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Government budget and revenue in New Bedford, Massachusetts: official figures

New Bedford's city government took in $664.47 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $6,600 for each of its 100,682 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 43rd highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$6,600
2024
City government spending per resident
$5,475
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$2,940
2024

How much does New Bedford spend and on what?

It spent $551.25 million in the same year, $5,475 per resident, the 92nd 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 (66.3%), police (3.4%) and fire protection (3.0%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does New Bedford collect per resident?

Taxes raised $168.95 million ($1,678 per resident, the 112th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 26.3% 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 New Bedford rely on?

Of New Bedford's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 96.8%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 1.3%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; New Bedford's property tax share is the 27th 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 New Bedford get?

Payments from other governments made up 61.6% of New Bedford's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 17.5% from the federal government ($1,116 per resident), 44.1% 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 New Bedford raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $68.03 million, 10.6% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $21.57 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does New Bedford spend on police?

New Bedford's city government spent $18.52 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $184 per resident (the 36th lowest of 582) and 3.4% 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 New Bedford spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $16.56 million, $164 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Does New Bedford city government run the schools?

New Bedford's city government also pays for public schools: elementary and secondary education took $365.73 million, 66.3% 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 New Bedford have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, New Bedford's city government owed $296.05 million in long-term debt, $2,940 per resident (the 199th highest of 582). During the year it issued $19.52 million of new long-term debt and repaid $16.07 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does New Bedford pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $10.55 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 1.9% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the New Bedford city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 9.4% from $6,032 to $6,600, spending per resident rose 12.8% to $5,475, taxes per resident rose 3.5% to $1,678.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How New Bedford 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))

New Bedford ranks 46 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
43Lynn$6,051
44Norman$6,045
45Revere$6,035
46New Bedford$6,032
47Newport News$5,965
48Tacoma$5,929
49Yonkers$5,925
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))

New Bedford ranks 101 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
98Bayonne$4,908
99Warwick$4,893
100Kansas City$4,887
101New Bedford$4,856
102Denton$4,817
103Murray$4,787
104Celina$4,709
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

New Bedford ranks 114 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
111Decatur$1,651
112Palm Beach Gardens$1,629
113Scottsdale$1,623
114New Bedford$1,622
115Elizabeth$1,619
116Pittsburgh$1,614
117Kansas City$1,612
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))

New Bedford ranks 439 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
436Norwalk$290
437West Covina$290
438Apopka$290
439New Bedford$290
440Vineland$288
441Sterling Heights$287
442Davenport$287
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))

New Bedford ranks 275 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
272Bethlehem$2,548
273Bismarck$2,545
274Mountain View$2,539
275New Bedford$2,525
276Newport Beach$2,522
277Cary$2,519
278Lynwood$2,516
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))

New Bedford ranks 60 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
57Troy95.8%
58Green Bay95.8%
59Manchester95.8%
60New Bedford95.7%
61Malden95.7%
62Everett95.5%
63Racine95.4%
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))

New Bedford ranks 13 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
10New Brunswick71.9%
11Lynn69.8%
12Springfield69.6%
13New Bedford63.3%
14Brockton63.1%
15Lowell61.7%
16Bartlett60.6%
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))

New Bedford ranks 43 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
40Mountain View$6,699
41Chicopee$6,691
42Huntsville$6,677
43New Bedford$6,600
44Lafayette$6,577
45Syracuse$6,509
46Norman$6,455
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))

New Bedford ranks 92 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
89Nashua$5,610
90Ontario$5,520
91West New York$5,510
92New Bedford$5,475
93Atlanta$5,426
94Tallahassee$5,339
95Santa Barbara$5,223
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

New Bedford ranks 112 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
109Lenexa$1,730
110Jacksonville$1,729
111Lowell$1,703
112New Bedford$1,678
113San Jose$1,672
114Parker$1,665
115Santa Clara$1,664
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))

New Bedford ranks 547 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
544Bridgeport$194
545Gaithersburg$187
546Leander$185
547New Bedford$184
548Lawrence$184
549Fishers$178
550College Station$178
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))

New Bedford ranks 199 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
196Fort Worth$2,975
197Little Rock$2,956
198Roanoke$2,942
199New Bedford$2,940
200Joliet$2,937
201Stamford$2,918
202San Angelo$2,900
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))

New Bedford ranks 27 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
24Methuen97.1%
25Taylor97.0%
26Lynn96.9%
27New Bedford96.8%
28Chicopee96.8%
29Westland96.7%
30Gary96.6%
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))

New Bedford ranks 13 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
10Meriden64.9%
11Lynn64.2%
12Hartford62.0%
13New Bedford61.6%
14New Brunswick60.0%
15Lowell59.7%
16Fall River59.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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