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Government budget and revenue in Tacoma, Washington: official figures

Tacoma's city government took in $1.4 billion in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, or $6,442 for each of its 221,776 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 47th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$6,442
2024
City government spending per resident
$6,121
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$9,286
2024

How much does Tacoma spend and on what?

It spent $1.4 billion in the same year, $6,121 per resident, the 70th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were the electric utility (34.0%), the water utility (8.9%) and sewerage (8.6%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Tacoma collect per resident?

Taxes raised $321.47 million ($1,450 per resident, the 147th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 40.4% 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 Tacoma rely on?

Of Tacoma's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, property tax made up 26.1%, general sales tax 33.0%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 9.7%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Tacoma's property tax share is the 103rd lowest 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 Tacoma get?

Payments from other governments made up 8.2% of Tacoma's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023: 2.4% from the federal government ($85 per resident), 4.7% from the state and 1.1% 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 Tacoma raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $317.85 million, 39.9% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $632.77 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Tacoma spend on police?

Tacoma's city government spent $114.52 million on police in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, $516 per resident (the 102nd highest of 582) and 8.4% 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 Tacoma spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $114.14 million, $515 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Tacoma have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, Tacoma's city government owed $2.1 billion in long-term debt, $9,286 per resident (the 23rd highest of 582). During the year it issued $388.79 million of new long-term debt and repaid $297.52 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Tacoma pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $64.87 million in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 4.8% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Tacoma city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 8.6% from $5,929 to $6,442, spending per resident rose 8.6% to $6,121, taxes per resident rose 8.5% to $1,450.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Tacoma 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))

Tacoma ranks 48 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
45Revere$6,035
46New Bedford$6,032
47Newport News$5,965
48Tacoma$5,929
49Yonkers$5,925
50Waltham$5,902
51Long Beach$5,892
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))

Tacoma ranks 66 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
63Broomfield$5,718
64Providence$5,715
65Long Beach$5,657
66Tacoma$5,635
67Barnstable Town$5,626
68Bridgeport$5,624
69Ames$5,606
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Tacoma ranks 182 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
179Folsom$1,352
180Des Moines$1,349
181Arcadia$1,338
182Tacoma$1,337
183Collierville$1,330
184Dallas$1,328
185Flagstaff$1,322
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))

Tacoma ranks 177 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
174Kansas City$414
175Santa Rosa$414
176San Leandro$413
177Tacoma$412
178Denton$411
179Lakewood$410
180Pomona$409
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))

Tacoma ranks 22 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
19Waukesha$8,895
20Baton Rouge$8,842
21Chicago$8,649
22Tacoma$8,614
23Oshkosh$8,504
24Lansing$8,494
25Dallas$8,280
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))

Tacoma ranks 566 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
563Sioux Falls28.8%
564Rio Rancho28.6%
565Chico28.6%
566Tacoma28.4%
567Huntington Park28.4%
568Cupertino28.4%
569Lakewood28.4%
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))

Tacoma ranks 411 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
408Plymouth16.2%
409Rio Rancho16.2%
410Glendale16.1%
411Tacoma16.1%
412Lodi16.0%
413Rancho Cucamonga16.0%
414Elk Grove15.9%
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))

Tacoma ranks 47 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
44Lafayette$6,577
45Syracuse$6,509
46Norman$6,455
47Tacoma$6,442
48Ocala$6,433
49Atlanta$6,401
50Lakeland$6,319
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))

Tacoma ranks 70 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
67Gainesville$6,165
68Lynchburg$6,143
69Galveston$6,142
70Tacoma$6,121
71Denton$6,109
72Stamford$6,023
73Bridgeport$5,989
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Tacoma ranks 147 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
144Bothell$1,459
145Thornton$1,458
146Columbus$1,455
147Tacoma$1,450
148Kirkland$1,449
149Sioux Falls$1,445
150Tuscaloosa$1,443
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))

Tacoma ranks 102 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
99Carlsbad$522
100Sacramento$518
101Dallas$517
102Tacoma$516
103Commerce City$514
104Tracy$513
105Hempstead$512
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))

Tacoma ranks 23 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
20Denton$9,840
21Kansas City$9,638
22San Antonio$9,460
23Tacoma$9,286
24Anaheim$9,027
25Queen Creek$8,644
26Richmond$8,569
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))

Tacoma ranks 478 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
475Greeley26.4%
476Riverside26.3%
477Auburn26.2%
478Tacoma26.1%
479Huntsville26.1%
480Marysville25.9%
481Hamilton25.7%
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))

Tacoma ranks 510 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
507Rancho Cordova8.5%
508Bellingham8.4%
509Santa Clara8.2%
510Tacoma8.2%
511Edina8.1%
512Huntington Beach8.0%
513Aurora8.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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