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Government budget and revenue in Rochester, New York: official figures

Rochester's city government took in $1.7 billion in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $8,073 for each of its 209,352 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 21st highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$8,073
2024
City government spending per resident
$8,720
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$1,902
2024

How much does Rochester spend and on what?

It spent $1.8 billion in the same year, $8,720 per resident, the 18th 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 (53.1%), police (5.8%) and fire protection (3.5%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Rochester collect per resident?

Taxes raised $132.09 million ($631 per resident, the 50th lowest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 8.0% 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 Rochester rely on?

Of Rochester's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 85.2%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 9.0%. 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 117th 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 Rochester get?

Payments from other governments made up 79.2% of Rochester's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 4.9% from the federal government ($388 per resident), 60.3% from the state and 13.9% 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 Rochester raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $57.48 million, 3.5% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $40.69 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Rochester spend on police?

Rochester's city government spent $106.76 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $510 per resident (the 107th highest of 582) and 5.8% 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 Rochester spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $63.92 million, $305 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Does Rochester city government run the schools?

Rochester's city government also pays for public schools: elementary and secondary education took $970.15 million, 53.1% 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 copy

How much debt does Rochester have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Rochester's city government owed $398.29 million in long-term debt, $1,902 per resident (the 246th lowest of 582). During the year it issued $118.11 million of new long-term debt and repaid $36.37 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Rochester pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $18.09 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 1.0% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Rochester city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 12.5% from $7,173 to $8,073, spending per resident rose 12.2% to $8,720, taxes per resident fell 1.2% to $631.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How 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 16 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
13Baltimore$8,099
14Boston$7,538
15Richmond$7,394
16Rochester$7,173
17Springfield$7,088
18Baton Rouge$7,049
19Newton$7,010
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))

Rochester ranks 18 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
15Nashville$7,883
16Richmond$7,852
17Union City$7,777
18Rochester$7,772
19East Orange$7,656
20New Haven$7,570
21Denver$7,357
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Rochester ranks 632 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
629Yuba City$645
630Burien$644
631Plymouth$643
632Rochester$639
633Federal Way$639
634Woodbury$638
635Bozeman$637
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))

Rochester ranks 89 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
86Huntington Beach$493
87Scottsdale$491
88Anaheim$489
89Rochester$488
90Baytown$488
91Costa Mesa$487
92Hawthorne$487
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))

Rochester ranks 600 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
597Murrieta$746
598South Gate$738
599Camarillo$731
600Rochester$730
601Cupertino$729
602Farmington Hills$724
603Decatur$717
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))

Rochester ranks 126 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
123Billings85.9%
124Somerville85.7%
125Albany85.0%
126Rochester84.8%
127Anchorage84.0%
128Westfield83.8%
129Woodbury83.6%
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))

Rochester ranks 3 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
1Syracuse87.7%
2Buffalo83.1%
3Rochester77.6%
4Trenton77.0%
5Camden76.7%
6Lawrence76.3%
7Union City75.5%
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))

Rochester ranks 21 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
18Taunton$8,180
19Newton$8,101
20Seattle$8,097
21Rochester$8,073
22Hartford$8,029
23New Brunswick$7,999
24Alexandria$7,908
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))

Rochester ranks 18 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
15Alexandria$9,767
16Nashville$9,448
17Kissimmee$9,002
18Rochester$8,720
19New Haven$8,490
20Philadelphia$8,447
21Taunton$8,428
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Rochester ranks 533 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
530Billings$649
531Wheaton$641
532Southaven$633
533Rochester$631
534Jackson$631
535Dearborn Heights$628
536Eagle Mountain$624
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))

Rochester ranks 107 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
104Tracy$513
105Hempstead$512
106Lakewood$511
107Rochester$510
108Bloomington$508
109Frederick$507
110Rocky Mount$507
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))

Rochester ranks 337 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
334Casa Grande$1,934
335Tucson$1,909
336Ankeny$1,905
337Rochester$1,902
338Spokane$1,901
339Boynton Beach$1,898
340Everett$1,891
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))

Rochester ranks 117 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
114Schenectady87.4%
115La Crosse87.2%
116Westfield86.4%
117Rochester85.2%
118Plymouth84.6%
119Albany84.5%
120Noblesville84.3%
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))

Rochester ranks 4 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
1Union City86.4%
2Syracuse84.4%
3Buffalo82.7%
4Rochester79.2%
5Trenton77.8%
6Lawrence75.1%
7West New York71.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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