582) and 5.3% 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 Nashville spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $213.94 million, $313 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Does Nashville city government run the schools?

The Nashville-Davidson County Metropolitan Government also pays for public schools: elementary and secondary education took $1.6 billion, 24.5% 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 Nashville have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, the Nashville-Davidson County Metropolitan Government owed $11.0 billion in long-term debt, $16,121 per resident (the 5th highest of 582). During the year it issued $1.6 billion of new long-term debt and repaid $776.98 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Nashville pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $221.54 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 3.4% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Nashville city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 1.7% from $8,119 to $8,257, spending per resident rose 19.8% to $9,448, taxes per resident fell 15.5% to $3,089.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Nashville 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))

Nashville ranks 12 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
9Palo Alto$8,404
10Chattanooga$8,241
11Flint$8,179
12Nashville$8,119
13Baltimore$8,099
14Boston$7,538
15Richmond$7,394
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))

Nashville ranks 15 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
12Alexandria$8,202
13Boston$8,117
14Flint$7,912
15Nashville$7,883
16Richmond$7,852
17Union City$7,777
18Rochester$7,772
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Nashville ranks 13 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
10Santa Monica$4,116
11Norwalk$4,057
12Waltham$3,773
13Nashville$3,656
14Harrisonburg$3,425
15Barnstable Town$3,360
16Baltimore$3,307
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))

Nashville ranks 206 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
203Oceanside$396
204Columbus$394
205Downey$393
206Nashville$393
207Manteca$393
208Minneapolis$391
209Fort Worth$390
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))

Nashville ranks 8 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
5New York$15,407
6Atlanta$15,138
7San Mateo$14,778
8Nashville$13,658
9Miami Beach$13,578
10Waco$13,237
11Denton$12,388
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))

Nashville ranks 250 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
247Corvallis62.3%
248Bethlehem62.1%
249Leander61.8%
250Nashville61.7%
251Gastonia61.6%
252Lakeland61.6%
253Ocoee61.6%
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))

Nashville ranks 300 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
297Bellflower20.5%
298Elkhart20.5%
299Cathedral City20.5%
300Nashville20.5%
301Fort Collins20.4%
302Sioux City20.4%
303Scottsdale20.3%
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))

Nashville ranks 17 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
14Baltimore$8,670
15Denver$8,494
16Perth Amboy$8,465
17Nashville$8,257
18Taunton$8,180
19Newton$8,101
20Seattle$8,097
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))

Nashville ranks 16 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
13Baltimore$10,055
14Richmond$9,932
15Alexandria$9,767
16Nashville$9,448
17Kissimmee$9,002
18Rochester$8,720
19New Haven$8,490
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Nashville ranks 22 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
19Seattle$3,314
20Framingham$3,228
21Baltimore$3,113
22Nashville$3,089
23Quincy$3,088
24Warwick$2,996
25Grapevine$2,911
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))

Nashville ranks 114 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
111Oceanside$506
112Sherman$505
113Waltham$505
114Nashville$504
115Pembroke Pines$503
116Grapevine$502
117Memphis$498
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))

Nashville ranks 5 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
2Washington$28,409
3Atlanta$17,934
4New York$16,465
5Nashville$16,121
6Miami Beach$15,675
7Lansing$14,340
8Gainesville$13,438
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))

Nashville ranks 327 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
324Brownsville51.6%
325Erie51.5%
326Berkeley51.5%
327Nashville51.5%
328Corpus Christi51.4%
329Portland51.3%
330Savannah51.3%
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))

Nashville ranks 223 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
220Casa Grande23.4%
221Cincinnati23.4%
222Quincy23.3%
223Nashville23.3%
224La Habra23.0%
225Dubuque22.9%
226Orlando22.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

More on Nashville: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · all cities in the United States

Sources

Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.