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Government budget and revenue in Oakland, California: official figures

Oakland's city government took in $2.2 billion in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $5,100 for each of its 430,553 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 100th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$5,100
2024
City government spending per resident
$5,006
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$3,481
2024

How much does Oakland spend and on what?

It spent $2.2 billion in the same year, $5,006 per resident, the 102nd highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were police (16.1%), central administration (12.5%) and roads and highways (11.0%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Oakland collect per resident?

Taxes raised $1.1 billion ($2,550 per resident, the 41st highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 50.0% 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 Oakland rely on?

Of Oakland's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 49.4%, general sales tax 8.3%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 23.2%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Oakland's property tax share is the 240th 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 Oakland get?

Payments from other governments made up 10.7% of Oakland's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 4.7% from the federal government ($240 per resident), 5.3% from the state and 0.6% 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 Oakland raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $655.30 million, 29.8% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Oakland spend on police?

Oakland's city government spent $347.61 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $807 per resident (the 21st highest of 582) and 16.1% 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 Oakland spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $198.73 million, $462 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Oakland have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Oakland's city government owed $1.5 billion in long-term debt, $3,481 per resident (the 163rd highest of 582). During the year it issued $153.60 million of new long-term debt and repaid $290.91 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Oakland pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $65.44 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 3.0% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Oakland city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 4.2% from $4,895 to $5,100, spending per resident rose 21.2% to $5,006, taxes per resident rose 4.9% to $2,550.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Oakland 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))

Oakland ranks 88 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
85Burbank$5,025
86New Britain$4,950
87Logan$4,948
88Oakland$4,895
89Decatur$4,849
90Warwick$4,804
91Berkeley$4,782
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))

Oakland ranks 128 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
125West Haven$4,167
126Inglewood$4,147
127West Palm Beach$4,133
128Oakland$4,130
129Pensacola$4,129
130Malden$4,104
131Decatur$4,098
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Oakland ranks 38 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
35Virginia Beach$2,531
36Hartford$2,501
37Waterbury$2,486
38Oakland$2,431
39Peabody$2,429
40White Plains$2,427
41Celina$2,425
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))

Oakland 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 spending on police per resident, 2022
9Newport Beach$860
10Mooresville$850
11Baltimore$792
12Oakland$757
13St. Louis$755
14Los Angeles$749
15Bridgeport$747
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))

Oakland ranks 134 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
131Enid$4,022
132Norwalk$3,948
133Manchester$3,936
134Oakland$3,933
135San Diego$3,927
136Bend$3,884
137Sacramento$3,881
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))

Oakland ranks 404 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
401Santee45.4%
402Baytown45.4%
403San Jose45.4%
404Oakland45.3%
405Tinley Park44.9%
406Brookhaven44.9%
407Millcreek44.8%
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))

Oakland ranks 426 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
423El Monte15.7%
424Idaho Falls15.7%
425Greeley15.7%
426Oakland15.7%
427West Des Moines15.6%
428Winter Haven15.6%
429Birmingham15.6%
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))

Oakland ranks 100 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
97Anaheim$5,124
98Greenville$5,122
99Gainesville$5,116
100Oakland$5,100
101Lynchburg$4,993
102Warwick$4,957
103Berkeley$4,944
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))

Oakland ranks 102 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
99San Diego$5,099
100Malden$5,061
101Grand Island$5,032
102Oakland$5,006
103San Antonio$4,993
104Pawtucket$4,974
105Detroit$4,942
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Oakland ranks 41 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
38Weymouth Town$2,606
39Galveston$2,587
40Roanoke$2,574
41Oakland$2,550
42Harrisonburg$2,507
43Huntsville$2,490
44Urban Honolulu$2,471
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))

Oakland ranks 21 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
18Pasadena$831
19Sarasota$819
20Ocala$815
21Oakland$807
22Ontario$799
23New York$791
24Queen Creek$779
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))

Oakland ranks 163 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
160Fall River$3,532
161Cincinnati$3,506
162Providence$3,483
163Oakland$3,481
164Clarksville$3,469
165Cape Coral$3,469
166Tampa$3,448
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))

Oakland ranks 341 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
338Duluth49.9%
339Oceanside49.6%
340Port St. Lucie49.5%
341Oakland49.4%
342Huntington Beach49.3%
343Marietta49.2%
344Flint49.2%
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))

Oakland ranks 448 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
445Rockville10.8%
446Oklahoma City10.8%
447Clearwater10.8%
448Oakland10.7%
449Pasadena10.6%
450San Jose10.6%
451Greeley10.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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