Government budget and revenue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: official figures
Philadelphia's city government took in $11.3 billion in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $7,208 for each of its 1,567,258 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 31st highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.
How much does Philadelphia spend and on what?
It spent $13.2 billion in the same year, $8,447 per resident, the 20th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were public health (23.2%), financial administration (9.8%) and police (6.3%) of the total.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does Philadelphia collect per resident?
Taxes raised $5.2 billion ($3,338 per resident, the 17th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 52.0% of general revenue, compared with 49.3% for all US city governments combined in 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat taxes does Philadelphia rely on?
Of Philadelphia's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 15.5%, general sales tax 10.5%, individual income tax 46.0%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 6.5%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Philadelphia's property tax share is the 41st 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 Philadelphia get?
Payments from other governments made up 33.8% of Philadelphia's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 11.5% from the federal government ($740 per resident), 21.4% from the state and 0.8% 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 Philadelphia raise from fees and utilities?
Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $1.1 billion, 11.4% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $1.2 billion.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Philadelphia spend on police?
Philadelphia's city government spent $836.41 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $534 per resident (the 85th highest of 582) and 6.3% 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 Philadelphia spend on fire protection?
Fire protection cost $406.05 million, $259 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much debt does Philadelphia have?
At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Philadelphia's city government owed $6.9 billion in long-term debt, $4,388 per resident (the 109th highest of 582). During the year it issued $377.82 million of new long-term debt and repaid $337.35 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Philadelphia pay in interest on its debt?
Interest on debt cost $390.35 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 2.9% of total spending.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow has the Philadelphia city budget changed?
Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 14.8% from $6,279 to $7,208, spending per resident rose 25.8% to $8,447, taxes per resident rose 15.7% to $3,338.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Philadelphia 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))
Philadelphia ranks 36 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | Brockton | $6,366 |
| 34 | East Orange | $6,306 |
| 35 | Huntsville | $6,288 |
| 36 | Philadelphia | $6,279 |
| 37 | Providence | $6,275 |
| 38 | New Brunswick | $6,217 |
| 39 | Bryan | $6,169 |
City government total spending per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Philadelphia ranks 29 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Salt Lake City | $6,989 |
| 27 | Yonkers | $6,768 |
| 28 | Trenton | $6,762 |
| 29 | Philadelphia | $6,714 |
| 30 | Anchorage | $6,665 |
| 31 | Waterbury | $6,620 |
| 32 | Watsonville | $6,617 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Philadelphia ranks 25 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Somerville | $2,983 |
| 23 | Framingham | $2,932 |
| 24 | Quincy | $2,931 |
| 25 | Philadelphia | $2,884 |
| 26 | Seattle | $2,766 |
| 27 | Richmond | $2,735 |
| 28 | Bristol | $2,734 |
City spending on police per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Philadelphia ranks 83 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 80 | San Jose | $504 |
| 81 | Dearborn | $501 |
| 82 | Detroit | $500 |
| 83 | Philadelphia | $497 |
| 84 | Union City | $496 |
| 85 | Watsonville | $494 |
| 86 | Huntington Beach | $493 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Philadelphia ranks 177 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 174 | Revere | $3,549 |
| 175 | Buckeye | $3,533 |
| 176 | Chattanooga | $3,523 |
| 177 | Philadelphia | $3,520 |
| 178 | El Paso | $3,504 |
| 179 | Terre Haute | $3,463 |
| 180 | Framingham | $3,447 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Philadelphia ranks 685 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 682 | St. Louis | 16.1% |
| 683 | Thornton | 16.1% |
| 684 | Lakewood | 16.0% |
| 685 | Philadelphia | 15.9% |
| 686 | Tuscaloosa | 15.5% |
| 687 | Tracy | 15.4% |
| 688 | Montgomery | 15.4% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Philadelphia ranks 111 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 108 | Cranston | 34.0% |
| 109 | Detroit | 34.0% |
| 110 | Fargo | 34.0% |
| 111 | Philadelphia | 33.7% |
| 112 | Terre Haute | 33.7% |
| 113 | Framingham | 33.6% |
| 114 | Phoenix | 33.6% |
City government total revenue per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Philadelphia ranks 31 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 28 | Kissimmee | $7,595 |
| 29 | Grand Island | $7,505 |
| 30 | Springfield | $7,287 |
| 31 | Philadelphia | $7,208 |
| 32 | Trenton | $7,103 |
| 33 | Ames | $7,044 |
| 34 | Pasadena | $6,910 |
City government total spending per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Philadelphia ranks 20 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Kissimmee | $9,002 |
| 18 | Rochester | $8,720 |
| 19 | New Haven | $8,490 |
| 20 | Philadelphia | $8,447 |
| 21 | Taunton | $8,428 |
| 22 | Newton | $8,408 |
| 23 | Trenton | $8,380 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Philadelphia ranks 17 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Somerville | $3,476 |
| 15 | Baton Rouge | $3,371 |
| 16 | Richmond | $3,365 |
| 17 | Philadelphia | $3,338 |
| 18 | Denver | $3,331 |
| 19 | Seattle | $3,314 |
| 20 | Framingham | $3,228 |
City spending on police per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Philadelphia ranks 85 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 82 | Melbourne | $540 |
| 83 | San Bernardino | $538 |
| 84 | San Jose | $536 |
| 85 | Philadelphia | $534 |
| 86 | Springfield | $529 |
| 87 | Burlington | $529 |
| 88 | Denton | $528 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Philadelphia ranks 109 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 106 | New Haven | $4,427 |
| 107 | Mount Prospect | $4,410 |
| 108 | Victorville | $4,389 |
| 109 | Philadelphia | $4,388 |
| 110 | Cedar Rapids | $4,368 |
| 111 | Detroit | $4,363 |
| 112 | Phoenix | $4,323 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Philadelphia ranks 540 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 537 | Lorain | 16.3% |
| 538 | Akron | 16.1% |
| 539 | Fayetteville | 16.0% |
| 540 | Philadelphia | 15.5% |
| 541 | Las Cruces | 15.4% |
| 542 | Thornton | 15.4% |
| 543 | Oklahoma City | 15.4% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Philadelphia ranks 109 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 106 | Plainfield | 34.1% |
| 107 | Augusta | 34.1% |
| 108 | Peabody | 34.0% |
| 109 | Philadelphia | 33.8% |
| 110 | Wheaton | 33.7% |
| 111 | Athens | 33.6% |
| 112 | Harrisburg | 33.5% |
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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…)
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