Government budget and revenue in Rochester, Minnesota: official figures
Rochester's city government took in $557.24 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, or $4,572 for each of its 121,878 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 121st highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.
How much does Rochester spend and on what?
It spent $462.49 million in the same year, $3,795 per resident, the 166th 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 (35.0%), police (8.2%) and sewerage (4.5%) of the total.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does Rochester collect per resident?
Taxes raised $143.85 million ($1,180 per resident, the 241st highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 40.8% of general revenue, compared with 49.3% for all US city governments combined in 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat taxes does Rochester rely on?
Of Rochester's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, property tax made up 71.3%, general sales tax 16.9%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 7.8%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Rochester's property tax share is the 164th 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 Rochester get?
Payments from other governments made up 25.3% of Rochester's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023: 0.0% from the federal government ($0 per resident), 25.3% from the state. For all US city governments in 2022 the aid share was 24.3%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Rochester raise from fees and utilities?
Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $73.48 million, 20.8% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $204.44 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Rochester spend on police?
Rochester's city government spent $37.74 million on police in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, $310 per resident (the 204th lowest of 582) and 8.2% 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 Rochester spend on fire protection?
Fire protection cost $20.82 million, $171 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much debt does Rochester have?
At the end of the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, Rochester's city government owed $287.32 million in long-term debt, $2,357 per resident (the 271st highest of 582). During the year it issued $12.38 million of new long-term debt and repaid $23.71 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Rochester pay in interest on its debt?
Interest on debt cost $11.95 million in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 2.6% of total spending.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow has the Rochester city budget changed?
Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 5.8% from $4,323 to $4,572, spending per resident rose 1.3% to $3,795, taxes per resident rose 22.1% to $1,180.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Rochester 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))
Rochester ranks 118 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 115 | Bellevue | $4,347 |
| 116 | Columbia | $4,333 |
| 117 | Broomfield | $4,332 |
| 118 | Rochester | $4,323 |
| 119 | Loveland | $4,273 |
| 120 | Duluth | $4,270 |
| 121 | West New York | $4,254 |
City government total spending per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Rochester ranks 149 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 146 | Sacramento | $3,790 |
| 147 | Fort Pierce | $3,788 |
| 148 | White Plains | $3,778 |
| 149 | Rochester | $3,745 |
| 150 | Columbia | $3,727 |
| 151 | Queen Creek | $3,725 |
| 152 | Collierville | $3,714 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Rochester ranks 359 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 356 | Newark | $969 |
| 357 | Hoffman Estates | $969 |
| 358 | Lodi | $968 |
| 359 | Rochester | $967 |
| 360 | Beaumont | $964 |
| 361 | Fayetteville | $964 |
| 362 | Ogden | $962 |
City spending on police per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Rochester ranks 351 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 348 | Folsom | $323 |
| 349 | Temecula | $323 |
| 350 | West New York | $322 |
| 351 | Rochester | $322 |
| 352 | Phoenix | $321 |
| 353 | Merced | $320 |
| 354 | Council Bluffs | $320 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Rochester ranks 217 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 214 | Omaha | $2,985 |
| 215 | Grapevine | $2,967 |
| 216 | Boston | $2,962 |
| 217 | Rochester | $2,959 |
| 218 | Westfield | $2,956 |
| 219 | Bayonne | $2,951 |
| 220 | Richland | $2,947 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Rochester ranks 184 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 181 | Kannapolis | 69.9% |
| 182 | Cedar Rapids | 69.7% |
| 183 | Mountain View | 69.7% |
| 184 | Rochester | 69.6% |
| 185 | Garland | 69.5% |
| 186 | Jeffersonville | 69.1% |
| 187 | Ames | 69.0% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Rochester ranks 171 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 168 | Rogers | 28.5% |
| 169 | Smyrna | 28.5% |
| 170 | San Ramon | 28.5% |
| 171 | Rochester | 28.4% |
| 172 | Evansville | 28.4% |
| 173 | Caldwell | 28.3% |
| 174 | Hoboken | 28.3% |
City government total revenue per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Rochester ranks 121 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 118 | Eugene | $4,595 |
| 119 | Owensboro | $4,588 |
| 120 | Birmingham | $4,581 |
| 121 | Rochester | $4,572 |
| 122 | Methuen | $4,571 |
| 123 | Kingsport | $4,547 |
| 124 | Glendale | $4,531 |
City government total spending per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Rochester ranks 166 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 163 | Rock Hill | $3,836 |
| 164 | Dothan | $3,825 |
| 165 | Richland | $3,823 |
| 166 | Rochester | $3,795 |
| 167 | Waco | $3,787 |
| 168 | Temecula | $3,774 |
| 169 | Corona | $3,773 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Rochester ranks 241 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 238 | Fort Worth | $1,191 |
| 239 | Fairfield | $1,190 |
| 240 | Eugene | $1,188 |
| 241 | Rochester | $1,180 |
| 242 | Longmont | $1,179 |
| 243 | Duluth | $1,176 |
| 244 | Hempstead | $1,176 |
City spending on police per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Rochester ranks 379 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 376 | Gastonia | $311 |
| 377 | Wheaton | $311 |
| 378 | Hoover | $310 |
| 379 | Rochester | $310 |
| 380 | Pocatello | $308 |
| 381 | Hamilton | $308 |
| 382 | Sioux City | $308 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Rochester ranks 271 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 268 | Tigard | $2,393 |
| 269 | High Point | $2,369 |
| 270 | Medford | $2,368 |
| 271 | Rochester | $2,357 |
| 272 | Greenwood | $2,355 |
| 273 | Haverhill | $2,353 |
| 274 | Edina | $2,351 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Rochester ranks 164 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 161 | Boynton Beach | 71.9% |
| 162 | Winston-Salem | 71.7% |
| 163 | Miami | 71.5% |
| 164 | Rochester | 71.3% |
| 165 | Minneapolis | 71.0% |
| 166 | Waterloo | 70.9% |
| 167 | Palatine | 70.8% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Rochester ranks 194 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 191 | Portland | 25.5% |
| 192 | Fresno | 25.4% |
| 193 | Columbia | 25.3% |
| 194 | Rochester | 25.3% |
| 195 | Dearborn | 25.2% |
| 196 | Fort Wayne | 25.1% |
| 197 | Queen Creek | 25.0% |
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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.