Government budget and revenue in St. Paul, Minnesota: official figures
St. Paul's city government took in $1.1 billion in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, or $3,645 for each of its 303,176 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 183rd highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.
How much does St. Paul spend and on what?
It spent $1.1 billion in the same year, $3,553 per resident, the 189th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were police (15.9%), the water utility (14.8%) and housing and community development (11.2%) of the total.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does St. Paul collect per resident?
Taxes raised $302.29 million ($997 per resident, the 241st lowest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 30.4% 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. Paul rely on?
Of St. Paul's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, property tax made up 74.8%, general sales tax 7.9%, 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%; St. Paul's property tax share is the 146th highest of 580 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much federal and state money does St. Paul get?
Payments from other governments made up 32.3% of St. Paul's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023: 15.5% from the federal government ($508 per resident), 14.6% from the state and 2.2% from other local governments. For all US city governments in 2022 the aid share was 24.3%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does St. Paul raise from fees and utilities?
Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $291.63 million, 29.4% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $112.07 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does St. Paul spend on police?
St. Paul's city government spent $171.78 million on police in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, $567 per resident (the 69th highest of 582) and 15.9% 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. Paul spend on fire protection?
Fire protection cost $83.75 million, $276 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much debt does St. Paul have?
At the end of the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, St. Paul's city government owed $908.96 million in long-term debt, $2,998 per resident (the 194th highest of 582). During the year it issued $360.47 million of new long-term debt and repaid $171.71 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does St. Paul pay in interest on its debt?
Interest on debt cost $51.24 million in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 4.8% of total spending.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow has the St. Paul city budget changed?
Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 32.2% from $2,757 to $3,645, spending per resident rose 28.3% to $3,553, taxes per resident rose 18.7% to $997.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow St. Paul 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. Paul ranks 272 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 269 | Tempe | $2,761 |
| 270 | Racine | $2,760 |
| 271 | Augusta | $2,759 |
| 272 | St. Paul | $2,757 |
| 273 | Ann Arbor | $2,754 |
| 274 | Chino | $2,749 |
| 275 | Salem | $2,741 |
City government total spending per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
St. Paul ranks 255 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 252 | San Jose | $2,776 |
| 253 | La Crosse | $2,776 |
| 254 | Conway | $2,772 |
| 255 | St. Paul | $2,770 |
| 256 | Colton | $2,764 |
| 257 | Hammond | $2,753 |
| 258 | Redmond | $2,748 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
St. Paul ranks 472 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 469 | Arlington Heights | $842 |
| 470 | Mount Prospect | $842 |
| 471 | Santee | $842 |
| 472 | St. Paul | $840 |
| 473 | Grand Island | $839 |
| 474 | Columbia | $838 |
| 475 | Marysville | $835 |
City spending on police per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
St. Paul ranks 104 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 101 | Oak Park | $478 |
| 102 | Sunnyvale | $475 |
| 103 | Alameda | $470 |
| 104 | St. Paul | $469 |
| 105 | Kansas City | $468 |
| 106 | Pensacola | $466 |
| 107 | Chattanooga | $466 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
St. Paul ranks 267 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 264 | Bloomington | $2,574 |
| 265 | Santa Cruz | $2,573 |
| 266 | Monterey Park | $2,565 |
| 267 | St. Paul | $2,562 |
| 268 | Santa Fe | $2,558 |
| 269 | Olathe | $2,555 |
| 270 | Springdale | $2,554 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
St. Paul ranks 154 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 151 | Berwyn | 74.9% |
| 152 | Downers Grove | 74.6% |
| 153 | Bloomington | 74.5% |
| 154 | St. Paul | 74.2% |
| 155 | Durham | 73.3% |
| 156 | Miami | 72.9% |
| 157 | Gulfport | 72.9% |
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. Paul ranks 129 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 126 | Oak Park | 32.6% |
| 127 | Chattanooga | 32.6% |
| 128 | Appleton | 32.3% |
| 129 | St. Paul | 32.3% |
| 130 | Noblesville | 32.3% |
| 131 | Virginia Beach | 32.2% |
| 132 | Lauderhill | 32.0% |
City government total revenue per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
St. Paul 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.
| Rank | City | City government total revenue per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 180 | Concord | $3,686 |
| 181 | High Point | $3,674 |
| 182 | Ann Arbor | $3,648 |
| 183 | St. Paul | $3,645 |
| 184 | Tampa | $3,638 |
| 185 | Phoenix | $3,631 |
| 186 | Flagstaff | $3,630 |
City government total spending per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
St. Paul ranks 189 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.
| Rank | City | City government total spending per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 186 | Evanston | $3,571 |
| 187 | Kalamazoo | $3,561 |
| 188 | Vallejo | $3,556 |
| 189 | St. Paul | $3,553 |
| 190 | Grand Junction | $3,552 |
| 191 | Mishawaka | $3,547 |
| 192 | Anderson | $3,546 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
St. Paul ranks 342 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.
| Rank | City | City taxes collected per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 339 | Bismarck | $999 |
| 340 | Visalia | $999 |
| 341 | St. Petersburg | $999 |
| 342 | St. Paul | $997 |
| 343 | Trenton | $995 |
| 344 | Winston-Salem | $991 |
| 345 | Minnetonka | $983 |
City spending on police per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
St. Paul ranks 69 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.
| Rank | City | City spending on police per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 66 | Cincinnati | $580 |
| 67 | Boynton Beach | $572 |
| 68 | Idaho Falls | $572 |
| 69 | St. Paul | $567 |
| 70 | Kansas City | $567 |
| 71 | Pawtucket | $566 |
| 72 | South Bend | $561 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
St. Paul ranks 194 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.
| Rank | City | City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 191 | Stockton | $3,024 |
| 192 | Tulsa | $3,003 |
| 193 | Lexington | $3,002 |
| 194 | St. Paul | $2,998 |
| 195 | Oxnard | $2,975 |
| 196 | Fort Worth | $2,975 |
| 197 | Little Rock | $2,956 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
St. Paul ranks 146 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.
| Rank | City | Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 143 | Suffolk | 75.2% |
| 144 | Portsmouth | 75.0% |
| 145 | Mount Prospect | 74.9% |
| 146 | St. Paul | 74.8% |
| 147 | Newport News | 74.7% |
| 148 | Mountain View | 74.6% |
| 149 | Hollywood | 74.2% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
St. Paul ranks 121 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.
| Rank | City | Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 118 | Noblesville | 32.6% |
| 119 | Tallahassee | 32.5% |
| 120 | Palatine | 32.4% |
| 121 | St. Paul | 32.3% |
| 122 | Avondale | 32.2% |
| 123 | Downers Grove | 32.1% |
| 124 | Bloomington | 32.0% |
More on St. Paul: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · all cities in the United States
Sources
- 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…)
- 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.