Government budget and revenue in Roanoke, Virginia: official figures
Roanoke's city government took in $593.50 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $6,066 for each of its 97,847 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 61st highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.
How much does Roanoke spend and on what?
It spent $727.81 million in the same year, $7,438 per resident, the 38th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were elementary and secondary schools (39.7%), public welfare (8.2%) and housing and community development (7.5%) of the total.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does Roanoke collect per resident?
Taxes raised $251.87 million ($2,574 per resident, the 40th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 42.5% of general revenue, compared with 49.3% for all US city governments combined in 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat taxes does Roanoke rely on?
Of Roanoke's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 63.7%, general sales tax 11.3%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 15.3%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Roanoke's property tax share is the 219th highest of 580 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much federal and state money does Roanoke get?
Payments from other governments made up 44.3% of Roanoke's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 11.0% from the federal government ($668 per resident), 32.8% from the state and 0.5% from other local governments. For all US city governments in 2022 the aid share was 24.3%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Roanoke raise from fees and utilities?
Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $58.42 million, 9.9% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Roanoke spend on police?
Roanoke's city government spent $33.08 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $338 per resident (the 254th lowest of 582) and 4.5% of its total spending; police took 10.3% of spending across all US city governments in 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Roanoke spend on fire protection?
Fire protection cost $32.77 million, $335 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyDoes Roanoke city government run the schools?
Roanoke's city government also pays for public schools: elementary and secondary education took $289.27 million, 39.7% of its spending in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, which in most US cities is spent by a separate school district instead.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much debt does Roanoke have?
At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Roanoke's city government owed $287.90 million in long-term debt, $2,942 per resident (the 198th highest of 582). During the year it issued $31.12 million of new long-term debt and repaid $10.26 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Roanoke pay in interest on its debt?
Interest on debt cost $6.04 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 0.8% of total spending.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow has the Roanoke city budget changed?
Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 19.5% from $5,077 to $6,066, spending per resident rose 23.1% to $7,438, taxes per resident rose 14.7% to $2,574.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Roanoke 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))
Roanoke ranks 81 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.
| Rank | City | City government total revenue per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 78 | Quincy | $5,159 |
| 79 | Kansas City | $5,104 |
| 80 | Los Angeles | $5,088 |
| 81 | Roanoke | $5,077 |
| 82 | Santa Barbara | $5,067 |
| 83 | Portsmouth | $5,043 |
| 84 | Nashua | $5,037 |
City government total spending per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Roanoke ranks 52 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.
| Rank | City | City government total spending per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 49 | Stamford | $6,149 |
| 50 | New Britain | $6,096 |
| 51 | Bryan | $6,096 |
| 52 | Roanoke | $6,044 |
| 53 | Peabody | $6,017 |
| 54 | Chicopee | $6,016 |
| 55 | Framingham | $5,995 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Roanoke ranks 56 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.
| Rank | City | City taxes collected per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 53 | Norfolk | $2,266 |
| 54 | Chicago | $2,250 |
| 55 | Palo Alto | $2,247 |
| 56 | Roanoke | $2,245 |
| 57 | Taunton | $2,232 |
| 58 | Urban Honolulu | $2,223 |
| 59 | Revere | $2,211 |
City spending on police per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Roanoke ranks 517 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.
| Rank | City | City spending on police per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 514 | Augusta | $259 |
| 515 | Westland | $258 |
| 516 | Rock Hill | $258 |
| 517 | Roanoke | $258 |
| 518 | Boise City | $258 |
| 519 | Rapid City | $258 |
| 520 | Logan | $257 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Roanoke ranks 241 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.
| Rank | City | City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 238 | Bothell | $2,800 |
| 239 | Mooresville | $2,796 |
| 240 | Lafayette | $2,795 |
| 241 | Roanoke | $2,794 |
| 242 | Westminster | $2,792 |
| 243 | Weymouth Town | $2,775 |
| 244 | Pensacola | $2,774 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Roanoke ranks 259 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.
| Rank | City | Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 256 | Fort Myers | 61.4% |
| 257 | Dubuque | 61.4% |
| 258 | Sanford | 61.3% |
| 259 | Roanoke | 61.3% |
| 260 | Lauderhill | 61.2% |
| 261 | Elgin | 61.2% |
| 262 | Jupiter | 61.1% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Roanoke ranks 46 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.
| Rank | City | Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 43 | Macon-Bibb County | 45.4% |
| 44 | Bridgeport | 45.3% |
| 45 | Racine | 45.0% |
| 46 | Roanoke | 44.8% |
| 47 | Santa Ana | 44.6% |
| 48 | Casper | 44.6% |
| 49 | Flint | 43.8% |
City government total revenue per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Roanoke ranks 61 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.
| Rank | City | City government total revenue per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 58 | Suffolk | $6,117 |
| 59 | Roseville | $6,082 |
| 60 | Union City | $6,068 |
| 61 | Roanoke | $6,066 |
| 62 | Lowell | $6,057 |
| 63 | Waltham | $6,003 |
| 64 | Burbank | $5,975 |
City government total spending per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Roanoke ranks 38 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.
| Rank | City | City government total spending per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | Seattle | $7,611 |
| 36 | Norfolk | $7,580 |
| 37 | Framingham | $7,458 |
| 38 | Roanoke | $7,438 |
| 39 | Lynn | $7,427 |
| 40 | Buffalo | $7,406 |
| 41 | Yonkers | $7,355 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Roanoke ranks 40 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.
| Rank | City | City taxes collected per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 37 | Anchorage | $2,611 |
| 38 | Weymouth Town | $2,606 |
| 39 | Galveston | $2,587 |
| 40 | Roanoke | $2,574 |
| 41 | Oakland | $2,550 |
| 42 | Harrisonburg | $2,507 |
| 43 | Huntsville | $2,490 |
City spending on police per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Roanoke ranks 329 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.
| Rank | City | City spending on police per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 326 | Hampton | $339 |
| 327 | New Haven | $339 |
| 328 | Montgomery | $339 |
| 329 | Roanoke | $338 |
| 330 | Columbus | $336 |
| 331 | Pasadena | $336 |
| 332 | Winston-Salem | $333 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Roanoke ranks 198 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.
| Rank | City | City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 195 | Oxnard | $2,975 |
| 196 | Fort Worth | $2,975 |
| 197 | Little Rock | $2,956 |
| 198 | Roanoke | $2,942 |
| 199 | New Bedford | $2,940 |
| 200 | Joliet | $2,937 |
| 201 | Stamford | $2,918 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Roanoke ranks 219 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.
| Rank | City | Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 216 | Wilmington | 63.9% |
| 217 | Little Elm | 63.9% |
| 218 | Plantation | 63.7% |
| 219 | Roanoke | 63.7% |
| 220 | Davie | 63.6% |
| 221 | Arlington Heights | 63.6% |
| 222 | Urban Honolulu | 63.5% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Roanoke ranks 52 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.
| Rank | City | Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 49 | Haverhill | 44.9% |
| 50 | Flint | 44.4% |
| 51 | Manchester | 44.3% |
| 52 | Roanoke | 44.3% |
| 53 | Lake Havasu City | 44.3% |
| 54 | Tucson | 44.1% |
| 55 | Casper | 43.8% |
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Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit files (item amounts for every sampled government, directory with population and fiscal year end, state estimates by type of government), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0967c4d30466…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: 2022 Census of Governments: State and Local Government Finances, individual unit files (item amounts for every government, directory with population and fiscal year end, state estimates by type of government), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c8de889f6b33…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.