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Government budget and revenue in Topeka, Kansas: official figures

Topeka's city government took in $430.12 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, or $3,429 for each of its 125,449 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 208th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$3,429
2024
City government spending per resident
$2,324
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$4,224
2024

How much does Topeka spend and on what?

It spent $291.53 million in the same year, $2,324 per resident, the 212th 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 (22.6%), sewerage (18.5%) and police (15.2%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Topeka collect per resident?

Taxes raised $159.85 million ($1,274 per resident, the 206th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 47.4% 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 Topeka rely on?

Of Topeka's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, property tax made up 36.6%, general sales tax 45.2%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 11.6%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Topeka's property tax share is the 166th 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 Topeka get?

Payments from other governments made up 13.0% of Topeka's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023: 8.9% from the federal government ($240 per resident), 3.4% from the state and 0.7% 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 Topeka raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $93.26 million, 27.7% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $93.21 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Topeka spend on police?

Topeka's city government spent $44.44 million on police in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, $354 per resident (the 277th lowest of 582) and 15.2% 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 Topeka spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $37.88 million, $302 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Topeka have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, Topeka's city government owed $529.90 million in long-term debt, $4,224 per resident (the 120th highest of 582). During the year it issued $85.00 million of new long-term debt and repaid $10.00 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Topeka pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $18.20 million in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 6.2% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Topeka city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 32.9% from $2,580 to $3,429, spending per resident rose 33.9% to $2,324, taxes per resident rose 15.7% to $1,274.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Topeka 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))

Topeka ranks 315 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
312Bothell$2,596
313Richardson$2,587
314Encinitas$2,584
315Topeka$2,580
316Plainfield$2,579
317Pleasanton$2,576
318Queen Creek$2,562
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))

Topeka ranks 513 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
510Pittsburg$1,739
511Yuba City$1,736
512San Leandro$1,735
513Topeka$1,735
514Hempstead$1,729
515Stockton$1,726
516West Allis$1,723
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Topeka ranks 282 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
279Carrollton$1,108
280Norman$1,107
281Kent$1,103
282Topeka$1,102
283Grand Prairie$1,099
284Bloomington$1,098
285Clifton$1,098
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))

Topeka ranks 379 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
376Santa Fe$312
377Caldwell$312
378North Las Vegas$311
379Topeka$311
380Collierville$310
381West Haven$310
382Chico$309
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))

Topeka ranks 165 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
162Tulare$3,636
163Chino$3,629
164Lafayette$3,628
165Topeka$3,627
166Santa Clara$3,616
167Oklahoma City$3,615
168Newport News$3,584
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))

Topeka ranks 485 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
482Olathe37.0%
483Chino37.0%
484Richmond36.6%
485Topeka36.6%
486Arcadia36.5%
487Dunwoody36.5%
488Fresno36.5%
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))

Topeka ranks 623 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
620Woodbury8.7%
621St. Louis Park8.7%
622Huntsville8.6%
623Topeka8.6%
624Aurora8.6%
625Carson City8.6%
626West Sacramento8.5%
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))

Topeka ranks 208 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
205Des Moines$3,487
206Fayetteville$3,465
207Boulder$3,447
208Topeka$3,429
209North Port$3,428
210Waco$3,420
211South Bend$3,390
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))

Topeka ranks 371 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
368Bothell$2,333
369Moreno Valley$2,331
370Jeffersonville$2,325
371Topeka$2,324
372Rapid City$2,323
373Tucson$2,316
374Greenwood$2,313
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Topeka 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.

RankCityCity taxes collected per resident, 2024
203Sherman$1,291
204Fremont$1,278
205Amarillo$1,277
206Topeka$1,274
207Buckeye$1,273
208Jeffersonville$1,273
209Carrollton$1,270
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))

Topeka ranks 306 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
303Turlock$356
304Euless$355
305Mooresville$355
306Topeka$354
307Normal$350
308Oklahoma City$349
309Waco$349
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))

Topeka ranks 120 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
117Richardson$4,266
118San Diego$4,266
119Kissimmee$4,251
120Topeka$4,224
121Somerville$4,222
122West Palm Beach$4,219
123Norman$4,170
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))

Topeka ranks 415 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
412Redding36.7%
413Vacaville36.7%
414Grand Rapids36.7%
415Topeka36.6%
416Gallatin36.5%
417Seattle36.5%
418Mount Pleasant36.3%
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))

Topeka ranks 391 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
388Los Angeles13.1%
389Davie13.0%
390El Paso13.0%
391Topeka13.0%
392Kent13.0%
393Wake Forest13.0%
394Miramar13.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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