Government budget and revenue in Surprise, Arizona: official figures
Surprise's city government took in $405.93 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $2,633 for each of its 154,198 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 248th lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.
How much does Surprise spend and on what?
It spent $311.49 million in the same year, $2,020 per resident, the 137th lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were police (14.8%), fire protection (14.6%) and parks and recreation (11.7%) of the total.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does Surprise collect per resident?
Taxes raised $173.84 million ($1,127 per resident, the 262nd highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 45.6% of general revenue, compared with 49.3% for all US city governments combined in 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat taxes does Surprise rely on?
Of Surprise's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 12.7%, general sales tax 74.3%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 5.5%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Surprise's property tax share is the 32nd lowest 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 Surprise get?
Payments from other governments made up 24.2% of Surprise's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 0.0% from the federal government ($0 per resident), 24.2% 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 Surprise raise from fees and utilities?
Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $83.71 million, 22.0% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $24.82 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Surprise spend on police?
Surprise's city government spent $46.00 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $298 per resident (the 182nd lowest of 582) and 14.8% 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 Surprise spend on fire protection?
Fire protection cost $45.33 million, $294 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much debt does Surprise have?
At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Surprise's city government owed $115.58 million in long-term debt, $750 per resident (the 99th lowest of 582). During the year it issued $6.39 million of new long-term debt and repaid $12.14 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Surprise pay in interest on its debt?
Interest on debt cost $4.76 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 1.5% of total spending.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Surprise compares with other cities in the United States
City government total revenue per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Surprise ranks 335 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 332 | Irving | $2,658 |
| 333 | Commerce City | $2,652 |
| 334 | Rapid City | $2,636 |
| 335 | Surprise | $2,633 |
| 336 | Mount Prospect | $2,618 |
| 337 | Sioux Falls | $2,612 |
| 338 | Newark | $2,610 |
City government total spending per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Surprise ranks 446 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 443 | Lebanon | $2,034 |
| 444 | St. Clair Shores | $2,033 |
| 445 | Plantation | $2,022 |
| 446 | Surprise | $2,020 |
| 447 | Ankeny | $2,009 |
| 448 | Passaic | $1,996 |
| 449 | Frederick | $1,989 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Surprise ranks 262 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 259 | Raleigh | $1,135 |
| 260 | Louisville/Jefferson County metro government | $1,129 |
| 261 | Norman | $1,129 |
| 262 | Surprise | $1,127 |
| 263 | Bend | $1,126 |
| 264 | Overland Park | $1,124 |
| 265 | High Point | $1,120 |
City spending on police per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Surprise ranks 401 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 398 | Huntsville | $299 |
| 399 | Richardson | $299 |
| 400 | Cape Coral | $299 |
| 401 | Surprise | $298 |
| 402 | Perth Amboy | $298 |
| 403 | La Crosse | $298 |
| 404 | Bowling Green | $297 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Surprise ranks 484 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 481 | Great Falls | $806 |
| 482 | Wellington | $802 |
| 483 | Tamarac | $773 |
| 484 | Surprise | $750 |
| 485 | Taylor | $746 |
| 486 | Allentown | $732 |
| 487 | Plymouth | $724 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Surprise ranks 549 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 546 | Cincinnati | 15.0% |
| 547 | Tuscaloosa | 13.9% |
| 548 | Tulsa | 13.8% |
| 549 | Surprise | 12.7% |
| 550 | Grand Junction | 12.5% |
| 551 | Jonesboro | 12.5% |
| 552 | Lake Havasu City | 12.3% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Surprise ranks 209 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 206 | Corvallis | 24.5% |
| 207 | Vacaville | 24.3% |
| 208 | San Francisco | 24.3% |
| 209 | Surprise | 24.2% |
| 210 | Lancaster | 24.2% |
| 211 | Pembroke Pines | 24.1% |
| 212 | Lakewood | 24.0% |
More on Surprise: 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…)
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