Government budget and revenue in Pasadena, California: official figures
Pasadena's city government took in $927.37 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $6,910 for each of its 134,211 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 34th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.
How much does Pasadena spend and on what?
It spent $801.88 million in the same year, $5,975 per resident, the 74th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were the electric utility (14.8%), police (13.9%) and housing and community development (10.0%) of the total.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does Pasadena collect per resident?
Taxes raised $300.00 million ($2,235 per resident, the 62nd highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 50.9% of general revenue, compared with 49.3% for all US city governments combined in 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat taxes does Pasadena rely on?
Of Pasadena's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 35.8%, general sales tax 20.9%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 17.8%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Pasadena's property tax share is the 159th lowest 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 Pasadena get?
Payments from other governments made up 14.4% of Pasadena's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 7.7% from the federal government ($337 per resident), 4.9% from the state and 1.8% from other local governments. For all US city governments in 2022 the aid share was 24.3%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Pasadena raise from fees and utilities?
Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $131.00 million, 22.2% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $337.94 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Pasadena spend on police?
Pasadena's city government spent $111.52 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $831 per resident (the 18th highest of 582) and 13.9% 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 Pasadena spend on fire protection?
Fire protection cost $64.85 million, $483 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much debt does Pasadena have?
At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Pasadena's city government owed $692.19 million in long-term debt, $5,157 per resident (the 82nd highest of 582). During the year it issued $1.81 million of new long-term debt and repaid $47.27 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Pasadena pay in interest on its debt?
Interest on debt cost $27.93 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 3.5% of total spending.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow has the Pasadena city budget changed?
Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 28.1% from $5,394 to $6,910, spending per resident rose 19.6% to $5,975, taxes per resident rose 15.5% to $2,235.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Pasadena 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))
Pasadena ranks 71 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 68 | Waterbury | $5,407 |
| 69 | Somerville | $5,407 |
| 70 | Barnstable Town | $5,397 |
| 71 | Pasadena | $5,394 |
| 72 | New Haven | $5,347 |
| 73 | Chicago | $5,341 |
| 74 | Bridgeport | $5,315 |
City government total spending per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Pasadena ranks 92 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 89 | Redondo Beach | $5,110 |
| 90 | Fayetteville | $5,075 |
| 91 | Newport Beach | $5,034 |
| 92 | Pasadena | $4,994 |
| 93 | Fall River | $4,987 |
| 94 | West New York | $4,967 |
| 95 | Nashua | $4,926 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Pasadena ranks 86 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 83 | Lynchburg | $1,955 |
| 84 | Bayonne | $1,953 |
| 85 | Springfield | $1,949 |
| 86 | Pasadena | $1,935 |
| 87 | Chicopee | $1,931 |
| 88 | New Britain | $1,925 |
| 89 | Santa Barbara | $1,904 |
City spending on police per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Pasadena ranks 26 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | South San Francisco | $679 |
| 24 | Baton Rouge | $673 |
| 25 | Orlando | $662 |
| 26 | Pasadena | $653 |
| 27 | Fort Myers | $640 |
| 28 | Boston | $639 |
| 29 | Ontario | $638 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Pasadena ranks 86 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 83 | St. Louis | $5,164 |
| 84 | Tempe | $5,114 |
| 85 | Berwyn | $5,111 |
| 86 | Pasadena | $5,110 |
| 87 | Fort Lauderdale | $5,083 |
| 88 | West Palm Beach | $5,044 |
| 89 | Goodyear | $5,037 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Pasadena ranks 496 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 493 | Baldwin Park | 35.9% |
| 494 | Oxnard | 35.9% |
| 495 | San Buenaventura (Ventura) | 35.8% |
| 496 | Pasadena | 35.8% |
| 497 | Seattle | 35.8% |
| 498 | Redlands | 35.8% |
| 499 | Rocklin | 35.7% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Pasadena ranks 389 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 386 | Denver | 16.8% |
| 387 | Lubbock | 16.8% |
| 388 | Burlington | 16.8% |
| 389 | Pasadena | 16.7% |
| 390 | Des Moines | 16.6% |
| 391 | Palm Coast | 16.6% |
| 392 | Smyrna | 16.6% |
City government total revenue per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Pasadena ranks 34 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | Philadelphia | $7,208 |
| 32 | Trenton | $7,103 |
| 33 | Ames | $7,044 |
| 34 | Pasadena | $6,910 |
| 35 | Norfolk | $6,898 |
| 36 | Harrisonburg | $6,838 |
| 37 | Providence | $6,786 |
City government total spending per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Pasadena ranks 74 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 71 | Denton | $6,109 |
| 72 | Stamford | $6,023 |
| 73 | Bridgeport | $5,989 |
| 74 | Pasadena | $5,975 |
| 75 | Jacksonville | $5,974 |
| 76 | Lafayette | $5,940 |
| 77 | Inglewood | $5,932 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Pasadena ranks 62 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 59 | Methuen | $2,245 |
| 60 | Revere | $2,241 |
| 61 | San Luis Obispo | $2,240 |
| 62 | Pasadena | $2,235 |
| 63 | Waterbury | $2,216 |
| 64 | Atlanta | $2,198 |
| 65 | Portsmouth | $2,163 |
City spending on police per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Pasadena ranks 18 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Fort Myers | $840 |
| 16 | Chicago | $840 |
| 17 | Inglewood | $839 |
| 18 | Pasadena | $831 |
| 19 | Sarasota | $819 |
| 20 | Ocala | $815 |
| 21 | Oakland | $807 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Pasadena ranks 82 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 79 | Jacksonville | $5,226 |
| 80 | Corpus Christi | $5,179 |
| 81 | Lake Elsinore | $5,173 |
| 82 | Pasadena | $5,157 |
| 83 | San Luis Obispo | $5,157 |
| 84 | Nashua | $5,118 |
| 85 | Sugar Land | $5,052 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Pasadena ranks 422 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 419 | Allentown | 36.3% |
| 420 | Dunwoody | 36.0% |
| 421 | Rio Rancho | 36.0% |
| 422 | Pasadena | 35.8% |
| 423 | Roseville | 35.5% |
| 424 | Albuquerque | 35.2% |
| 425 | Oxnard | 35.2% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Pasadena ranks 358 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 355 | Coon Rapids | 14.5% |
| 356 | Lebanon | 14.4% |
| 357 | O'Fallon | 14.4% |
| 358 | Pasadena | 14.4% |
| 359 | Apple Valley | 14.3% |
| 360 | Edmond | 14.3% |
| 361 | St. Charles | 14.3% |
More on Pasadena: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · all cities in the United States
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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.