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Government budget and revenue in Raleigh, North Carolina: official figures

Raleigh's city government took in $1.3 billion in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $2,767 for each of its 476,587 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 278th lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$2,767
2024
City government spending per resident
$2,704
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$3,303
2024

How much does Raleigh spend and on what?

It spent $1.3 billion in the same year, $2,704 per resident, the 289th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were sewerage (20.2%), the water utility (13.8%) and police (11.1%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Raleigh collect per resident?

Taxes raised $540.95 million ($1,135 per resident, the 259th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 45.7% 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 Raleigh rely on?

Of Raleigh's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 66.5%, general sales tax 28.4%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 0.1%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Raleigh's property tax share is the 203rd 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 Raleigh get?

Payments from other governments made up 19.0% of Raleigh's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 7.3% from the federal government ($182 per resident), 5.3% from the state and 6.5% 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 Raleigh raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $331.83 million, 28.0% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $134.50 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Raleigh spend on police?

Raleigh's city government spent $142.93 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $300 per resident (the 186th lowest of 582) and 11.1% 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 Raleigh spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $80.15 million, $168 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Raleigh have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Raleigh's city government owed $1.6 billion in long-term debt, $3,303 per resident (the 173rd highest of 582). During the year it issued no new long-term debt and repaid $103.00 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Raleigh pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $59.60 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 4.6% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Raleigh city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 19.1% from $2,324 to $2,767, spending per resident rose 21.0% to $2,704, taxes per resident rose 13.5% to $1,135.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Raleigh 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))

Raleigh ranks 376 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
373Gilroy$2,330
374Hayward$2,327
375Olathe$2,325
376Raleigh$2,324
377Shreveport$2,323
378Beaumont$2,323
379North Port$2,320
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))

Raleigh ranks 358 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
355Columbus$2,245
356Cape Coral$2,243
357Taylor$2,242
358Raleigh$2,236
359Escondido$2,236
360St. Cloud$2,235
361Flower Mound$2,221
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Raleigh ranks 335 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
332Iowa City$1,005
333Owensboro$1,002
334Overland Park$1,001
335Raleigh$1,000
336Indio$998
337Cathedral City$997
338Normal$996
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))

Raleigh ranks 535 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
532Southaven$253
533Wichita$253
534Menifee$253
535Raleigh$252
536Laguna Niguel$251
537Camarillo$251
538New Britain$250
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))

Raleigh ranks 223 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
220Richland$2,947
221Irving$2,944
222Jersey City$2,943
223Raleigh$2,938
224Torrance$2,911
225Green Bay$2,909
226Carson City$2,906
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))

Raleigh ranks 255 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
252Lakeland61.6%
253Ocoee61.6%
254Rock Hill61.5%
255Raleigh61.5%
256Fort Myers61.4%
257Dubuque61.4%
258Sanford61.3%
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))

Raleigh ranks 316 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
313Doral19.9%
314Minneapolis19.9%
315Hialeah19.8%
316Raleigh19.8%
317Asheville19.8%
318Lynwood19.8%
319Grand Forks19.6%
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))

Raleigh ranks 305 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
302Corvallis$2,774
303Corpus Christi$2,770
304Fresno$2,769
305Raleigh$2,767
306Waterloo$2,762
307Council Bluffs$2,759
308Thornton$2,758
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))

Raleigh 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 government total spending per resident, 2024
286Chapel Hill$2,712
287Whittier$2,711
288Bloomington$2,706
289Raleigh$2,704
290McKinney$2,703
291Newark$2,702
292Downers Grove$2,701
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Raleigh ranks 259 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
256Edmond$1,144
257Owensboro$1,138
258Lebanon$1,136
259Raleigh$1,135
260Louisville/Jefferson County metro government$1,129
261Norman$1,129
262Surprise$1,127
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))

Raleigh ranks 397 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
394Virginia Beach$301
395Bend$301
396Conroe$301
397Raleigh$300
398Huntsville$299
399Richardson$299
400Cape Coral$299
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))

Raleigh ranks 173 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
170Skokie$3,361
171McKinney$3,352
172Hartford$3,346
173Raleigh$3,303
174Flagstaff$3,285
175Chicopee$3,279
176Buckeye$3,268
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))

Raleigh ranks 203 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
200Orlando66.8%
201Leander66.7%
202Burlington66.5%
203Raleigh66.5%
204Lansing66.0%
205Coconut Creek65.9%
206Columbus65.5%
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))

Raleigh ranks 280 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
277Dunwoody19.3%
278Sanford19.1%
279Marietta19.1%
280Raleigh19.0%
281Melbourne19.0%
282Waukesha19.0%
283Miami18.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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