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Government budget and revenue in South Bend, Indiana: official figures

South Bend's city government took in $349.59 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, or $3,390 for each of its 103,110 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 211th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$3,390
2024
City government spending per resident
$3,342
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$2,228
2024

How much does South Bend spend and on what?

It spent $344.61 million in the same year, $3,342 per resident, the 208th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were police (16.8%), fire protection (11.2%) and parks and recreation (8.4%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does South Bend collect per resident?

Taxes raised $104.70 million ($1,015 per resident, the 261st lowest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 32.5% 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 South Bend rely on?

Of South Bend's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, property tax made up 97.4%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 2.1%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; South Bend's property tax share is the 21st 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 South Bend get?

Payments from other governments made up 25.0% of South Bend's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023: 1.0% from the federal government ($32 per resident), 23.3% from the state and 0.7% 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 South Bend raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $118.71 million, 36.9% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $27.48 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does South Bend spend on police?

South Bend's city government spent $57.82 million on police in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, $561 per resident (the 72nd highest of 582) and 16.8% 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 South Bend spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $38.70 million, $375 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does South Bend have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, South Bend's city government owed $229.73 million in long-term debt, $2,228 per resident (the 289th lowest of 582). During the year it issued $650,000 of new long-term debt and repaid $650,000.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does South Bend pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $7.21 million in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 2.1% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the South Bend city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 16.0% from $2,922 to $3,390, spending per resident rose 22.9% to $3,342, taxes per resident rose 10.4% to $1,015.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How South Bend 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))

South Bend ranks 247 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
244Baytown$2,933
245Grand Junction$2,926
246Carson City$2,923
247South Bend$2,922
248Lexington$2,918
249Murray$2,917
250Newark$2,901
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))

South Bend ranks 260 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
257Hammond$2,753
258Redmond$2,748
259Jonesboro$2,746
260South Bend$2,719
261Naperville$2,715
262Carlsbad$2,702
263Lodi$2,691
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

South Bend ranks 406 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
403Garden Grove$923
404Salem$923
405El Paso$921
406South Bend$920
407Greensboro$920
408Little Elm$919
409Fort Wayne$919
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))

South Bend ranks 70 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
67Orange$526
68Tucson$522
69Pompano Beach$522
70South Bend$521
71Hayward$521
72Sunrise$516
73Anchorage$515
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))

South Bend ranks 345 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
342Wilmington$2,100
343Spokane$2,077
344Palatine$2,075
345South Bend$2,052
346Bristol$2,050
347Carson$2,046
348Apex$2,044
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))

South Bend ranks 16 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
13Plainfield98.6%
14Elkhart98.3%
15Nashua98.3%
16South Bend98.2%
17Hartford98.0%
18Waterbury97.9%
19East Orange97.8%
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))

South Bend ranks 186 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
183Broomfield27.7%
184Muncie27.6%
185Davis27.5%
186South Bend27.5%
187New York27.4%
188Tucson27.4%
189Wheaton27.4%
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))

South Bend ranks 211 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
208Topeka$3,429
209North Port$3,428
210Waco$3,420
211South Bend$3,390
212Fargo$3,383
213Evansville$3,370
214Mobile$3,364
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))

South Bend ranks 208 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
205Joliet$3,393
206Olympia$3,391
207Des Moines$3,362
208South Bend$3,342
209Concord$3,332
210Daytona Beach$3,296
211San Jose$3,284
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

South Bend ranks 322 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
319Sunrise$1,024
320Murfreesboro$1,023
321Kannapolis$1,021
322South Bend$1,015
323Chico$1,015
324Fort Smith$1,014
325Kenosha$1,013
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))

South Bend ranks 72 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
69St. Paul$567
70Kansas City$567
71Pawtucket$566
72South Bend$561
73Watsonville$560
74Redlands$558
75Birmingham$556
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))

South Bend ranks 294 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
291Cary$2,247
292Rancho Cordova$2,244
293Largo$2,229
294South Bend$2,228
295Peabody$2,207
296Boulder$2,202
297Columbus$2,196
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))

South Bend ranks 21 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
18Quincy97.7%
19Weymouth Town97.6%
20East Orange97.5%
21South Bend97.4%
22Farmington Hills97.4%
23Taunton97.2%
24Methuen97.1%
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))

South Bend ranks 198 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
195Dearborn25.2%
196Fort Wayne25.1%
197Queen Creek25.0%
198South Bend25.0%
199Rogers24.8%
200Oshkosh24.7%
201Modesto24.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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