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Government budget and revenue in Plainfield, New Jersey: official figures

Plainfield's city government took in $108.29 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $1,987 for each of its 54,513 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 99th lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$1,987
2024
City government spending per resident
$1,971
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$585
2024

How much does Plainfield spend and on what?

It spent $107.47 million in the same year, $1,971 per resident, the 129th lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were police (18.4%), housing and community development (15.4%) and solid waste (10.2%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Plainfield collect per resident?

Taxes raised $62.52 million ($1,147 per resident, the 254th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 57.7% 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 Plainfield rely on?

Of Plainfield's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 99.9%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Plainfield's property tax share is the 5th highest 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 Plainfield get?

Payments from other governments made up 20.9% of Plainfield's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 15.8% from the federal government ($313 per resident), 4.4% 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 copy

How much does Plainfield raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $21.96 million, 20.3% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Plainfield spend on police?

Plainfield's city government spent $19.73 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $362 per resident (the 289th highest of 582) and 18.4% 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 Plainfield spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $10.57 million, $194 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Plainfield have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Plainfield's city government owed $31.92 million in long-term debt, $585 per resident (the 70th lowest of 582). During the year it issued no new long-term debt and repaid $3.93 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Plainfield pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $1.34 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 1.3% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Plainfield city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident fell 23.0% from $2,579 to $1,987, spending per resident fell 18.8% to $1,971, taxes per resident fell 9.1% to $1,147.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Plainfield 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))

Plainfield ranks 316 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
313Richardson$2,587
314Encinitas$2,584
315Topeka$2,580
316Plainfield$2,579
317Pleasanton$2,576
318Queen Creek$2,562
319Milpitas$2,561
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))

Plainfield ranks 313 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
310Livermore$2,441
311Hoboken$2,441
312Greensboro$2,434
313Plainfield$2,428
314Buckeye$2,426
315Troy$2,421
316Pleasanton$2,420
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Plainfield ranks 206 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
203Lee's Summit$1,267
204Livermore$1,266
205Vancouver$1,265
206Plainfield$1,262
207North Charleston$1,261
208Gardena$1,256
209Glendale$1,256
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))

Plainfield ranks 396 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
393Peoria$306
394Wake Forest$305
395Naperville$305
396Plainfield$305
397Marietta$305
398Evansville$305
399Stillwater$304
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))

Plainfield ranks 634 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
631Erie$584
632Vancouver$582
633Lee's Summit$575
634Plainfield$574
635Palm Beach Gardens$559
636Draper$548
637San Marcos$548
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))

Plainfield ranks 13 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
10Mishawaka99.1%
11Trenton99.1%
12Lafayette98.8%
13Plainfield98.6%
14Elkhart98.3%
15Nashua98.3%
16South Bend98.2%
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))

Plainfield ranks 196 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
193Bonita Springs27.3%
194Boston27.1%
195Kenosha27.1%
196Plainfield27.1%
197Elizabeth27.0%
198St. Cloud26.9%
199Dearborn26.8%
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))

Plainfield ranks 484 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
481Fort Wayne$2,005
482La Habra$1,999
483Reno$1,992
484Plainfield$1,987
485Huntersville$1,981
486Wilmington$1,981
487Southaven$1,971
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))

Plainfield ranks 454 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
451Rochester Hills$1,982
452Euless$1,981
453Gresham$1,977
454Plainfield$1,971
455Lawrence$1,971
456Reno$1,969
457Elgin$1,969
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Plainfield ranks 254 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
251Plantation$1,159
252Sioux City$1,158
253Lansing$1,150
254Plainfield$1,147
255Temecula$1,146
256Edmond$1,144
257Owensboro$1,138
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))

Plainfield ranks 289 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
286Lowell$362
287Kirkland$362
288Flagstaff$362
289Plainfield$362
290Edmond$362
291Medford$361
292Stillwater$361
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))

Plainfield ranks 513 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
510Jacksonville$590
511Springfield$587
512Wyoming$587
513Plainfield$585
514Delray Beach$565
515Lorain$565
516Apple Valley$559
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))

Plainfield ranks 5 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
2Meriden100.0%
3West Haven100.0%
4Union City100.0%
5Plainfield99.9%
6New Brunswick99.8%
7Perth Amboy99.4%
8Kokomo99.0%
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))

Plainfield ranks 256 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
253Southfield21.1%
254Sterling Heights21.1%
255Fort Pierce21.0%
256Plainfield20.9%
257Pocatello20.7%
258Pasco20.6%
259Evansville20.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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