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Government budget and revenue in Newton, Massachusetts: official figures

Newton's city government took in $707.90 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $8,101 for each of its 87,381 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 19th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$8,101
2024
City government spending per resident
$8,408
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$3,763
2024

How much does Newton spend and on what?

It spent $734.68 million in the same year, $8,408 per resident, the 22nd 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 (49.8%), fire protection (5.3%) and sewerage (5.0%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Newton collect per resident?

Taxes raised $462.64 million ($5,294 per resident, the 7th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 71.1% 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 Newton rely on?

Of Newton's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 95.9%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 1.2%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Newton's property tax share is the 40th 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 Newton get?

Payments from other governments made up 10.0% of Newton's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 2.4% from the federal government ($180 per resident), 7.6% 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 Newton raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $92.22 million, 14.2% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $57.35 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Newton spend on police?

Newton's city government spent $36.71 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $420 per resident (the 201st highest of 582) and 5.0% 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 Newton spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $38.69 million, $443 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Does Newton city government run the schools?

Newton's city government also pays for public schools: elementary and secondary education took $365.99 million, 49.8% 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 Newton have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Newton's city government owed $328.78 million in long-term debt, $3,763 per resident (the 144th highest of 582). During the year it issued $30.36 million of new long-term debt and repaid $33.01 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Newton pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $11.27 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 1.5% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Newton city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 15.6% from $7,010 to $8,101, spending per resident rose 18.7% to $8,408, taxes per resident rose 6.3% to $5,294.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Newton 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))

Newton ranks 19 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
16Rochester$7,173
17Springfield$7,088
18Baton Rouge$7,049
19Newton$7,010
20Alexandria$6,996
21Denver$6,871
22Harrisonburg$6,851
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))

Newton ranks 25 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
22New Brunswick$7,342
23Taunton$7,181
24Chattanooga$7,157
25Newton$7,082
26Salt Lake City$6,989
27Yonkers$6,768
28Trenton$6,762
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Newton ranks 4 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
1Washington$14,365
2New York$8,414
3San Francisco$6,777
4Newton$4,982
5Miami Beach$4,949
6Cambridge$4,761
7Stamford$4,634
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))

Newton ranks 494 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
491Appleton$266
492Huntsville$266
493Carmel$265
494Newton$265
495Dubuque$265
496Bend$264
497Bryan$264
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))

Newton ranks 150 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
147Stamford$3,794
148Perth Amboy$3,774
149Clarksville$3,772
150Newton$3,768
151San Jose$3,762
152Lake Havasu City$3,754
153Glendale$3,742
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))

Newton ranks 46 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
43Novi96.3%
44Dearborn96.3%
45Clifton96.2%
46Newton96.2%
47Westland96.2%
48Worcester96.0%
49Warwick96.0%
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))

Newton ranks 380 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
377Porterville17.1%
378Bloomington17.0%
379Yucaipa17.0%
380Newton16.9%
381Los Angeles16.9%
382Tinley Park16.9%
383Kent16.9%
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))

Newton ranks 19 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
16Perth Amboy$8,465
17Nashville$8,257
18Taunton$8,180
19Newton$8,101
20Seattle$8,097
21Rochester$8,073
22Hartford$8,029
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))

Newton 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 government total spending per resident, 2024
19New Haven$8,490
20Philadelphia$8,447
21Taunton$8,428
22Newton$8,408
23Trenton$8,380
24Waltham$8,294
25Springfield$8,223
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Newton ranks 7 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
4Miami Beach$6,514
5Cambridge$5,575
6Boston$5,508
7Newton$5,294
8Alexandria$5,042
9Santa Monica$4,430
10Norwalk$4,194
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))

Newton 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.

RankCityCity spending on police per resident, 2024
198Roseville$429
199Renton$423
200Bartlett$422
201Newton$420
202Spokane$420
203Murrieta$417
204Chandler$416
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))

Newton ranks 144 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
141Des Moines$3,796
142Appleton$3,788
143Laredo$3,764
144Newton$3,763
145Virginia Beach$3,759
146Des Plaines$3,731
147Broken Arrow$3,711
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))

Newton ranks 40 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
37Springfield96.0%
38Southfield95.9%
39Hartford95.9%
40Newton95.9%
41Elizabeth95.9%
42St. Clair Shores95.9%
43Worcester95.8%
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))

Newton ranks 464 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
461Tulsa10.2%
462Seattle10.0%
463Delray Beach10.0%
464Newton10.0%
465Lacey10.0%
466Orange10.0%
467Colton9.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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