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Government budget and revenue in Phoenix, Arizona: official figures

Phoenix's city government took in $6.0 billion in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $3,631 for each of its 1,644,409 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 185th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$3,631
2024
City government spending per resident
$2,671
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$4,323
2024

How much does Phoenix spend and on what?

It spent $4.4 billion in the same year, $2,671 per resident, the 287th lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were police (16.2%), public transit (12.8%) and fire protection (10.1%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Phoenix collect per resident?

Taxes raised $1.8 billion ($1,113 per resident, the 270th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 34.0% 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 Phoenix rely on?

Of Phoenix's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 17.1%, general sales tax 62.8%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 11.1%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Phoenix's property tax share is the 49th lowest of 580 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much federal and state money does Phoenix get?

Payments from other governments made up 31.5% of Phoenix's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 9.4% from the federal government ($307 per resident), 20.9% from the state and 1.2% 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 Phoenix raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $1.3 billion, 23.4% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $585.75 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Phoenix spend on police?

Phoenix's city government spent $709.52 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $431 per resident (the 196th highest of 582) 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 copy

How much does Phoenix spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $443.00 million, $269 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Phoenix have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Phoenix's city government owed $7.1 billion in long-term debt, $4,323 per resident (the 112th highest of 582). During the year it issued no new long-term debt and repaid $526.44 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Phoenix pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $335.04 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 7.6% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Phoenix city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 30.8% from $2,776 to $3,631, spending per resident rose 11.7% to $2,671, taxes per resident rose 14.6% to $1,113.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Phoenix 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))

Phoenix ranks 265 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
262Fort Myers$2,782
263Spokane$2,780
264Oak Lawn$2,778
265Phoenix$2,776
266Carlsbad$2,775
267West Haven$2,770
268Columbus$2,765
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))

Phoenix ranks 325 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
322Novi$2,401
323Tuscaloosa$2,398
324Royal Oak$2,391
325Phoenix$2,390
326Las Cruces$2,386
327Richmond$2,384
328Jeffersonville$2,382
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City taxes collected per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Phoenix ranks 353 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
350Turlock$977
351La Mesa$976
352Charlotte$975
353Phoenix$972
354Edina$972
355St. Peters$970
356Newark$969
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))

Phoenix ranks 352 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
349Temecula$323
350West New York$322
351Rochester$322
352Phoenix$321
353Merced$320
354Council Bluffs$320
355Mobile$319
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))

Phoenix ranks 97 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
94Fishers$4,898
95Charlotte$4,835
96Ontario$4,790
97Phoenix$4,778
98Corona$4,774
99Portland$4,719
100Kissimmee$4,716
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))

Phoenix ranks 670 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
667Bentonville17.8%
668Lakewood17.5%
669Broken Arrow17.5%
670Phoenix17.4%
671Huntsville17.4%
672Scottsdale17.1%
673Lake Elsinore17.0%
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))

Phoenix ranks 114 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
111Philadelphia33.7%
112Terre Haute33.7%
113Framingham33.6%
114Phoenix33.6%
115Suffolk33.5%
116Gilbert33.4%
117Reno33.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City government total revenue per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Phoenix ranks 185 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.

RankCityCity government total revenue per resident, 2024
182Ann Arbor$3,648
183St. Paul$3,645
184Tampa$3,638
185Phoenix$3,631
186Flagstaff$3,630
187Terre Haute$3,627
188Sunnyvale$3,622
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City government total spending per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Phoenix ranks 296 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.

RankCityCity government total spending per resident, 2024
293Perth Amboy$2,685
294Renton$2,684
295Oxnard$2,679
296Phoenix$2,671
297Bossier City$2,670
298Holly Springs$2,650
299Homestead$2,642
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City taxes collected per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Phoenix ranks 270 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.

RankCityCity taxes collected per resident, 2024
267Kent$1,116
268Clifton$1,115
269Richland$1,114
270Phoenix$1,113
271Rockville$1,113
272Arlington$1,112
273Holly Springs$1,111
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City spending on police per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Phoenix ranks 196 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.

RankCityCity spending on police per resident, 2024
193Charlotte$433
194Fairfield$432
195Hillsboro$432
196Phoenix$431
197Nashua$431
198Roseville$429
199Renton$423
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Phoenix ranks 112 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.

RankCityCity long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024
109Philadelphia$4,388
110Cedar Rapids$4,368
111Detroit$4,363
112Phoenix$4,323
113Midland$4,314
114Anchorage$4,301
115Commerce City$4,279
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Phoenix ranks 532 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.

RankCityProperty tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024
529Lakewood17.4%
530Gilbert17.4%
531Bentonville17.2%
532Phoenix17.1%
533Kansas City16.9%
534Scottsdale16.6%
535Bossier City16.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Phoenix ranks 129 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.

RankCityFederal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024
126Oak Park32.0%
127Elkhart32.0%
128Erie31.6%
129Phoenix31.5%
130Arlington Heights31.4%
131Peoria31.4%
132Suffolk31.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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