Government budget and revenue in Tuscaloosa, Alabama: official figures
Tuscaloosa's city government took in $300.96 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, or $2,721 for each of its 110,602 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 265th lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.
How much does Tuscaloosa spend and on what?
It spent $283.24 million in the same year, $2,561 per resident, the 268th lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were police (14.4%), roads and highways (11.9%) and fire protection (11.4%) of the total.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does Tuscaloosa collect per resident?
Taxes raised $159.59 million ($1,443 per resident, the 150th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, 59.0% of general revenue, compared with 49.3% for all US city governments combined in 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat taxes does Tuscaloosa rely on?
Of Tuscaloosa's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, property tax made up 13.9%, general sales tax 54.5%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 14.4%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Tuscaloosa's property tax share is the 34th 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 Tuscaloosa get?
Payments from other governments made up 19.5% of Tuscaloosa's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023: 6.2% from the federal government ($151 per resident), 4.0% from the state and 9.3% 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 Tuscaloosa raise from fees and utilities?
Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $32.93 million, 12.2% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $30.61 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Tuscaloosa spend on police?
Tuscaloosa's city government spent $40.80 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, $369 per resident (the 272nd highest of 582) and 14.4% 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 Tuscaloosa spend on fire protection?
Fire protection cost $32.15 million, $291 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much debt does Tuscaloosa have?
At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, Tuscaloosa's city government owed $305.71 million in long-term debt, $2,764 per resident (the 224th highest of 582). During the year it issued $62.88 million of new long-term debt and repaid $20.29 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Tuscaloosa pay in interest on its debt?
Interest on debt cost $13.29 million in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, 4.7% of total spending.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow has the Tuscaloosa city budget changed?
Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 7.2% from $2,539 to $2,721, spending per resident rose 6.8% to $2,561, taxes per resident rose 15.8% to $1,443.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Tuscaloosa 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))
Tuscaloosa ranks 324 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 321 | La Crosse | $2,554 |
| 322 | Cheyenne | $2,548 |
| 323 | Madison | $2,543 |
| 324 | Tuscaloosa | $2,539 |
| 325 | Bossier City | $2,538 |
| 326 | Watsonville | $2,526 |
| 327 | Beaumont | $2,521 |
City government total spending per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Tuscaloosa ranks 323 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 320 | Westminster | $2,404 |
| 321 | Oak Lawn | $2,402 |
| 322 | Novi | $2,401 |
| 323 | Tuscaloosa | $2,398 |
| 324 | Royal Oak | $2,391 |
| 325 | Phoenix | $2,390 |
| 326 | Las Cruces | $2,386 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Tuscaloosa ranks 212 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 209 | Glendale | $1,256 |
| 210 | Sacramento | $1,252 |
| 211 | Greeley | $1,247 |
| 212 | Tuscaloosa | $1,246 |
| 213 | Sunnyvale | $1,245 |
| 214 | Jeffersonville | $1,244 |
| 215 | Thornton | $1,244 |
City spending on police per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Tuscaloosa ranks 257 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 254 | Bloomington | $366 |
| 255 | Pasadena | $365 |
| 256 | Miramar | $365 |
| 257 | Tuscaloosa | $365 |
| 258 | San Clemente | $364 |
| 259 | El Cajon | $364 |
| 260 | Bismarck | $364 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Tuscaloosa ranks 319 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 316 | Greensboro | $2,269 |
| 317 | Bloomington | $2,266 |
| 318 | Huntington Beach | $2,265 |
| 319 | Tuscaloosa | $2,264 |
| 320 | Inglewood | $2,250 |
| 321 | Columbus | $2,250 |
| 322 | Frederick | $2,242 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Tuscaloosa ranks 686 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 683 | Thornton | 16.1% |
| 684 | Lakewood | 16.0% |
| 685 | Philadelphia | 15.9% |
| 686 | Tuscaloosa | 15.5% |
| 687 | Tracy | 15.4% |
| 688 | Montgomery | 15.4% |
| 689 | Birmingham | 15.3% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Tuscaloosa ranks 175 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 172 | Evansville | 28.4% |
| 173 | Caldwell | 28.3% |
| 174 | Hoboken | 28.3% |
| 175 | Tuscaloosa | 28.2% |
| 176 | Duluth | 28.1% |
| 177 | Quincy | 28.1% |
| 178 | Ann Arbor | 28.1% |
City government total revenue per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Tuscaloosa ranks 318 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 315 | Pittsburgh | $2,729 |
| 316 | Auburn | $2,726 |
| 317 | Lenexa | $2,721 |
| 318 | Tuscaloosa | $2,721 |
| 319 | Columbus | $2,717 |
| 320 | Brownsville | $2,717 |
| 321 | Buckeye | $2,709 |
City government total spending per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Tuscaloosa ranks 315 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 312 | Avondale | $2,574 |
| 313 | Oak Lawn | $2,564 |
| 314 | Oceanside | $2,564 |
| 315 | Tuscaloosa | $2,561 |
| 316 | Murfreesboro | $2,561 |
| 317 | Rogers | $2,556 |
| 318 | Novi | $2,553 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Tuscaloosa ranks 150 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 147 | Tacoma | $1,450 |
| 148 | Kirkland | $1,449 |
| 149 | Sioux Falls | $1,445 |
| 150 | Tuscaloosa | $1,443 |
| 151 | Vancouver | $1,441 |
| 152 | Redlands | $1,440 |
| 153 | Sunnyvale | $1,433 |
City spending on police per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Tuscaloosa ranks 272 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 269 | Corona | $371 |
| 270 | Roswell | $370 |
| 271 | Temecula | $369 |
| 272 | Tuscaloosa | $369 |
| 273 | Royal Oak | $369 |
| 274 | Chesapeake | $368 |
| 275 | Irvine | $367 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Tuscaloosa ranks 224 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 221 | Torrance | $2,772 |
| 222 | Irvine | $2,766 |
| 223 | Bloomington | $2,766 |
| 224 | Tuscaloosa | $2,764 |
| 225 | Grand Rapids | $2,764 |
| 226 | Lawrence | $2,763 |
| 227 | Leander | $2,755 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Tuscaloosa ranks 547 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 544 | Montgomery | 15.4% |
| 545 | Flagstaff | 15.3% |
| 546 | Cincinnati | 15.0% |
| 547 | Tuscaloosa | 13.9% |
| 548 | Tulsa | 13.8% |
| 549 | Surprise | 12.7% |
| 550 | Grand Junction | 12.5% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Tuscaloosa ranks 270 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 267 | Waterloo | 19.8% |
| 268 | Lynwood | 19.8% |
| 269 | Louisville/Jefferson County metro government | 19.6% |
| 270 | Tuscaloosa | 19.5% |
| 271 | Billings | 19.5% |
| 272 | Somerville | 19.5% |
| 273 | Fayetteville | 19.4% |
More on Tuscaloosa: 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…)
- 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.