Government budget and revenue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: official figures
Pittsburgh's city government took in $826.48 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, or $2,729 for each of its 302,898 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 268th lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.
How much does Pittsburgh spend and on what?
It spent $887.68 million in the same year, $2,931 per resident, the 252nd highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were roads and highways (20.4%), police (16.2%) and fire protection (10.9%) of the total.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does Pittsburgh collect per resident?
Taxes raised $528.49 million ($1,745 per resident, the 103rd highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 63.9% of general revenue, compared with 49.3% for all US city governments combined in 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat taxes does Pittsburgh rely on?
Of Pittsburgh's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, property tax made up 30.5%, individual income tax 25.0%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 29.4%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Pittsburgh's property tax share is the 125th 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 Pittsburgh get?
Payments from other governments made up 22.6% of Pittsburgh's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023: 15.8% from the federal government ($430 per resident), 6.3% 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 Pittsburgh raise from fees and utilities?
Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $55.42 million, 6.7% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Pittsburgh spend on police?
Pittsburgh's city government spent $143.81 million on police in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, $475 per resident (the 146th 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 copyHow much does Pittsburgh spend on fire protection?
Fire protection cost $96.72 million, $319 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much debt does Pittsburgh have?
At the end of the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, Pittsburgh's city government owed $508.30 million in long-term debt, $1,678 per resident (the 217th lowest of 582). During the year it issued $61.05 million of new long-term debt and repaid $47.76 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Pittsburgh pay in interest on its debt?
Interest on debt cost $19.50 million in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 2.2% of total spending.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow has the Pittsburgh city budget changed?
Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 18.7% from $2,299 to $2,729, spending per resident rose 15.1% to $2,931, taxes per resident rose 8.1% to $1,745.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Pittsburgh 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))
Pittsburgh ranks 384 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 381 | Rialto | $2,312 |
| 382 | Sioux Falls | $2,308 |
| 383 | Joplin | $2,306 |
| 384 | Pittsburgh | $2,299 |
| 385 | Saratoga Springs | $2,298 |
| 386 | Jeffersonville | $2,292 |
| 387 | Noblesville | $2,283 |
City government total spending per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Pittsburgh ranks 285 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 282 | Riverside | $2,548 |
| 283 | Hawthorne | $2,547 |
| 284 | Homestead | $2,547 |
| 285 | Pittsburgh | $2,546 |
| 286 | La Habra | $2,544 |
| 287 | Bowling Green | $2,544 |
| 288 | Augusta | $2,538 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Pittsburgh ranks 116 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 113 | Scottsdale | $1,623 |
| 114 | New Bedford | $1,622 |
| 115 | Elizabeth | $1,619 |
| 116 | Pittsburgh | $1,614 |
| 117 | Kansas City | $1,612 |
| 118 | Detroit | $1,595 |
| 119 | Carlsbad | $1,594 |
City spending on police per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Pittsburgh ranks 145 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 142 | Aurora | $439 |
| 143 | North Miami | $437 |
| 144 | Santa Ana | $437 |
| 145 | Pittsburgh | $436 |
| 146 | Carson City | $435 |
| 147 | Clearwater | $434 |
| 148 | Brookhaven | $433 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Pittsburgh ranks 427 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 424 | Palm Coast | $1,633 |
| 425 | Miramar | $1,612 |
| 426 | Rialto | $1,588 |
| 427 | Pittsburgh | $1,580 |
| 428 | Provo | $1,576 |
| 429 | Renton | $1,567 |
| 430 | Encinitas | $1,564 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Pittsburgh ranks 511 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 508 | Mount Pleasant | 34.4% |
| 509 | Lincoln | 34.3% |
| 510 | Tustin | 34.2% |
| 511 | Pittsburgh | 34.1% |
| 512 | Albuquerque | 34.0% |
| 513 | Smyrna | 34.0% |
| 514 | Yuba City | 33.9% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Pittsburgh ranks 262 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 259 | Torrance | 21.9% |
| 260 | Meridian | 21.9% |
| 261 | Renton | 21.8% |
| 262 | Pittsburgh | 21.8% |
| 263 | Clarksville | 21.8% |
| 264 | Coeur d'Alene | 21.8% |
| 265 | Chico | 21.7% |
City government total revenue per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Pittsburgh ranks 315 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 312 | Clarksville | $2,744 |
| 313 | Rockford | $2,733 |
| 314 | La Crosse | $2,730 |
| 315 | Pittsburgh | $2,729 |
| 316 | Auburn | $2,726 |
| 317 | Lenexa | $2,721 |
| 318 | Tuscaloosa | $2,721 |
City government total spending per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Pittsburgh ranks 252 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 249 | Council Bluffs | $2,964 |
| 250 | Little Rock | $2,957 |
| 251 | Carlsbad | $2,931 |
| 252 | Pittsburgh | $2,931 |
| 253 | Bellingham | $2,922 |
| 254 | Southfield | $2,920 |
| 255 | Stillwater | $2,920 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Pittsburgh ranks 103 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | Pleasanton | $1,799 |
| 101 | Richardson | $1,785 |
| 102 | Lynn | $1,773 |
| 103 | Pittsburgh | $1,745 |
| 104 | Los Angeles | $1,742 |
| 105 | Westminster | $1,740 |
| 106 | Lexington | $1,739 |
City spending on police per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Pittsburgh ranks 146 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 143 | Lynn | $476 |
| 144 | Lansing | $476 |
| 145 | Fort Worth | $476 |
| 146 | Pittsburgh | $475 |
| 147 | Tinley Park | $475 |
| 148 | Oxnard | $474 |
| 149 | Plantation | $474 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Pittsburgh ranks 366 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 363 | Janesville | $1,705 |
| 364 | Santa Ana | $1,696 |
| 365 | Chapel Hill | $1,681 |
| 366 | Pittsburgh | $1,678 |
| 367 | Carrollton | $1,677 |
| 368 | New Orleans | $1,674 |
| 369 | Whittier | $1,664 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Pittsburgh ranks 456 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 453 | Irvine | 31.0% |
| 454 | Bakersfield | 30.9% |
| 455 | Olympia | 30.5% |
| 456 | Pittsburgh | 30.5% |
| 457 | Fargo | 30.5% |
| 458 | Baton Rouge | 30.2% |
| 459 | Maricopa | 30.0% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Pittsburgh ranks 231 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 228 | Vallejo | 22.6% |
| 229 | Vineland | 22.6% |
| 230 | Savannah | 22.6% |
| 231 | Pittsburgh | 22.6% |
| 232 | Spokane Valley | 22.5% |
| 233 | Hialeah | 22.5% |
| 234 | Allentown | 22.2% |
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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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.