State IntegrityReceipts, not verdicts

Government budget and revenue in Sacramento, California: official figures

Sacramento's city government took in $1.6 billion in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $3,061 for each of its 528,001 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 255th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$3,061
2024
City government spending per resident
$4,146
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$3,444
2024

How much does Sacramento spend and on what?

It spent $2.2 billion in the same year, $4,146 per resident, the 146th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were police (12.5%), fire protection (8.7%) and roads and highways (8.4%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Sacramento collect per resident?

Taxes raised $659.10 million ($1,248 per resident, the 218th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 44.4% 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 Sacramento rely on?

Of Sacramento's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 37.1%, general sales tax 40.0%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 12.1%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Sacramento's property tax share is the 172nd 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 Sacramento get?

Payments from other governments made up 11.7% of Sacramento's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 6.2% from the federal government ($175 per resident), 5.4% 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 Sacramento raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $433.82 million, 29.2% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $132.96 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Sacramento spend on police?

Sacramento's city government spent $273.50 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $518 per resident (the 100th highest of 582) and 12.5% 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 Sacramento spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $190.98 million, $362 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Sacramento have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Sacramento's city government owed $1.8 billion in long-term debt, $3,444 per resident (the 167th highest of 582). During the year it issued $20.98 million of new long-term debt and repaid $163.97 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Sacramento pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $60.06 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 2.7% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Sacramento city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 1.2% from $3,024 to $3,061, spending per resident rose 9.4% to $4,146, taxes per resident fell 0.3% to $1,248.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Sacramento 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))

Sacramento ranks 225 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
222Grapevine$3,040
223Little Rock$3,039
224Council Bluffs$3,024
225Sacramento$3,024
226Herriman$3,018
227Asheville$3,014
228Evanston$3,011
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))

Sacramento ranks 146 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
143Detroit$3,853
144Methuen$3,853
145Kingsport$3,811
146Sacramento$3,790
147Fort Pierce$3,788
148White Plains$3,778
149Rochester$3,745
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Sacramento ranks 210 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
207North Charleston$1,261
208Gardena$1,256
209Glendale$1,256
210Sacramento$1,252
211Greeley$1,247
212Tuscaloosa$1,246
213Sunnyvale$1,245
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))

Sacramento ranks 99 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
96San Luis Obispo$483
97Alexandria$482
98Mesa$481
99Sacramento$479
100Chino$478
101Oak Park$478
102Sunnyvale$475
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))

Sacramento ranks 137 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
134Oakland$3,933
135San Diego$3,927
136Bend$3,884
137Sacramento$3,881
138Hoffman Estates$3,848
139Grand Forks$3,845
140Vineland$3,829
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))

Sacramento ranks 519 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
516Jurupa Valley33.4%
517Menifee33.2%
518Columbia33.1%
519Sacramento33.0%
520Eagle Mountain32.9%
521Plainfield32.9%
522Murrieta32.9%
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))

Sacramento ranks 326 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
323Pocatello19.3%
324Mooresville19.3%
325Ogden19.3%
326Sacramento19.3%
327Atlanta19.3%
328Vallejo19.3%
329Victorville19.1%
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))

Sacramento ranks 255 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
252Victorville$3,086
253Bellingham$3,080
254Minneapolis$3,077
255Sacramento$3,061
256Redlands$3,051
257Oxnard$3,044
258Tucson$3,025
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))

Sacramento ranks 146 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
143Dallas$4,212
144White Plains$4,164
145Orlando$4,152
146Sacramento$4,146
147Springfield$4,134
148Portland$4,074
149West Palm Beach$4,062
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Sacramento ranks 218 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
215Charlotte$1,254
216Waterloo$1,251
217Oxnard$1,250
218Sacramento$1,248
219Burleson$1,237
220Spokane$1,234
221Pflugerville$1,228
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))

Sacramento ranks 100 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
97Newark$522
98Fall River$522
99Carlsbad$522
100Sacramento$518
101Dallas$517
102Tacoma$516
103Commerce City$514
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))

Sacramento ranks 167 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
164Clarksville$3,469
165Cape Coral$3,469
166Tampa$3,448
167Sacramento$3,444
168Gilbert$3,417
169Lake Havasu City$3,401
170Skokie$3,361
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))

Sacramento ranks 409 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
406Midland37.6%
407Burbank37.6%
408Conroe37.4%
409Sacramento37.1%
410Shoreline37.1%
411Moreno Valley36.7%
412Redding36.7%
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))

Sacramento ranks 420 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
417Bowling Green11.9%
418Kennewick11.8%
419Oxnard11.7%
420Sacramento11.7%
421Largo11.6%
422Lenexa11.6%
423Murrieta11.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

More on Sacramento: 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.