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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.

City government revenue per resident
$5,730
2022
City government spending per resident
$6,989
2022
City long-term debt per resident
$20,122
2022

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 copy

How 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 copy

What 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 copy

How 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 copy

How 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 copy

How 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 copy

How 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 copy

How 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 copy

How 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 copy

What 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 copy

How 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.

RankCityCity government total revenue per resident, 2022
57Stamford$5,758
58New Orleans$5,749
59Ocala$5,743
60Salt Lake City$5,730
61Lawrence$5,705
62Lawrence$5,683
63Springfield$5,667
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))

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.

RankCityCity government total spending per resident, 2022
23Taunton$7,181
24Chattanooga$7,157
25Newton$7,082
26Salt Lake City$6,989
27Yonkers$6,768
28Trenton$6,762
29Philadelphia$6,714
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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.

RankCityCity taxes collected per resident, 2022
117Kansas City$1,612
118Detroit$1,595
119Carlsbad$1,594
120Salt Lake City$1,592
121Pleasanton$1,587
122San Rafael$1,583
123West Des Moines$1,568
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))

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.

RankCityCity spending on police per resident, 2022
364Madison$317
365Pinellas Park$316
366Kent$316
367Salt Lake City$316
368Fayetteville$316
369Bradenton$316
370Tulsa$315
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))

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.

RankCityCity long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022
1San Francisco$26,603
2Washington$25,936
3Salt Lake City$20,122
4Gainesville$16,205
5New York$15,407
6Atlanta$15,138
7San Mateo$14,778
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))

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.

RankCityProperty tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022
389Marietta47.1%
390Doral47.0%
391Fontana46.7%
392Salt Lake City46.7%
393Broomfield46.6%
394San Mateo46.3%
395Simi Valley46.0%
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))

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.

RankCityFederal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022
461Sandy14.4%
462Visalia14.4%
463Wilmington14.3%
464Salt Lake City14.2%
465Middletown14.2%
466Baton Rouge14.2%
467Fountain Valley14.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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