Government budget and revenue in Palm Desert, California: official figures
Palm Desert's city government took in $163.12 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, or $3,048 for each of its 53,524 residents (2022 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 221st highest of 731 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments.
How much does Palm Desert spend and on what?
It spent $122.98 million in the same year, $2,298 per resident, the 340th highest of 731 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments. The largest identified functions were roads and highways (20.7%), police (16.2%) and central administration (15.9%) of the total.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does Palm Desert collect per resident?
Taxes raised $78.54 million ($1,467 per resident, the 148th highest of 731) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, 48.2% of general revenue, compared with 49.3% for all US city governments combined in 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat taxes does Palm Desert rely on?
Of Palm Desert's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, property tax made up 14.9%, general sales tax 37.8%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 34.4%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Palm Desert's property tax share is the 37th lowest of 730 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much federal and state money does Palm Desert get?
Payments from other governments made up 5.0% of Palm Desert's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022: 3.1% from the federal government ($94 per resident), 1.7% 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 Palm Desert raise from fees and utilities?
Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $68.48 million, 42.0% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Palm Desert spend on police?
Palm Desert's city government spent $19.91 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, $372 per resident (the 236th highest of 731) and 16.2% 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 Palm Desert spend on fire protection?
Fire protection cost $15.02 million, $281 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much debt does Palm Desert have?
At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, Palm Desert's city government owed $222.56 million in long-term debt, $4,158 per resident (the 126th highest of 731). During the year it issued $36.77 million of new long-term debt and repaid $65.27 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Palm Desert pay in interest on its debt?
Interest on debt cost $7.57 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, 6.2% of total spending.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the latest budget data for Palm Desert?
Palm Desert is not in the Census Bureau's 2024 sample of local governments, so its latest full figures are from the 2022 Census of Governments, which covers every government.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Palm Desert 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))
Palm Desert ranks 221 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 218 | Houston | $3,083 |
| 219 | Napa | $3,062 |
| 220 | Naperville | $3,055 |
| 221 | Palm Desert | $3,048 |
| 222 | Grapevine | $3,040 |
| 223 | Little Rock | $3,039 |
| 224 | Council Bluffs | $3,024 |
City government total spending per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Palm Desert ranks 340 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 337 | Hoffman Estates | $2,302 |
| 338 | Everett | $2,302 |
| 339 | Montebello | $2,301 |
| 340 | Palm Desert | $2,298 |
| 341 | Sandy | $2,292 |
| 342 | South Jordan | $2,288 |
| 343 | Cheyenne | $2,285 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Palm Desert ranks 148 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 145 | Fall River | $1,476 |
| 146 | Tempe | $1,475 |
| 147 | Jacksonville | $1,469 |
| 148 | Palm Desert | $1,467 |
| 149 | Parker | $1,459 |
| 150 | Cleveland | $1,457 |
| 151 | Grand Junction | $1,454 |
City spending on police per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Palm Desert ranks 236 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 233 | Hemet | $373 |
| 234 | San Ramon | $373 |
| 235 | Henderson | $373 |
| 236 | Palm Desert | $372 |
| 237 | North Little Rock | $372 |
| 238 | Roseville | $372 |
| 239 | Waterbury | $372 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Palm Desert ranks 126 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 123 | Cincinnati | $4,250 |
| 124 | Aurora | $4,202 |
| 125 | Dubuque | $4,177 |
| 126 | Palm Desert | $4,158 |
| 127 | Providence | $4,092 |
| 128 | Sherman | $4,076 |
| 129 | Edmond | $4,064 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Palm Desert ranks 694 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 691 | Bossier City | 15.3% |
| 692 | Flagstaff | 15.3% |
| 693 | Fayetteville | 14.9% |
| 694 | Palm Desert | 14.9% |
| 695 | Las Cruces | 14.9% |
| 696 | Oklahoma City | 14.1% |
| 697 | Carson | 14.1% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Palm Desert ranks 699 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 696 | Brentwood | 5.4% |
| 697 | Alameda | 5.3% |
| 698 | Sherman | 5.0% |
| 699 | Palm Desert | 5.0% |
| 700 | Edina | 4.9% |
| 701 | Manteca | 4.9% |
| 702 | Redmond | 4.9% |
More on Palm Desert: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · all cities in the United States
Sources
- 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…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 State and Local Government Finances: survey methodology (sample design; survey year covers fiscal years ended 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 6a8d82a94335…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.