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Government budget and revenue in Riverside, California: official figures

Riverside's city government took in $1.2 billion in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $3,718 for each of its 320,764 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 176th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$3,718
2024
City government spending per resident
$3,278
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$6,439
2024

How much does Riverside spend and on what?

It spent $1.1 billion in the same year, $3,278 per resident, the 212th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were the electric utility (35.4%), police (13.3%) and the water utility (7.8%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Riverside collect per resident?

Taxes raised $336.75 million ($1,050 per resident, the 279th lowest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 49.4% 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 Riverside rely on?

Of Riverside's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 26.3%, general sales tax 54.0%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 14.2%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Riverside's property tax share is the 105th 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 Riverside get?

Payments from other governments made up 12.5% of Riverside's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 5.6% from the federal government ($118 per resident), 6.7% 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 Riverside raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $167.48 million, 24.6% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $511.64 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Riverside spend on police?

Riverside's city government spent $139.92 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $436 per resident (the 185th highest of 582) and 13.3% 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 Riverside spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $75.82 million, $236 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Riverside have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Riverside's city government owed $2.1 billion in long-term debt, $6,439 per resident (the 51st highest of 582). During the year it issued $271.96 million of new long-term debt and repaid $358.95 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Riverside pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $59.52 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 5.7% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Riverside city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 14.4% from $3,250 to $3,718, spending per resident rose 28.6% to $3,278, taxes per resident rose 7.2% to $1,050.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Riverside 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))

Riverside 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 revenue per resident, 2022
196San Jose$3,284
197Bowling Green$3,274
198Torrance$3,256
199Riverside$3,250
200Scottsdale$3,245
201Garland$3,233
202Sunrise$3,220
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))

Riverside ranks 282 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
279Winter Haven$2,588
280Grand Rapids$2,569
281Elizabeth$2,568
282Riverside$2,548
283Hawthorne$2,547
284Homestead$2,547
285Pittsburgh$2,546
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Riverside ranks 345 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
342San Clemente$982
343National City$980
344Sherman$980
345Riverside$979
346Bend$979
347Alhambra$979
348Boynton Beach$978
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))

Riverside ranks 287 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
284Albuquerque$350
285Seattle$350
286Deerfield Beach$350
287Riverside$349
288Columbus$349
289North Charleston$349
290Lake Havasu City$347
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))

Riverside ranks 57 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
54New Braunfels$6,368
55Brentwood$6,325
56Lake Elsinore$6,287
57Riverside$6,207
58Roseville$6,116
59Bridgeport$6,099
60Lancaster$6,038
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))

Riverside ranks 623 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
620Pico Rivera23.4%
621Rancho Cordova23.1%
622Paramount23.0%
623Riverside23.0%
624Ontario22.9%
625Indio22.8%
626Fort Collins22.7%
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))

Riverside ranks 491 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
488Bellingham13.3%
489Wylie13.3%
490Eden Prairie13.2%
491Riverside13.1%
492Napa13.1%
493Midwest City13.1%
494San Jose13.0%
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))

Riverside ranks 176 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
173Elkhart$3,739
174Garland$3,735
175Sunrise$3,719
176Riverside$3,718
177Queen Creek$3,718
178Bartlett$3,707
179Rocky Mount$3,703
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))

Riverside ranks 212 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
209Concord$3,332
210Daytona Beach$3,296
211San Jose$3,284
212Riverside$3,278
213Asheville$3,258
214Jonesboro$3,242
215Waterloo$3,228
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Riverside ranks 304 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
301Deerfield Beach$1,055
302Medford$1,055
303El Paso$1,054
304Riverside$1,050
305New Braunfels$1,047
306Athens$1,043
307Ocala$1,043
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))

Riverside ranks 185 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
182Baytown$439
183Santa Maria$438
184Henderson$436
185Riverside$436
186Schaumburg$436
187Taunton$435
188Portland$435
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))

Riverside ranks 51 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
48Mishawaka$6,552
49Ontario$6,507
50Enid$6,481
51Riverside$6,439
52Akron$6,373
53Santa Monica$6,273
54Bryan$6,213
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))

Riverside ranks 476 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
473Amarillo26.7%
474Santa Barbara26.5%
475Greeley26.4%
476Riverside26.3%
477Auburn26.2%
478Tacoma26.1%
479Huntsville26.1%
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))

Riverside ranks 403 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
400Coconut Creek12.6%
401North Charleston12.6%
402Longmont12.6%
403Riverside12.5%
404North Richland Hills12.5%
405Richland12.4%
406Canton12.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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