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Government budget and revenue in Sarasota, Florida: official figures

Sarasota's city government took in $248.22 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, or $4,326 for each of its 57,376 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 139th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$4,326
2024
City government spending per resident
$4,371
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$3,222
2024

How much does Sarasota spend and on what?

It spent $250.80 million in the same year, $4,371 per resident, the 136th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were financial administration (25.5%), police (18.7%) and parks and recreation (14.6%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Sarasota collect per resident?

Taxes raised $99.72 million ($1,738 per resident, the 107th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, 44.8% 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 Sarasota rely on?

Of Sarasota's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, property tax made up 46.0%, general sales tax 19.3%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 18.6%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Sarasota's property tax share is the 224th 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 Sarasota get?

Payments from other governments made up 14.2% of Sarasota's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023: 4.2% from the federal government ($164 per resident), 7.8% from the state and 2.2% 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 Sarasota raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $70.46 million, 31.6% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $25.52 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Sarasota spend on police?

Sarasota's city government spent $46.97 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, $819 per resident (the 19th highest of 582) and 18.7% 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 debt does Sarasota have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, Sarasota's city government owed $184.89 million in long-term debt, $3,222 per resident (the 181st highest of 582). During the year it issued $48.36 million of new long-term debt and repaid $6.46 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Sarasota pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $3.82 million in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, 1.5% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Sarasota city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 28.6% from $3,365 to $4,326, spending per resident rose 22.4% to $4,371, taxes per resident rose 16.4% to $1,738.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Sarasota 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))

Sarasota ranks 192 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
189Concord$3,393
190Schaumburg$3,374
191Redlands$3,372
192Sarasota$3,365
193Dubuque$3,361
194Cincinnati$3,339
195High Point$3,317
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))

Sarasota ranks 169 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
166Glendale$3,572
167Lancaster$3,572
168Mishawaka$3,571
169Sarasota$3,571
170Louisville/Jefferson County metro government$3,556
171Enid$3,548
172Vineland$3,538
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Sarasota ranks 142 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
139Lenexa$1,506
140Logan$1,504
141Herriman$1,494
142Sarasota$1,494
143Columbus$1,492
144Milpitas$1,489
145Fall River$1,476
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))

Sarasota ranks 30 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
27Fort Myers$640
28Boston$639
29Ontario$638
30Sarasota$634
31Mountain View$621
32Chicago$619
33Torrance$605
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))

Sarasota ranks 341 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
338Greenville$2,138
339Rowlett$2,132
340West Allis$2,121
341Sarasota$2,113
342Wilmington$2,100
343Spokane$2,077
344Palatine$2,075
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))

Sarasota ranks 398 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
395Simi Valley46.0%
396Largo45.9%
397Arlington45.6%
398Sarasota45.5%
399Scranton45.5%
400West Valley City45.5%
401Santee45.4%
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))

Sarasota ranks 501 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
498Reading12.9%
499Palm Bay12.9%
500Bothell12.8%
501Sarasota12.8%
502Montgomery12.7%
503Santa Clara12.7%
504Amarillo12.7%
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))

Sarasota ranks 139 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
136Mishawaka$4,363
137Carson City$4,329
138Grapevine$4,327
139Sarasota$4,326
140Bayonne$4,318
141Rock Hill$4,311
142Springfield$4,281
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))

Sarasota ranks 136 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
133Newport Beach$4,409
134Cleveland$4,385
135Edmond$4,379
136Sarasota$4,371
137West Haven$4,362
138North Little Rock$4,348
139Haverhill$4,347
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Sarasota 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 taxes collected per resident, 2024
104Los Angeles$1,742
105Westminster$1,740
106Lexington$1,739
107Sarasota$1,738
108Palm Beach Gardens$1,735
109Lenexa$1,730
110Jacksonville$1,729
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))

Sarasota ranks 19 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
16Chicago$840
17Inglewood$839
18Pasadena$831
19Sarasota$819
20Ocala$815
21Oakland$807
22Ontario$799
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))

Sarasota ranks 181 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
178St. Petersburg$3,253
179Muncie$3,240
180Ames$3,238
181Sarasota$3,222
182Lafayette$3,214
183Scottsdale$3,190
184Santa Clara$3,169
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))

Sarasota ranks 357 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
354Bismarck46.4%
355New Orleans46.3%
356San Jose46.0%
357Sarasota46.0%
358Alameda46.0%
359Redwood City45.9%
360Santee45.9%
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))

Sarasota ranks 364 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
361St. Charles14.3%
362Eagan14.3%
363Portland14.2%
364Sarasota14.2%
365Boynton Beach14.1%
366Tampa14.0%
367Spokane14.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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