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Government budget and revenue in St. Louis, Missouri: official figures

St. Louis' city government took in $1.2 billion in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, or $3,917 for each of its 297,645 residents (2022 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 153rd highest of 731 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments.

City government revenue per resident
$3,917
2022
City government spending per resident
$3,995
2022
City long-term debt per resident
$5,164
2022

How much does St. Louis spend and on what?

It spent $1.2 billion in the same year, $3,995 per resident, the 135th highest of 731 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments. The largest identified functions were police (18.9%), airports (14.3%) and public health (7.5%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does St. Louis collect per resident?

Taxes raised $715.16 million ($2,403 per resident, the 46th highest of 731) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, 64.4% 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 St. Louis rely on?

Of St. Louis' tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, property tax made up 16.1%, general sales tax 36.7%, individual income tax 26.1%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 9.9%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; St. Louis' property tax share is the 49th 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 St. Louis get?

Payments from other governments made up 7.2% of St. Louis' city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022: 1.2% from the federal government ($44 per resident), 6.0% 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 St. Louis raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $261.82 million, 23.6% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $55.27 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does St. Louis spend on police?

St. Louis' city government spent $224.63 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, $755 per resident (the 13th highest of 731) and 18.9% 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 St. Louis spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $81.27 million, $273 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does St. Louis have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, St. Louis' city government owed $1.5 billion in long-term debt, $5,164 per resident (the 83rd highest of 731). During the year it issued $19.15 million of new long-term debt and repaid $102.30 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does St. Louis pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $63.85 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, 5.4% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the latest budget data for St. Louis?

The Census Bureau imputed 100% of the revenue dollars in St. Louis' 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 St. Louis 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))

St. Louis ranks 153 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
150West Sacramento$3,941
151Colorado Springs$3,931
152Sunnyvale$3,926
153St. Louis$3,917
154Rocky Mount$3,885
155Glendale$3,883
156Boca Raton$3,866
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))

St. Louis ranks 135 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
132Orlando$4,053
133Savannah$4,046
134Bentonville$4,031
135St. Louis$3,995
136San Antonio$3,973
137Santa Barbara$3,931
138Corona$3,928
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

St. Louis ranks 46 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
43Suffolk$2,416
44Bridgeport$2,409
45New Haven$2,408
46St. Louis$2,403
47Newport News$2,398
48Weymouth Town$2,363
49Chesapeake$2,355
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))

St. Louis ranks 13 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
10Mooresville$850
11Baltimore$792
12Oakland$757
13St. Louis$755
14Los Angeles$749
15Bridgeport$747
16Albany$737
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))

St. Louis ranks 83 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
80Mishawaka$5,283
81Colorado Springs$5,250
82Lubbock$5,231
83St. Louis$5,164
84Tempe$5,114
85Berwyn$5,111
86Pasadena$5,110
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))

St. Louis ranks 682 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
679Orem16.4%
680Jonesboro16.3%
681Tulsa16.2%
682St. Louis16.1%
683Thornton16.1%
684Lakewood16.0%
685Philadelphia15.9%
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))

St. Louis ranks 659 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
656Centennial7.3%
657McKinney7.3%
658Rocklin7.2%
659St. Louis7.2%
660South San Francisco7.2%
661Enid7.1%
662Pleasanton7.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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