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Government budget and revenue in Spokane, Washington: official figures

Spokane's city government took in $710.82 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, or $3,088 for each of its 230,160 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 251st highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$3,088
2024
City government spending per resident
$3,116
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$1,901
2024

How much does Spokane spend and on what?

It spent $717.20 million in the same year, $3,116 per resident, the 225th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were solid waste (14.2%), police (13.5%) and the water utility (12.2%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Spokane collect per resident?

Taxes raised $284.11 million ($1,234 per resident, the 220th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 46.3% 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 Spokane rely on?

Of Spokane's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, property tax made up 34.9%, general sales tax 28.8%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 29.1%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Spokane's property tax share is the 153rd 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 Spokane get?

Payments from other governments made up 14.0% of Spokane's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023: 1.7% from the federal government ($44 per resident), 12.2% from the state. For all US city governments in 2022 the aid share was 24.3%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Spokane raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $192.72 million, 31.4% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $97.53 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Spokane spend on police?

Spokane's city government spent $96.55 million on police in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, $420 per resident (the 202nd highest of 582) and 13.5% 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 Spokane spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $78.89 million, $343 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Spokane have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, Spokane's city government owed $437.59 million in long-term debt, $1,901 per resident (the 245th lowest of 582). During the year it issued $8.54 million of new long-term debt and repaid $23.41 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Spokane pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $13.63 million in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 1.9% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Spokane city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 11.1% from $2,780 to $3,088, spending per resident rose 20.1% to $3,116, taxes per resident rose 1.8% to $1,234.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Spokane 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))

Spokane ranks 263 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
260South Jordan$2,791
261Battle Creek$2,790
262Fort Myers$2,782
263Spokane$2,780
264Oak Lawn$2,778
265Phoenix$2,776
266Carlsbad$2,775
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))

Spokane ranks 278 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
275Southfield$2,617
276Brentwood$2,617
277St. George$2,611
278Spokane$2,595
279Winter Haven$2,588
280Grand Rapids$2,569
281Elizabeth$2,568
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Spokane ranks 223 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
220Union City$1,219
221Rancho Cucamonga$1,218
222Burleson$1,214
223Spokane$1,213
224Chattanooga$1,212
225Lebanon$1,209
226Carson City$1,208
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))

Spokane 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 spending on police per resident, 2022
342Waco$325
343North Richland Hills$324
344Davis$324
345Spokane$324
346New Brunswick$323
347Schenectady$323
348Folsom$323
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))

Spokane ranks 343 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
340West Allis$2,121
341Sarasota$2,113
342Wilmington$2,100
343Spokane$2,077
344Palatine$2,075
345South Bend$2,052
346Bristol$2,050
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))

Spokane ranks 523 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
520Eagle Mountain32.9%
521Plainfield32.9%
522Murrieta32.9%
523Spokane32.9%
524Vallejo32.8%
525Moreno Valley32.8%
526Corona32.5%
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))

Spokane ranks 526 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
523Tustin12.1%
524Beaumont12.1%
525Goose Creek12.0%
526Spokane12.0%
527Arvada12.0%
528Conroe12.0%
529Santa Fe12.0%
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))

Spokane ranks 251 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
248West Des Moines$3,111
249Renton$3,107
250Grand Junction$3,095
251Spokane$3,088
252Victorville$3,086
253Bellingham$3,080
254Minneapolis$3,077
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))

Spokane ranks 225 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
222Redlands$3,182
223Columbus$3,172
224Buckeye$3,125
225Spokane$3,116
226Pembroke Pines$3,111
227Dearborn$3,102
228Fresno$3,081
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Spokane ranks 220 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
217Oxnard$1,250
218Sacramento$1,248
219Burleson$1,237
220Spokane$1,234
221Pflugerville$1,228
222Davenport$1,228
223Rancho Cordova$1,224
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))

Spokane ranks 202 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
199Renton$423
200Bartlett$422
201Newton$420
202Spokane$420
203Murrieta$417
204Chandler$416
205Buffalo$416
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))

Spokane ranks 338 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
335Tucson$1,909
336Ankeny$1,905
337Rochester$1,902
338Spokane$1,901
339Boynton Beach$1,898
340Everett$1,891
341Perth Amboy$1,876
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))

Spokane ranks 428 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
425Oxnard35.2%
426Grand Forks34.9%
427Plainfield34.9%
428Spokane34.9%
429Watsonville34.7%
430Murrieta34.6%
431Millcreek34.5%
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))

Spokane ranks 367 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
364Sarasota14.2%
365Boynton Beach14.1%
366Tampa14.0%
367Spokane14.0%
368Bend13.9%
369Tigard13.8%
370Lee's Summit13.8%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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