State IntegrityReceipts, not verdicts

Government budget and revenue in Salem, Oregon: official figures

Salem's city government took in $502.82 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $2,833 for each of its 177,487 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 289th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$2,833
2024
City government spending per resident
$2,805
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$4,785
2024

How much does Salem spend and on what?

It spent $497.92 million in the same year, $2,805 per resident, the 269th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were sewerage (15.4%), police (11.7%) and housing and community development (11.2%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Salem collect per resident?

Taxes raised $169.10 million ($953 per resident, the 217th lowest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 37.0% 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 Salem rely on?

Of Salem's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 73.0%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 17.7%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Salem's property tax share is the 154th 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 Salem get?

Payments from other governments made up 24.5% of Salem's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 7.4% from the federal government ($191 per resident), 13.9% from the state and 3.3% 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 Salem raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $109.23 million, 23.9% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $45.40 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Salem spend on police?

Salem's city government spent $58.23 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $328 per resident (the 237th lowest of 582) and 11.7% 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 Salem spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $49.51 million, $279 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Salem have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Salem's city government owed $849.26 million in long-term debt, $4,785 per resident (the 96th highest of 582). During the year it issued no new long-term debt and repaid $43.51 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Salem pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $35.51 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 7.1% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Salem city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 3.3% from $2,741 to $2,833, spending per resident rose 27.3% to $2,805, taxes per resident rose 3.2% to $953.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Salem 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))

Salem ranks 275 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
272St. Paul$2,757
273Ann Arbor$2,754
274Chino$2,749
275Salem$2,741
276Idaho Falls$2,739
277Tampa$2,735
278Davis$2,730
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))

Salem ranks 364 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
361Flower Mound$2,221
362Bloomington$2,216
363Rialto$2,208
364Salem$2,203
365Bothell$2,200
366Murfreesboro$2,199
367Fort Worth$2,195
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Salem ranks 404 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
401Colorado Springs$926
402St. George$924
403Garden Grove$923
404Salem$923
405El Paso$921
406South Bend$920
407Greensboro$920
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))

Salem ranks 430 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
427St. Louis Park$294
428Texas City$293
429Yuba City$292
430Salem$292
431St. Charles$292
432Sioux City$292
433Kirkland$291
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))

Salem ranks 469 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
466Pasco$1,388
467Tinley Park$1,379
468Elizabeth$1,377
469Salem$1,372
470Clovis$1,369
471Greeley$1,364
472Mobile$1,360
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))

Salem ranks 189 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
186Jeffersonville69.1%
187Ames69.0%
188Waterloo68.9%
189Salem68.9%
190Bowie68.6%
191Smyrna68.6%
192Margate68.5%
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))

Salem ranks 145 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
142Somerville31.2%
143Iowa City31.1%
144Elgin30.8%
145Salem30.7%
146Council Bluffs30.5%
147Taylor30.4%
148Westland30.4%
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))

Salem ranks 289 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
286Springfield$2,849
287Royal Oak$2,840
288San Leandro$2,836
289Salem$2,833
290Peoria$2,825
291Sugar Land$2,821
292Pembroke Pines$2,815
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))

Salem ranks 269 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
266Fairfield$2,811
267Sioux Falls$2,810
268Tracy$2,810
269Salem$2,805
270Vacaville$2,802
271Oklahoma City$2,795
272Manhattan$2,792
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Salem ranks 366 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
363Lincoln$957
364Boise City$957
365Fort Pierce$956
366Salem$953
367Whittier$951
368Sanford$950
369Aurora$948
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))

Salem ranks 346 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
343Rapid City$329
344Tigard$328
345Arlington$328
346Salem$328
347Anderson$328
348Wake Forest$328
349Waukesha$327
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))

Salem ranks 96 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
93Huntsville$4,882
94Harrisonburg$4,826
95Brockton$4,787
96Salem$4,785
97Norwalk$4,765
98Bend$4,757
99Vineland$4,737
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))

Salem ranks 154 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
151Palm Coast73.2%
152Richmond73.1%
153Rowlett73.0%
154Salem73.0%
155Eugene72.8%
156Cedar Rapids72.7%
157Gulfport72.6%
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))

Salem ranks 203 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
200Oshkosh24.7%
201Modesto24.7%
202St. Cloud24.6%
203Salem24.5%
204Bloomington24.5%
205Warren24.5%
206Corvallis24.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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