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Government budget and revenue in Sterling Heights, Michigan: official figures

Sterling Heights' city government took in $295.31 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $2,228 for each of its 132,567 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 154th lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$2,228
2024
City government spending per resident
$1,964
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$1,621
2024

How much does Sterling Heights spend and on what?

It spent $260.36 million in the same year, $1,964 per resident, the 125th lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were police (16.3%), roads and highways (14.9%) and sewerage (12.3%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Sterling Heights collect per resident?

Taxes raised $94.16 million ($710 per resident, the 80th lowest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 34.4% 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 Sterling Heights rely on?

Of Sterling Heights' tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 96.1%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Sterling Heights' property tax share is the 35th 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 Sterling Heights get?

Payments from other governments made up 21.1% of Sterling Heights' city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 2.8% from the federal government ($57 per resident), 16.8% from the state and 1.5% 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 Sterling Heights raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $106.89 million, 39.1% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $21.75 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Sterling Heights spend on police?

Sterling Heights' city government spent $42.47 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $320 per resident (the 222nd lowest of 582) and 16.3% 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 Sterling Heights spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $27.67 million, $209 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Sterling Heights have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Sterling Heights' city government owed $214.85 million in long-term debt, $1,621 per resident (the 207th lowest of 582). During the year it issued no new long-term debt and repaid $11.61 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Sterling Heights pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $10.59 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 4.1% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Sterling Heights city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 46.2% from $1,523 to $2,228, spending per resident rose 16.0% to $1,964, taxes per resident rose 12.0% to $710.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Sterling Heights 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))

Sterling Heights ranks 636 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
633Southaven$1,531
634Fontana$1,530
635Pasadena$1,528
636Sterling Heights$1,523
637Buena Park$1,522
638Kennewick$1,522
639Westfield$1,506
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))

Sterling Heights ranks 528 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
525Chandler$1,696
526Minnetonka$1,694
527Tulare$1,693
528Sterling Heights$1,693
529Margate$1,689
530League City$1,689
531Alpharetta$1,689
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Sterling Heights ranks 636 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
633Federal Way$639
634Woodbury$638
635Bozeman$637
636Sterling Heights$634
637O'Fallon$634
638Brookhaven$630
639Henderson$630
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))

Sterling Heights ranks 441 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
438Apopka$290
439New Bedford$290
440Vineland$288
441Sterling Heights$287
442Davenport$287
443Gastonia$287
444Champaign$287
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))

Sterling Heights ranks 392 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
389Davis$1,798
390Moore$1,797
391Ankeny$1,796
392Sterling Heights$1,792
393Winter Haven$1,784
394Rockville$1,781
395Reno$1,779
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))

Sterling Heights ranks 33 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
30Methuen97.0%
31Quincy97.0%
32Springfield96.9%
33Sterling Heights96.9%
34Bristol96.8%
35Framingham96.8%
36Lowell96.8%
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))

Sterling Heights ranks 226 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
223Overland Park25.5%
224Nashua25.4%
225Little Rock25.3%
226Sterling Heights25.1%
227Danbury25.1%
228Houston25.0%
229Anaheim25.0%
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))

Sterling Heights ranks 429 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
426Burlington$2,238
427North Richland Hills$2,231
428Harlingen$2,230
429Sterling Heights$2,228
430Tamarac$2,226
431Janesville$2,222
432Conroe$2,217
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))

Sterling Heights ranks 458 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
455Lawrence$1,971
456Reno$1,969
457Elgin$1,969
458Sterling Heights$1,964
459Camden$1,955
460Westfield$1,953
461Champaign$1,951
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Sterling Heights ranks 503 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
500Lakewood$714
501Lake Forest$713
502Gilbert$712
503Sterling Heights$710
504Roswell$710
505Eagan$707
506Summerville$706
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))

Sterling Heights ranks 361 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
358Carmel$321
359Tucson$321
360Lubbock$321
361Sterling Heights$320
362Bellevue$320
363Edina$320
364Bellingham$320
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))

Sterling Heights ranks 376 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
373Battle Creek$1,640
374Elkhart$1,640
375Council Bluffs$1,630
376Sterling Heights$1,621
377Davie$1,618
378Thornton$1,592
379St. Charles$1,585
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))

Sterling Heights ranks 35 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
32Lowell96.2%
33Lawrence96.2%
34Brockton96.1%
35Sterling Heights96.1%
36West New York96.0%
37Springfield96.0%
38Southfield95.9%
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))

Sterling Heights ranks 254 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
251Iowa City21.2%
252Atlanta21.1%
253Southfield21.1%
254Sterling Heights21.1%
255Fort Pierce21.0%
256Plainfield20.9%
257Pocatello20.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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