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.
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 copyHow 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 copyWhat 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 copyHow 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 copyHow 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 copyHow 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 copyHow 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 copyDoes 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 copyHow 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 copyHow 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 copyHow 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 copyHow 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.
| Rank | City | City government total revenue per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 43 | Lynn | $6,051 |
| 44 | Norman | $6,045 |
| 45 | Revere | $6,035 |
| 46 | New Bedford | $6,032 |
| 47 | Newport News | $5,965 |
| 48 | Tacoma | $5,929 |
| 49 | Yonkers | $5,925 |
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.
| Rank | City | City government total spending per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 98 | Bayonne | $4,908 |
| 99 | Warwick | $4,893 |
| 100 | Kansas City | $4,887 |
| 101 | New Bedford | $4,856 |
| 102 | Denton | $4,817 |
| 103 | Murray | $4,787 |
| 104 | Celina | $4,709 |
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.
| Rank | City | City taxes collected per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 111 | Decatur | $1,651 |
| 112 | Palm Beach Gardens | $1,629 |
| 113 | Scottsdale | $1,623 |
| 114 | New Bedford | $1,622 |
| 115 | Elizabeth | $1,619 |
| 116 | Pittsburgh | $1,614 |
| 117 | Kansas City | $1,612 |
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.
| Rank | City | City spending on police per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 436 | Norwalk | $290 |
| 437 | West Covina | $290 |
| 438 | Apopka | $290 |
| 439 | New Bedford | $290 |
| 440 | Vineland | $288 |
| 441 | Sterling Heights | $287 |
| 442 | Davenport | $287 |
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.
| Rank | City | City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 272 | Bethlehem | $2,548 |
| 273 | Bismarck | $2,545 |
| 274 | Mountain View | $2,539 |
| 275 | New Bedford | $2,525 |
| 276 | Newport Beach | $2,522 |
| 277 | Cary | $2,519 |
| 278 | Lynwood | $2,516 |
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.
| Rank | City | Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 57 | Troy | 95.8% |
| 58 | Green Bay | 95.8% |
| 59 | Manchester | 95.8% |
| 60 | New Bedford | 95.7% |
| 61 | Malden | 95.7% |
| 62 | Everett | 95.5% |
| 63 | Racine | 95.4% |
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.
| Rank | City | Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | New Brunswick | 71.9% |
| 11 | Lynn | 69.8% |
| 12 | Springfield | 69.6% |
| 13 | New Bedford | 63.3% |
| 14 | Brockton | 63.1% |
| 15 | Lowell | 61.7% |
| 16 | Bartlett | 60.6% |
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.
| Rank | City | City government total revenue per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | Mountain View | $6,699 |
| 41 | Chicopee | $6,691 |
| 42 | Huntsville | $6,677 |
| 43 | New Bedford | $6,600 |
| 44 | Lafayette | $6,577 |
| 45 | Syracuse | $6,509 |
| 46 | Norman | $6,455 |
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.
| Rank | City | City government total spending per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 89 | Nashua | $5,610 |
| 90 | Ontario | $5,520 |
| 91 | West New York | $5,510 |
| 92 | New Bedford | $5,475 |
| 93 | Atlanta | $5,426 |
| 94 | Tallahassee | $5,339 |
| 95 | Santa Barbara | $5,223 |
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.
| Rank | City | City taxes collected per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 109 | Lenexa | $1,730 |
| 110 | Jacksonville | $1,729 |
| 111 | Lowell | $1,703 |
| 112 | New Bedford | $1,678 |
| 113 | San Jose | $1,672 |
| 114 | Parker | $1,665 |
| 115 | Santa Clara | $1,664 |
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.
| Rank | City | City spending on police per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 544 | Bridgeport | $194 |
| 545 | Gaithersburg | $187 |
| 546 | Leander | $185 |
| 547 | New Bedford | $184 |
| 548 | Lawrence | $184 |
| 549 | Fishers | $178 |
| 550 | College Station | $178 |
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.
| Rank | City | City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 196 | Fort Worth | $2,975 |
| 197 | Little Rock | $2,956 |
| 198 | Roanoke | $2,942 |
| 199 | New Bedford | $2,940 |
| 200 | Joliet | $2,937 |
| 201 | Stamford | $2,918 |
| 202 | San Angelo | $2,900 |
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.
| Rank | City | Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | Methuen | 97.1% |
| 25 | Taylor | 97.0% |
| 26 | Lynn | 96.9% |
| 27 | New Bedford | 96.8% |
| 28 | Chicopee | 96.8% |
| 29 | Westland | 96.7% |
| 30 | Gary | 96.6% |
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.
| Rank | City | Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Meriden | 64.9% |
| 11 | Lynn | 64.2% |
| 12 | Hartford | 62.0% |
| 13 | New Bedford | 61.6% |
| 14 | New Brunswick | 60.0% |
| 15 | Lowell | 59.7% |
| 16 | Fall River | 59.5% |
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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…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: 2022 Census of Governments: State and Local Government Finances, individual unit files (item amounts for every government, directory with population and fiscal year end, state estimates by type of government), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c8de889f6b33…)
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