Government budget and revenue in Thornton, Colorado: official figures
Thornton's city government took in $395.11 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, or $2,758 for each of its 143,282 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 275th lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.
How much does Thornton spend and on what?
It spent $355.10 million in the same year, $2,478 per resident, the 243rd lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were the water utility (19.7%), police (16.7%) and parks and recreation (15.2%) of the total.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does Thornton collect per resident?
Taxes raised $208.96 million ($1,458 per resident, the 145th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 61.2% of general revenue, compared with 49.3% for all US city governments combined in 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat taxes does Thornton rely on?
Of Thornton's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, property tax made up 15.4%, general sales tax 71.8%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 5.2%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Thornton's property tax share is the 39th 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 Thornton get?
Payments from other governments made up 9.9% of Thornton's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023: 2.5% from the federal government ($60 per resident), 2.8% from the state and 4.5% from other local governments. For all US city governments in 2022 the aid share was 24.3%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Thornton raise from fees and utilities?
Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $39.00 million, 11.4% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $53.86 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Thornton spend on police?
Thornton's city government spent $59.41 million on police in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, $415 per resident (the 206th highest of 582) and 16.7% 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 Thornton spend on fire protection?
Fire protection cost $37.67 million, $263 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much debt does Thornton have?
At the end of the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, Thornton's city government owed $228.13 million in long-term debt, $1,592 per resident (the 205th lowest of 582). During the year it issued no new long-term debt and repaid $9.73 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Thornton pay in interest on its debt?
Interest on debt cost $7.74 million in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 2.2% of total spending.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow has the Thornton city budget changed?
Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 13.4% from $2,432 to $2,758, spending per resident rose 13.3% to $2,478, taxes per resident rose 17.3% to $1,458.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Thornton 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))
Thornton ranks 347 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 344 | Passaic | $2,437 |
| 345 | Lincoln | $2,435 |
| 346 | Aurora | $2,435 |
| 347 | Thornton | $2,432 |
| 348 | Fort Smith | $2,432 |
| 349 | St. Petersburg | $2,429 |
| 350 | Lake Havasu City | $2,428 |
City government total spending per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Thornton ranks 369 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 366 | Murfreesboro | $2,199 |
| 367 | Fort Worth | $2,195 |
| 368 | Corpus Christi | $2,194 |
| 369 | Thornton | $2,187 |
| 370 | Lauderhill | $2,183 |
| 371 | Casper | $2,182 |
| 372 | Chino Hills | $2,175 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Thornton ranks 215 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 212 | Tuscaloosa | $1,246 |
| 213 | Sunnyvale | $1,245 |
| 214 | Jeffersonville | $1,244 |
| 215 | Thornton | $1,244 |
| 216 | Houston | $1,239 |
| 217 | Hempstead | $1,233 |
| 218 | Fremont | $1,232 |
City spending on police per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Thornton ranks 305 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 302 | Compton | $341 |
| 303 | Barnstable Town | $339 |
| 304 | Medford | $339 |
| 305 | Thornton | $339 |
| 306 | Olympia | $338 |
| 307 | Chesapeake | $338 |
| 308 | Shreveport | $338 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Thornton ranks 412 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 409 | Lauderhill | $1,701 |
| 410 | Modesto | $1,693 |
| 411 | Hawthorne | $1,691 |
| 412 | Thornton | $1,691 |
| 413 | Bozeman | $1,690 |
| 414 | Anderson | $1,681 |
| 415 | Syracuse | $1,677 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Thornton ranks 683 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 680 | Jonesboro | 16.3% |
| 681 | Tulsa | 16.2% |
| 682 | St. Louis | 16.1% |
| 683 | Thornton | 16.1% |
| 684 | Lakewood | 16.0% |
| 685 | Philadelphia | 15.9% |
| 686 | Tuscaloosa | 15.5% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Thornton ranks 634 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 631 | St. Peters | 8.4% |
| 632 | Provo | 8.2% |
| 633 | Springfield | 8.2% |
| 634 | Thornton | 8.2% |
| 635 | League City | 8.2% |
| 636 | San Jacinto | 8.1% |
| 637 | Brooklyn Park | 8.1% |
City government total revenue per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Thornton ranks 308 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 305 | Raleigh | $2,767 |
| 306 | Waterloo | $2,762 |
| 307 | Council Bluffs | $2,759 |
| 308 | Thornton | $2,758 |
| 309 | Bloomington | $2,758 |
| 310 | Parker | $2,756 |
| 311 | McKinney | $2,748 |
City government total spending per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Thornton ranks 340 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 337 | Tigard | $2,489 |
| 338 | Casper | $2,483 |
| 339 | Peoria | $2,482 |
| 340 | Thornton | $2,478 |
| 341 | Troy | $2,476 |
| 342 | Brownsville | $2,476 |
| 343 | Roswell | $2,463 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Thornton ranks 145 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 142 | Bowling Green | $1,487 |
| 143 | Bellingham | $1,473 |
| 144 | Bothell | $1,459 |
| 145 | Thornton | $1,458 |
| 146 | Columbus | $1,455 |
| 147 | Tacoma | $1,450 |
| 148 | Kirkland | $1,449 |
City spending on police per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Thornton ranks 206 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 203 | Murrieta | $417 |
| 204 | Chandler | $416 |
| 205 | Buffalo | $416 |
| 206 | Thornton | $415 |
| 207 | Skokie | $413 |
| 208 | Chico | $413 |
| 209 | Fort Pierce | $413 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Thornton ranks 378 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 375 | Council Bluffs | $1,630 |
| 376 | Sterling Heights | $1,621 |
| 377 | Davie | $1,618 |
| 378 | Thornton | $1,592 |
| 379 | St. Charles | $1,585 |
| 380 | Peoria | $1,579 |
| 381 | West Allis | $1,572 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Thornton ranks 542 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 539 | Fayetteville | 16.0% |
| 540 | Philadelphia | 15.5% |
| 541 | Las Cruces | 15.4% |
| 542 | Thornton | 15.4% |
| 543 | Oklahoma City | 15.4% |
| 544 | Montgomery | 15.4% |
| 545 | Flagstaff | 15.3% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Thornton ranks 468 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 465 | Lacey | 10.0% |
| 466 | Orange | 10.0% |
| 467 | Colton | 9.9% |
| 468 | Thornton | 9.9% |
| 469 | Port St. Lucie | 9.9% |
| 470 | Alameda | 9.9% |
| 471 | Colorado Springs | 9.8% |
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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…)
- 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.