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Government budget and revenue in Suffolk, Virginia: official figures

Suffolk's city government took in $602.70 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $6,117 for each of its 98,537 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 58th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$6,117
2024
City government spending per resident
$6,890
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$6,865
2024

How much does Suffolk spend and on what?

It spent $678.90 million in the same year, $6,890 per resident, the 52nd highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were elementary and secondary schools (36.8%), roads and highways (15.7%) and fire protection (8.0%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Suffolk collect per resident?

Taxes raised $274.81 million ($2,789 per resident, the 29th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 48.2% 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 Suffolk rely on?

Of Suffolk's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 75.2%, general sales tax 7.5%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 9.4%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Suffolk's property tax share is the 143rd 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 Suffolk get?

Payments from other governments made up 31.3% of Suffolk's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 3.6% from the federal government ($206 per resident), 27.2% from the state and 0.6% 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 Suffolk raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $61.92 million, 10.9% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $32.25 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Suffolk spend on police?

Suffolk's city government spent $39.70 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $403 per resident (the 216th highest of 582) and 5.8% 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 Suffolk spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $54.54 million, $553 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Does Suffolk city government run the schools?

Suffolk's city government also pays for public schools: elementary and secondary education took $250.08 million, 36.8% of its spending in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, which in most US cities is spent by a separate school district instead.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Suffolk have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Suffolk's city government owed $676.45 million in long-term debt, $6,865 per resident (the 42nd highest of 582). During the year it issued $6.80 million of new long-term debt and repaid $15.43 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Suffolk pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $20.52 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 3.0% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Suffolk city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 18.5% from $5,161 to $6,117, spending per resident rose 11.4% to $6,890, taxes per resident rose 15.4% to $2,789.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Suffolk 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))

Suffolk ranks 77 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
74Bridgeport$5,315
75Norwalk$5,298
76Lowell$5,191
77Suffolk$5,161
78Quincy$5,159
79Kansas City$5,104
80Los Angeles$5,088
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))

Suffolk ranks 47 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
44Harrisonburg$6,246
45Norwalk$6,244
46Lakeland$6,197
47Suffolk$6,185
48Mountain View$6,167
49Stamford$6,149
50New Britain$6,096
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Suffolk ranks 43 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
40White Plains$2,427
41Celina$2,425
42Birmingham$2,422
43Suffolk$2,416
44Bridgeport$2,409
45New Haven$2,408
46St. Louis$2,403
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))

Suffolk ranks 313 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
310Bakersfield$337
311Troy$336
312Largo$336
313Suffolk$336
314Prescott Valley$336
315Everett$336
316El Monte$335
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))

Suffolk ranks 39 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
36Kansas City$7,490
37Long Beach$7,439
38Baltimore$7,428
39Suffolk$7,331
40Seattle$7,295
41Alexandria$7,262
42Fargo$7,213
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))

Suffolk ranks 158 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
155Durham73.3%
156Miami72.9%
157Gulfport72.9%
158Suffolk72.8%
159Palm Coast72.7%
160Eugene72.5%
161Kingsport72.0%
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))

Suffolk ranks 115 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
112Terre Haute33.7%
113Framingham33.6%
114Phoenix33.6%
115Suffolk33.5%
116Gilbert33.4%
117Reno33.4%
118Gresham33.4%
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))

Suffolk ranks 58 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
55Peabody$6,214
56Galveston$6,183
57Santa Barbara$6,155
58Suffolk$6,117
59Roseville$6,082
60Union City$6,068
61Roanoke$6,066
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))

Suffolk ranks 52 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
49Syracuse$6,966
50East Orange$6,958
51Somerville$6,951
52Suffolk$6,890
53Norwalk$6,854
54Lawrence$6,780
55Ocala$6,701
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Suffolk ranks 29 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
26Newport Beach$2,882
27Virginia Beach$2,822
28Birmingham$2,814
29Suffolk$2,789
30Nashua$2,777
31Palo Alto$2,716
32Chesapeake$2,694
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))

Suffolk ranks 216 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
213Cedar Rapids$405
214Largo$405
215Wilmington$403
216Suffolk$403
217Dothan$402
218Mount Prospect$401
219Arlington Heights$399
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))

Suffolk ranks 42 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
39Urban Honolulu$7,075
40Schaumburg$7,023
41Long Beach$6,930
42Suffolk$6,865
43Lancaster$6,835
44Columbia$6,809
45Portland$6,732
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))

Suffolk ranks 143 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
140Palm Beach Gardens76.2%
141West Des Moines75.4%
142Jeffersonville75.3%
143Suffolk75.2%
144Portsmouth75.0%
145Mount Prospect74.9%
146St. Paul74.8%
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))

Suffolk ranks 132 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
129Phoenix31.5%
130Arlington Heights31.4%
131Peoria31.4%
132Suffolk31.3%
133Taylor31.3%
134Perth Amboy31.3%
135Madison31.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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