Government budget and revenue in Paterson, New Jersey: official figures
Paterson's city government took in $317.95 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, or $2,196 for each of its 144,801 residents (2022 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 325th lowest of 731 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments.
How much does Paterson spend and on what?
It spent $260.43 million in the same year, $1,799 per resident, the 242nd lowest of 731 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments. The largest identified functions were police (17.1%), housing and community development (16.2%) and fire protection (15.6%) of the total.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does Paterson collect per resident?
Taxes raised $167.64 million ($1,158 per resident, the 249th highest of 731) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, 52.7% of general revenue, compared with 49.3% for all US city governments combined in 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat taxes does Paterson rely on?
Of Paterson's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, property tax made up 96.6%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Paterson's property tax share is the 38th highest 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 Paterson get?
Payments from other governments made up 34.7% of Paterson's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022: 18.2% from the federal government ($399 per resident), 16.0% 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 copyHow much does Paterson raise from fees and utilities?
Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $31.70 million, 10.0% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Paterson spend on police?
Paterson's city government spent $44.53 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, $307 per resident (the 344th lowest of 731) and 17.1% 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 Paterson spend on fire protection?
Fire protection cost $40.65 million, $281 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much debt does Paterson have?
At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, Paterson's city government owed $136.15 million in long-term debt, $940 per resident (the 175th lowest of 731). During the year it issued no new long-term debt and repaid $4.19 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Paterson pay in interest on its debt?
Interest on debt cost $7.08 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, 2.7% of total spending.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the latest budget data for Paterson?
The Census Bureau imputed 76% of the revenue dollars in Paterson's 2024 record, so these facts use the 2022 Census of Governments, for which the city reported its figures.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Paterson 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))
Paterson ranks 407 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 404 | Corpus Christi | $2,214 |
| 405 | Livermore | $2,208 |
| 406 | Flower Mound | $2,199 |
| 407 | Paterson | $2,196 |
| 408 | Downers Grove | $2,195 |
| 409 | Joliet | $2,195 |
| 410 | Mesa | $2,190 |
City government total spending per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Paterson ranks 490 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 487 | Gardena | $1,819 |
| 488 | Billings | $1,809 |
| 489 | Layton | $1,805 |
| 490 | Paterson | $1,799 |
| 491 | Noblesville | $1,796 |
| 492 | Henderson | $1,795 |
| 493 | Normal | $1,791 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Paterson ranks 249 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 246 | Waterloo | $1,161 |
| 247 | San Buenaventura (Ventura) | $1,160 |
| 248 | Compton | $1,158 |
| 249 | Paterson | $1,158 |
| 250 | Wake Forest | $1,157 |
| 251 | Montgomery | $1,157 |
| 252 | Chapel Hill | $1,153 |
City spending on police per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Paterson ranks 388 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 385 | Omaha | $308 |
| 386 | Brockton | $308 |
| 387 | Great Falls | $308 |
| 388 | Paterson | $307 |
| 389 | Hialeah | $307 |
| 390 | Turlock | $307 |
| 391 | Plainfield | $306 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Paterson ranks 557 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 554 | Tamarac | $950 |
| 555 | Pasadena | $944 |
| 556 | Manteca | $943 |
| 557 | Paterson | $940 |
| 558 | Kokomo | $937 |
| 559 | Rapid City | $935 |
| 560 | Clifton | $928 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Paterson ranks 38 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | Framingham | 96.8% |
| 36 | Lowell | 96.8% |
| 37 | Barnstable Town | 96.7% |
| 38 | Paterson | 96.6% |
| 39 | Vineland | 96.6% |
| 40 | Taunton | 96.5% |
| 41 | Weymouth Town | 96.4% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Paterson ranks 99 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 96 | Chesapeake | 35.4% |
| 97 | La Crosse | 34.9% |
| 98 | Baltimore | 34.9% |
| 99 | Paterson | 34.7% |
| 100 | Peabody | 34.6% |
| 101 | Berwyn | 34.6% |
| 102 | Roswell | 34.5% |
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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 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…)
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