State IntegrityReceipts, not verdicts

Government budget and revenue in Rapid City, South Dakota: official figures

Rapid City's city government took in $207.75 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, or $2,636 for each of its 78,824 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 249th lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$2,636
2024
City government spending per resident
$2,323
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$2,641
2024

How much does Rapid City spend and on what?

It spent $183.09 million in the same year, $2,323 per resident, the 211th lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were police (14.2%), fire protection (13.7%) and parks and recreation (13.4%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Rapid City collect per resident?

Taxes raised $110.46 million ($1,401 per resident, the 162nd highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 60.6% 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 Rapid City rely on?

Of Rapid City's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, property tax made up 28.3%, general sales tax 71.5%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Rapid City's property tax share is the 112th 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 Rapid City get?

Payments from other governments made up 9.6% of Rapid City's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023: 5.3% from the federal government ($123 per resident), 3.9% from the state. For all US city governments in 2022 the aid share was 24.3%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Rapid City raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $47.06 million, 25.8% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $25.49 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Rapid City spend on police?

Rapid City's city government spent $25.91 million on police in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, $329 per resident (the 240th lowest of 582) and 14.2% 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 Rapid City spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $25.01 million, $317 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Rapid City have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, Rapid City's city government owed $208.21 million in long-term debt, $2,641 per resident (the 240th highest of 582). During the year it issued $16.25 million of new long-term debt and repaid $13.64 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Rapid City pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $8.22 million in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 4.5% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Rapid City city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 9.6% from $2,404 to $2,636, spending per resident rose 42.7% to $2,323, taxes per resident rose 2.9% to $1,401.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Rapid City 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))

Rapid City ranks 354 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
351Boynton Beach$2,417
352Winter Haven$2,414
353Murfreesboro$2,414
354Rapid City$2,404
355Hammond$2,402
356College Station$2,399
357Santa Maria$2,397
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))

Rapid City ranks 552 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
549Peoria$1,636
550Reno$1,632
551Modesto$1,630
552Rapid City$1,628
553Valdosta$1,623
554Burlington$1,622
555Fulshear$1,620
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Rapid City ranks 170 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
167Cedar Rapids$1,376
168Sioux Falls$1,374
169Evanston$1,370
170Rapid City$1,362
171Oklahoma City$1,361
172Bellingham$1,361
173Encinitas$1,360
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))

Rapid City ranks 519 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
516Rock Hill$258
517Roanoke$258
518Boise City$258
519Rapid City$258
520Logan$257
521Virginia Beach$257
522Kokomo$256
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))

Rapid City ranks 559 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
556Manteca$943
557Paterson$940
558Kokomo$937
559Rapid City$935
560Clifton$928
561Durham$920
562St. Peters$920
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))

Rapid City ranks 580 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
577Inglewood27.7%
578Bellflower27.6%
579Santa Rosa27.6%
580Rapid City27.6%
581Fairfield27.5%
582Tulare27.5%
583Manteca27.3%
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))

Rapid City ranks 674 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
671San Mateo6.7%
672Garland6.6%
673Olympia6.6%
674Rapid City6.5%
675Watsonville6.5%
676Chino Hills6.4%
677Gulfport6.4%
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))

Rapid City ranks 334 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
331Bothell$2,677
332Irving$2,658
333Commerce City$2,652
334Rapid City$2,636
335Surprise$2,633
336Mount Prospect$2,618
337Sioux Falls$2,612
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))

Rapid City ranks 372 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
369Moreno Valley$2,331
370Jeffersonville$2,325
371Topeka$2,324
372Rapid City$2,323
373Tucson$2,316
374Greenwood$2,313
375Oshkosh$2,312
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Rapid City ranks 162 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
159St. Louis Park$1,411
160Oklahoma City$1,408
161Council Bluffs$1,403
162Rapid City$1,401
163Cedar Rapids$1,396
164Asheville$1,389
165Euless$1,389
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))

Rapid City ranks 343 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
340Laredo$330
341West Haven$329
342Missoula$329
343Rapid City$329
344Tigard$328
345Arlington$328
346Salem$328
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))

Rapid City ranks 240 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
237Orlando$2,686
238Rogers$2,685
239Lenexa$2,647
240Rapid City$2,641
241Jackson$2,629
242Bothell$2,627
243Tracy$2,596
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))

Rapid City ranks 469 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
466Ontario29.0%
467Fairfield28.7%
468Vancouver28.4%
469Rapid City28.3%
470South Gate27.9%
471Whittier27.6%
472Denver27.1%
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))

Rapid City ranks 481 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
478Florissant9.6%
479Visalia9.6%
480San Angelo9.6%
481Rapid City9.6%
482Stillwater9.6%
483Roseville9.5%
484Scranton9.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

More on Rapid City: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · all cities in the United States

Sources

Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.