Government budget and revenue in Tempe, Arizona: official figures
Tempe's city government took in $553.25 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, or $2,761 for each of its 200,402 residents (2022 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 269th highest of 731 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments.
How much does Tempe spend and on what?
It spent $586.32 million in the same year, $2,926 per resident, the 237th highest of 731 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments. The largest identified functions were police (19.3%), fire protection (8.9%) and sewerage (8.0%) of the total.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does Tempe collect per resident?
Taxes raised $295.56 million ($1,475 per resident, the 146th highest of 731) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, 59.4% of general revenue, compared with 49.3% for all US city governments combined in 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat taxes does Tempe rely on?
Of Tempe's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, property tax made up 20.1%, general sales tax 75.4%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 1.0%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Tempe's property tax share is the 80th lowest of 730 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much federal and state money does Tempe get?
Payments from other governments made up 19.5% of Tempe's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022: 5.9% from the federal government ($148 per resident), 13.6% 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 Tempe raise from fees and utilities?
Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $79.21 million, 15.9% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $55.63 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Tempe spend on police?
Tempe's city government spent $113.04 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, $564 per resident (the 49th highest of 731) and 19.3% 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 Tempe spend on fire protection?
Fire protection cost $51.97 million, $259 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much debt does Tempe have?
At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, Tempe's city government owed $1.0 billion in long-term debt, $5,114 per resident (the 84th highest of 731). During the year it issued $493.70 million of new long-term debt and repaid $112.12 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Tempe pay in interest on its debt?
Interest on debt cost $19.45 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, 3.3% of total spending.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the latest budget data for Tempe?
The Census Bureau imputed 100% of the revenue dollars in Tempe's 2024 record, so these facts use the 2022 Census of Governments, for which the city reported its figures.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Tempe 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))
Tempe ranks 269 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 266 | Carlsbad | $2,775 |
| 267 | West Haven | $2,770 |
| 268 | Columbus | $2,765 |
| 269 | Tempe | $2,761 |
| 270 | Racine | $2,760 |
| 271 | Augusta | $2,759 |
| 272 | St. Paul | $2,757 |
City government total spending per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Tempe ranks 237 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 234 | Dothan | $2,933 |
| 235 | Lubbock | $2,929 |
| 236 | Grand Junction | $2,927 |
| 237 | Tempe | $2,926 |
| 238 | Clarksville | $2,917 |
| 239 | Jersey City | $2,909 |
| 240 | Oxnard | $2,893 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Tempe ranks 146 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 143 | Columbus | $1,492 |
| 144 | Milpitas | $1,489 |
| 145 | Fall River | $1,476 |
| 146 | Tempe | $1,475 |
| 147 | Jacksonville | $1,469 |
| 148 | Palm Desert | $1,467 |
| 149 | Parker | $1,459 |
City spending on police per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Tempe ranks 49 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 46 | Redondo Beach | $570 |
| 47 | Berwyn | $567 |
| 48 | Newark | $567 |
| 49 | Tempe | $564 |
| 50 | Redwood City | $561 |
| 51 | Delray Beach | $561 |
| 52 | West Palm Beach | $560 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Tempe ranks 84 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 81 | Colorado Springs | $5,250 |
| 82 | Lubbock | $5,231 |
| 83 | St. Louis | $5,164 |
| 84 | Tempe | $5,114 |
| 85 | Berwyn | $5,111 |
| 86 | Pasadena | $5,110 |
| 87 | Fort Lauderdale | $5,083 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Tempe ranks 651 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 648 | Visalia | 20.4% |
| 649 | Bellevue | 20.2% |
| 650 | Redmond | 20.2% |
| 651 | Tempe | 20.1% |
| 652 | Goose Creek | 20.1% |
| 653 | Pasco | 20.0% |
| 654 | San Luis Obispo | 19.7% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Tempe ranks 320 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 317 | Asheville | 19.8% |
| 318 | Lynwood | 19.8% |
| 319 | Grand Forks | 19.6% |
| 320 | Tempe | 19.5% |
| 321 | Tallahassee | 19.5% |
| 322 | Corvallis | 19.4% |
| 323 | Pocatello | 19.3% |
More on Tempe: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · all cities in the United States
Sources
- 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…)
- 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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