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Government budget and revenue in Scottsdale, Arizona: official figures

Scottsdale's city government took in $994.72 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $4,093 for each of its 243,050 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 153rd highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$4,093
2024
City government spending per resident
$3,768
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$3,190
2024

How much does Scottsdale spend and on what?

It spent $915.86 million in the same year, $3,768 per resident, the 170th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were police (23.5%), the water utility (13.5%) and parks and recreation (10.3%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Scottsdale collect per resident?

Taxes raised $453.64 million ($1,866 per resident, the 88th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 52.8% 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 Scottsdale rely on?

Of Scottsdale's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 16.6%, general sales tax 67.0%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 10.9%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Scottsdale's property tax share is the 47th 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 Scottsdale get?

Payments from other governments made up 21.4% of Scottsdale's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 1.4% from the federal government ($50 per resident), 16.7% 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 Scottsdale raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $156.05 million, 18.2% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $135.52 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Scottsdale spend on police?

Scottsdale's city government spent $215.13 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $885 per resident (the 11th highest of 582) and 23.5% 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 Scottsdale spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $92.29 million, $380 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Scottsdale have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Scottsdale's city government owed $775.34 million in long-term debt, $3,190 per resident (the 183rd highest of 582). During the year it issued $15.81 million of new long-term debt and repaid $111.51 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Scottsdale pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $25.25 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 2.8% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Scottsdale city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 26.1% from $3,245 to $4,093, spending per resident rose 42.9% to $3,768, taxes per resident rose 15.0% to $1,866.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Scottsdale 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))

Scottsdale ranks 200 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
197Bowling Green$3,274
198Torrance$3,256
199Riverside$3,250
200Scottsdale$3,245
201Garland$3,233
202Sunrise$3,220
203Inglewood$3,214
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))

Scottsdale ranks 271 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
268Columbus$2,644
269San Rafael$2,638
270Tulsa$2,638
271Scottsdale$2,637
272Edina$2,620
273San Clemente$2,619
274Flagstaff$2,618
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Scottsdale ranks 113 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
110Torrance$1,664
111Decatur$1,651
112Palm Beach Gardens$1,629
113Scottsdale$1,623
114New Bedford$1,622
115Elizabeth$1,619
116Pittsburgh$1,614
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))

Scottsdale ranks 87 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
84Union City$496
85Watsonville$494
86Huntington Beach$493
87Scottsdale$491
88Anaheim$489
89Rochester$488
90Baytown$488
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))

Scottsdale ranks 184 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
181Sioux City$3,433
182College Station$3,413
183Mesa$3,404
184Scottsdale$3,380
185Chula Vista$3,368
186Fayetteville$3,356
187Des Plaines$3,340
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))

Scottsdale ranks 672 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
669Broken Arrow17.5%
670Phoenix17.4%
671Huntsville17.4%
672Scottsdale17.1%
673Lake Elsinore17.0%
674Decatur17.0%
675Temecula16.9%
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))

Scottsdale ranks 303 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
300Nashville20.5%
301Fort Collins20.4%
302Sioux City20.4%
303Scottsdale20.3%
304Troy20.3%
305Logan20.2%
306Oceanside20.2%
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))

Scottsdale ranks 153 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
150Cedar Rapids$4,144
151Boca Raton$4,131
152Richland$4,127
153Scottsdale$4,093
154Clearwater$4,070
155White Plains$4,061
156Cincinnati$4,041
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))

Scottsdale ranks 170 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
167Waco$3,787
168Temecula$3,774
169Corona$3,773
170Scottsdale$3,768
171Bartlett$3,760
172Louisville/Jefferson County metro government$3,741
173Grapevine$3,726
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Scottsdale ranks 88 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
85West Des Moines$1,886
86Malden$1,886
87Cincinnati$1,871
88Scottsdale$1,866
89Torrance$1,864
90Olympia$1,864
91Brockton$1,846
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))

Scottsdale ranks 11 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
8Fort Lauderdale$928
9Vacaville$915
10Los Angeles$888
11Scottsdale$885
12Baltimore$867
13Palo Alto$851
14Boston$847
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))

Scottsdale ranks 183 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
180Ames$3,238
181Sarasota$3,222
182Lafayette$3,214
183Scottsdale$3,190
184Santa Clara$3,169
185Sunnyvale$3,129
186Sioux City$3,117
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))

Scottsdale ranks 534 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
531Bentonville17.2%
532Phoenix17.1%
533Kansas City16.9%
534Scottsdale16.6%
535Bossier City16.3%
536Chandler16.3%
537Lorain16.3%
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))

Scottsdale ranks 249 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
246Concord21.6%
247Minneapolis21.5%
248Missoula21.4%
249Scottsdale21.4%
250Hoffman Estates21.3%
251Iowa City21.2%
252Atlanta21.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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