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Government budget and revenue in Valdosta, Georgia: official figures

Valdosta's city government took in $118.58 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $2,153 for each of its 55,074 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 139th lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$2,153
2024
City government spending per resident
$1,805
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$847
2024

How much does Valdosta spend and on what?

It spent $99.39 million in the same year, $1,805 per resident, the 98th lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were sewerage (19.3%), police (15.8%) and solid waste (13.9%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Valdosta collect per resident?

Taxes raised $34.09 million ($619 per resident, the 46th lowest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 31.0% 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 Valdosta rely on?

Of Valdosta's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 52.2%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 39.0%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Valdosta's property tax share is the 267th 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 Valdosta get?

Payments from other governments made up 39.4% of Valdosta's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 11.8% from the federal government ($236 per resident), 0.3% from the state and 27.3% 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 Valdosta raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $27.19 million, 24.7% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $8.66 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Valdosta spend on police?

Valdosta's city government spent $15.75 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $286 per resident (the 157th lowest of 582) and 15.8% 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 Valdosta spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $9.73 million, $177 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Valdosta have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Valdosta's city government owed $46.65 million in long-term debt, $847 per resident (the 112th lowest of 582). During the year it issued no new long-term debt and repaid $5.91 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Valdosta pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $2.03 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 2.0% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Valdosta city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 23.1% from $1,748 to $2,153, spending per resident rose 11.2% to $1,805, taxes per resident rose 18.9% to $619.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Valdosta 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))

Valdosta ranks 565 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
562Bakersfield$1,754
563Plainfield$1,751
564Lancaster$1,748
565Valdosta$1,748
566Novi$1,745
567Daly City$1,742
568Missoula$1,730
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))

Valdosta ranks 553 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
550Reno$1,632
551Modesto$1,630
552Rapid City$1,628
553Valdosta$1,623
554Burlington$1,622
555Fulshear$1,620
556Prescott Valley$1,618
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Valdosta ranks 688 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
685Brownsville$531
686Diamond Bar$526
687Westland$523
688Valdosta$521
689Gulfport$519
690Port Orange$517
691Delano$517
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))

Valdosta ranks 485 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
482Arlington$269
483Lowell$269
484Kenner$269
485Valdosta$268
486Cupertino$268
487Carson$268
488Broken Arrow$268
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))

Valdosta ranks 538 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
535Victoria$1,038
536Parker$1,038
537Palmdale$1,034
538Valdosta$1,034
539Columbia$1,030
540Deerfield Beach$1,028
541Hanford$1,022
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))

Valdosta ranks 386 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
383Dublin48.0%
384Miami Beach47.9%
385Provo47.9%
386Valdosta47.4%
387Huntington Beach47.3%
388White Plains47.1%
389Marietta47.1%
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))

Valdosta ranks 89 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
86Sparks37.7%
87Augusta37.5%
88Jonesboro37.5%
89Valdosta37.3%
90Lansing37.2%
91Washington36.8%
92Southaven36.2%
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))

Valdosta ranks 444 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
441Irvine$2,175
442Coeur d'Alene$2,169
443Arlington$2,157
444Valdosta$2,153
445St. Cloud$2,143
446St. Cloud$2,143
447Midwest City$2,143
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))

Valdosta ranks 485 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
482North Charleston$1,823
483Fremont$1,821
484Palm Coast$1,813
485Valdosta$1,805
486Broken Arrow$1,800
487Hempstead$1,790
488Smyrna$1,790
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Valdosta ranks 537 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
534Jackson$631
535Dearborn Heights$628
536Eagle Mountain$624
537Valdosta$619
538Troy$616
539Pittsburg$616
540Plainfield$614
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))

Valdosta ranks 426 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
423Vineland$288
424Hanford$288
425Minnetonka$288
426Valdosta$286
427Kentwood$285
428Mishawaka$284
429Manchester$284
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))

Valdosta ranks 471 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
468Las Vegas$860
469Springfield$855
470Farmington Hills$854
471Valdosta$847
472Mission Viejo$847
473Summerville$846
474Cheyenne$846
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))

Valdosta ranks 314 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
311Brookhaven52.5%
312North Charleston52.4%
313Albany52.3%
314Valdosta52.2%
315Burleson52.1%
316Laredo52.1%
317Lafayette52.1%
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))

Valdosta ranks 73 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
70Homestead39.6%
71Hampton39.6%
72Detroit39.4%
73Valdosta39.4%
74Maricopa39.3%
75Westland39.3%
76Santa Ana39.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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