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Government budget and revenue in Olympia, Washington: official figures

Olympia's city government took in $213.99 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, or $3,844 for each of its 55,669 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 167th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$3,844
2024
City government spending per resident
$3,391
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$2,071
2024

How much does Olympia spend and on what?

It spent $188.76 million in the same year, $3,391 per resident, the 206th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were sewerage (14.2%), fire protection (11.4%) and parks and recreation (10.6%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Olympia collect per resident?

Taxes raised $103.75 million ($1,864 per resident, the 90th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 51.5% 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 Olympia rely on?

Of Olympia's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, property tax made up 30.5%, general sales tax 35.0%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 19.4%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Olympia's property tax share is the 126th 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 Olympia get?

Payments from other governments made up 8.8% of Olympia's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023: 0.3% from the federal government ($12 per resident), 7.9% from the state and 0.5% 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 Olympia raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $71.08 million, 35.3% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $12.65 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Olympia spend on police?

Olympia's city government spent $16.30 million on police in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, $293 per resident (the 170th lowest of 582) and 8.6% 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 Olympia spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $21.60 million, $388 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Olympia have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, Olympia's city government owed $115.26 million in long-term debt, $2,071 per resident (the 274th lowest of 582). During the year it issued $1.82 million of new long-term debt and repaid $10.30 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Olympia pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $5.93 million in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 3.1% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Olympia city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 7.7% from $3,569 to $3,844, spending per resident rose 7.1% to $3,391, taxes per resident rose 7.4% to $1,864.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Olympia 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))

Olympia ranks 172 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
169Dothan$3,599
170South San Francisco$3,582
171Longmont$3,569
172Olympia$3,569
173Delray Beach$3,569
174Cedar Rapids$3,549
175North Little Rock$3,549
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))

Olympia ranks 209 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
206Albany$3,187
207Milpitas$3,183
208National City$3,166
209Olympia$3,165
210Pompano Beach$3,160
211Longmont$3,156
212Waco$3,132
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Olympia ranks 100 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
97Mooresville$1,773
98West Sacramento$1,764
99Alameda$1,751
100Olympia$1,736
101Boulder$1,728
102Redwood City$1,720
103Dublin$1,719
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))

Olympia ranks 306 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
303Barnstable Town$339
304Medford$339
305Thornton$339
306Olympia$338
307Chesapeake$338
308Shreveport$338
309Edina$337
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))

Olympia ranks 283 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
280Amarillo$2,515
281Taunton$2,504
282League City$2,503
283Olympia$2,497
284Muncie$2,484
285Flint$2,475
286Everett$2,469
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))

Olympia ranks 540 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
537Costa Mesa31.3%
538La Mesa31.3%
539Downey31.3%
540Olympia31.2%
541Fargo30.9%
542Redding30.8%
543Roseville30.8%
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))

Olympia ranks 673 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
670Lake Elsinore6.7%
671San Mateo6.7%
672Garland6.6%
673Olympia6.6%
674Rapid City6.5%
675Watsonville6.5%
676Chino Hills6.4%
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))

Olympia ranks 167 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
164Manchester$3,884
165Inglewood$3,881
166Dothan$3,862
167Olympia$3,844
168Colorado Springs$3,812
169San Jose$3,799
170Bowling Green$3,792
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))

Olympia ranks 206 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
203Idaho Falls$3,409
204Ann Arbor$3,399
205Joliet$3,393
206Olympia$3,391
207Des Moines$3,362
208South Bend$3,342
209Concord$3,332
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Olympia ranks 90 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
87Cincinnati$1,871
88Scottsdale$1,866
89Torrance$1,864
90Olympia$1,864
91Brockton$1,846
92Springfield$1,837
93West Palm Beach$1,833
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))

Olympia ranks 413 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
410Jacksonville$295
411Concord$295
412Lee's Summit$294
413Olympia$293
414Lynwood$293
415Franklin$293
416Santee$292
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))

Olympia ranks 309 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
306Holly Springs$2,083
307Grand Junction$2,083
308Schenectady$2,078
309Olympia$2,071
310Santa Barbara$2,056
311Fort Smith$2,055
312North Richland Hills$2,053
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))

Olympia ranks 455 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
452Kirkland31.0%
453Irvine31.0%
454Bakersfield30.9%
455Olympia30.5%
456Pittsburgh30.5%
457Fargo30.5%
458Baton Rouge30.2%
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))

Olympia ranks 499 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
496Irving8.9%
497Eden Prairie8.8%
498Mooresville8.8%
499Olympia8.8%
500Joplin8.7%
501Conway8.7%
502Little Elm8.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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