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.
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 copyHow 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 copyWhat 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 copyHow 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 copyHow 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 copyHow 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 copyHow 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 copyHow 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 copyHow 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 copyWhat 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 copyHow 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.
| Rank | City | City government total revenue per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 150 | West Sacramento | $3,941 |
| 151 | Colorado Springs | $3,931 |
| 152 | Sunnyvale | $3,926 |
| 153 | St. Louis | $3,917 |
| 154 | Rocky Mount | $3,885 |
| 155 | Glendale | $3,883 |
| 156 | Boca Raton | $3,866 |
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.
| Rank | City | City government total spending per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 132 | Orlando | $4,053 |
| 133 | Savannah | $4,046 |
| 134 | Bentonville | $4,031 |
| 135 | St. Louis | $3,995 |
| 136 | San Antonio | $3,973 |
| 137 | Santa Barbara | $3,931 |
| 138 | Corona | $3,928 |
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.
| Rank | City | City taxes collected per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 43 | Suffolk | $2,416 |
| 44 | Bridgeport | $2,409 |
| 45 | New Haven | $2,408 |
| 46 | St. Louis | $2,403 |
| 47 | Newport News | $2,398 |
| 48 | Weymouth Town | $2,363 |
| 49 | Chesapeake | $2,355 |
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.
| Rank | City | City spending on police per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Mooresville | $850 |
| 11 | Baltimore | $792 |
| 12 | Oakland | $757 |
| 13 | St. Louis | $755 |
| 14 | Los Angeles | $749 |
| 15 | Bridgeport | $747 |
| 16 | Albany | $737 |
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.
| Rank | City | City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 80 | Mishawaka | $5,283 |
| 81 | Colorado Springs | $5,250 |
| 82 | Lubbock | $5,231 |
| 83 | St. Louis | $5,164 |
| 84 | Tempe | $5,114 |
| 85 | Berwyn | $5,111 |
| 86 | Pasadena | $5,110 |
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.
| Rank | City | Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 679 | Orem | 16.4% |
| 680 | Jonesboro | 16.3% |
| 681 | Tulsa | 16.2% |
| 682 | St. Louis | 16.1% |
| 683 | Thornton | 16.1% |
| 684 | Lakewood | 16.0% |
| 685 | Philadelphia | 15.9% |
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.
| Rank | City | Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 656 | Centennial | 7.3% |
| 657 | McKinney | 7.3% |
| 658 | Rocklin | 7.2% |
| 659 | St. Louis | 7.2% |
| 660 | South San Francisco | 7.2% |
| 661 | Enid | 7.1% |
| 662 | Pleasanton | 7.1% |
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Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: 2022 Census of Governments: State and Local Government Finances, individual unit files (item amounts for every government, directory with population and fiscal year end, state estimates by type of government), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c8de889f6b33…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit files (item amounts for every sampled government, directory with population and fiscal year end, state estimates by type of government), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0967c4d30466…)
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