Government budget and revenue in Salt Lake City, Utah: official figures
Salt Lake City's city government took in $1.2 billion in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, or $5,730 for each of its 204,087 residents (2022 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 60th highest of 731 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments.
How much does Salt Lake City spend and on what?
It spent $1.4 billion in the same year, $6,989 per resident, the 26th highest of 731 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments. The largest identified functions were airports (37.5%), the water utility (7.3%) and sewerage (7.3%) of the total.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does Salt Lake City collect per resident?
Taxes raised $324.83 million ($1,592 per resident, the 120th highest of 731) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, 29.6% of general revenue, compared with 49.3% for all US city governments combined in 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat taxes does Salt Lake City rely on?
Of Salt Lake City's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, property tax made up 46.7%, general sales tax 37.5%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 9.8%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Salt Lake City's property tax share is the 339th lowest of 730 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much federal and state money does Salt Lake City get?
Payments from other governments made up 14.2% of Salt Lake City's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022: 13.0% from the federal government ($700 per resident), 0.1% from the state and 1.1% 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 Salt Lake City raise from fees and utilities?
Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $523.62 million, 47.7% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $71.66 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Salt Lake City spend on police?
Salt Lake City's city government spent $64.58 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, $316 per resident (the 365th lowest of 731) 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 Salt Lake City spend on fire protection?
Fire protection cost $44.28 million, $217 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much debt does Salt Lake City have?
At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, Salt Lake City's city government owed $4.1 billion in long-term debt, $20,122 per resident (the 3rd highest of 731). During the year it issued $1.5 billion of new long-term debt and repaid $70.26 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Salt Lake City pay in interest on its debt?
Interest on debt cost $147.83 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, 10.4% of total spending.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the latest budget data for Salt Lake City?
The Census Bureau imputed 100% of the revenue dollars in Salt Lake City's 2024 record, so these facts use the 2022 Census of Governments, for which the city reported its figures.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Salt Lake City 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))
Salt Lake City ranks 60 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 57 | Stamford | $5,758 |
| 58 | New Orleans | $5,749 |
| 59 | Ocala | $5,743 |
| 60 | Salt Lake City | $5,730 |
| 61 | Lawrence | $5,705 |
| 62 | Lawrence | $5,683 |
| 63 | Springfield | $5,667 |
City government total spending per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Salt Lake City ranks 26 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | Taunton | $7,181 |
| 24 | Chattanooga | $7,157 |
| 25 | Newton | $7,082 |
| 26 | Salt Lake City | $6,989 |
| 27 | Yonkers | $6,768 |
| 28 | Trenton | $6,762 |
| 29 | Philadelphia | $6,714 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Salt Lake City ranks 120 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 117 | Kansas City | $1,612 |
| 118 | Detroit | $1,595 |
| 119 | Carlsbad | $1,594 |
| 120 | Salt Lake City | $1,592 |
| 121 | Pleasanton | $1,587 |
| 122 | San Rafael | $1,583 |
| 123 | West Des Moines | $1,568 |
City spending on police per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Salt Lake City ranks 367 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 364 | Madison | $317 |
| 365 | Pinellas Park | $316 |
| 366 | Kent | $316 |
| 367 | Salt Lake City | $316 |
| 368 | Fayetteville | $316 |
| 369 | Bradenton | $316 |
| 370 | Tulsa | $315 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Salt Lake City ranks 3 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco | $26,603 |
| 2 | Washington | $25,936 |
| 3 | Salt Lake City | $20,122 |
| 4 | Gainesville | $16,205 |
| 5 | New York | $15,407 |
| 6 | Atlanta | $15,138 |
| 7 | San Mateo | $14,778 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Salt Lake City ranks 392 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 389 | Marietta | 47.1% |
| 390 | Doral | 47.0% |
| 391 | Fontana | 46.7% |
| 392 | Salt Lake City | 46.7% |
| 393 | Broomfield | 46.6% |
| 394 | San Mateo | 46.3% |
| 395 | Simi Valley | 46.0% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Salt Lake City ranks 464 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 461 | Sandy | 14.4% |
| 462 | Visalia | 14.4% |
| 463 | Wilmington | 14.3% |
| 464 | Salt Lake City | 14.2% |
| 465 | Middletown | 14.2% |
| 466 | Baton Rouge | 14.2% |
| 467 | Fountain Valley | 14.2% |
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Sources
- 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…)
- 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.