State IntegrityReceipts, not verdicts

Government budget and revenue in Portland, Oregon: official figures

Portland's city government took in $2.8 billion in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $4,429 for each of its 635,067 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 129th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$4,429
2024
City government spending per resident
$4,074
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$4,916
2024

How much does Portland spend and on what?

It spent $2.6 billion in the same year, $4,074 per resident, the 148th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were sewerage (19.8%), the water utility (10.8%) and police (10.7%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Portland collect per resident?

Taxes raised $1.4 billion ($2,139 per resident, the 67th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 53.4% 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 Portland rely on?

Of Portland's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 51.3%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 29.2%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Portland's property tax share is the 252nd 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 Portland get?

Payments from other governments made up 14.2% of Portland's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 6.8% from the federal government ($273 per resident), 3.3% from the state and 4.1% 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 Portland raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $636.10 million, 25.0% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $267.98 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Portland spend on police?

Portland's city government spent $276.52 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $435 per resident (the 188th highest of 582) and 10.7% 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 Portland spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $180.61 million, $284 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Portland have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Portland's city government owed $3.1 billion in long-term debt, $4,916 per resident (the 92nd highest of 582). During the year it issued $262.73 million of new long-term debt and repaid $272.76 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Portland pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $154.94 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 6.0% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Portland city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 11.1% from $3,985 to $4,429, spending per resident rose 25.2% to $4,074, taxes per resident rose 5.8% to $2,139.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Portland 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))

Portland ranks 144 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
141Marietta$3,996
142Medford$3,989
143Santa Cruz$3,987
144Portland$3,985
145Tallahassee$3,980
146Fort Pierce$3,974
147Kingsport$3,964
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))

Portland ranks 199 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
196Santa Cruz$3,275
197Charlotte$3,263
198High Point$3,257
199Portland$3,254
200Anaheim$3,253
201Fort Myers$3,252
202Bellevue$3,238
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Portland ranks 75 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
72Galveston$2,058
73Worcester$2,051
74Haverhill$2,029
75Portland$2,021
76Kansas City$2,003
77Grapevine$1,993
78Delray Beach$1,988
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))

Portland ranks 336 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
333Springfield$327
334Pawtucket$327
335Chandler$327
336Portland$327
337Bristol$326
338Passaic$326
339Winston-Salem$325
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))

Portland ranks 99 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
96Ontario$4,790
97Phoenix$4,778
98Corona$4,774
99Portland$4,719
100Kissimmee$4,716
101West Covina$4,701
102Brockton$4,695
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))

Portland ranks 325 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
322El Paso54.9%
323Baltimore54.8%
324College Station54.8%
325Portland54.7%
326Gaithersburg54.7%
327Collierville54.7%
328Gresham54.7%
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))

Portland ranks 404 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
401Davenport16.4%
402Bozeman16.4%
403Tampa16.3%
404Portland16.3%
405Lexington16.3%
406Jurupa Valley16.2%
407Medford16.2%
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))

Portland 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.

RankCityCity government total revenue per resident, 2024
126Anderson$4,503
127Weymouth Town$4,458
128Bentonville$4,435
129Portland$4,429
130Savannah$4,414
131Dallas$4,400
132New Braunfels$4,381
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))

Portland ranks 148 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
145Orlando$4,152
146Sacramento$4,146
147Springfield$4,134
148Portland$4,074
149West Palm Beach$4,062
150Anaheim$4,060
151Rocky Mount$4,051
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Portland ranks 67 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
64Atlanta$2,198
65Portsmouth$2,163
66Mobile$2,146
67Portland$2,139
68Santa Barbara$2,104
69Berkeley$2,102
70Boca Raton$2,090
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))

Portland ranks 188 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
185Riverside$436
186Schaumburg$436
187Taunton$435
188Portland$435
189North Richland Hills$435
190Elkhart$435
191Columbus$434
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))

Portland ranks 92 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
89Lubbock$4,971
90Worcester$4,965
91Lynchburg$4,940
92Portland$4,916
93Huntsville$4,882
94Harrisonburg$4,826
95Brockton$4,787
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))

Portland ranks 329 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
326Berkeley51.5%
327Nashville51.5%
328Corpus Christi51.4%
329Portland51.3%
330Savannah51.3%
331Wichita50.9%
332Pontiac50.8%
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))

Portland ranks 363 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
360Edmond14.3%
361St. Charles14.3%
362Eagan14.3%
363Portland14.2%
364Sarasota14.2%
365Boynton Beach14.1%
366Tampa14.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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