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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.

City government revenue per resident
$2,196
2022
City government spending per resident
$1,799
2022
City long-term debt per resident
$940
2022

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 copy

How 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 copy

What 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 copy

How 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 copy

How 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 copy

How 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 copy

How 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 copy

How 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 copy

How 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 copy

What 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 copy

How 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.

RankCityCity government total revenue per resident, 2022
404Corpus Christi$2,214
405Livermore$2,208
406Flower Mound$2,199
407Paterson$2,196
408Downers Grove$2,195
409Joliet$2,195
410Mesa$2,190
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))

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.

RankCityCity government total spending per resident, 2022
487Gardena$1,819
488Billings$1,809
489Layton$1,805
490Paterson$1,799
491Noblesville$1,796
492Henderson$1,795
493Normal$1,791
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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.

RankCityCity taxes collected per resident, 2022
246Waterloo$1,161
247San Buenaventura (Ventura)$1,160
248Compton$1,158
249Paterson$1,158
250Wake Forest$1,157
251Montgomery$1,157
252Chapel Hill$1,153
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))

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.

RankCityCity spending on police per resident, 2022
385Omaha$308
386Brockton$308
387Great Falls$308
388Paterson$307
389Hialeah$307
390Turlock$307
391Plainfield$306
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))

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.

RankCityCity long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022
554Tamarac$950
555Pasadena$944
556Manteca$943
557Paterson$940
558Kokomo$937
559Rapid City$935
560Clifton$928
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))

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.

RankCityProperty tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022
35Framingham96.8%
36Lowell96.8%
37Barnstable Town96.7%
38Paterson96.6%
39Vineland96.6%
40Taunton96.5%
41Weymouth Town96.4%
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))

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.

RankCityFederal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022
96Chesapeake35.4%
97La Crosse34.9%
98Baltimore34.9%
99Paterson34.7%
100Peabody34.6%
101Berwyn34.6%
102Roswell34.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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