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Government budget and revenue in Vista, California: official figures

Vista's city government took in $187.56 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, or $1,864 for each of its 100,636 residents (2022 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 202nd lowest of 731 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments.

City government revenue per resident
$1,864
2022
City government spending per resident
$3,097
2022
City long-term debt per resident
$1,160
2022

How much does Vista spend and on what?

It spent $311.64 million in the same year, $3,097 per resident, the 216th highest of 731 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments. The largest identified functions were financial administration (30.3%), sewerage (10.2%) and police (9.2%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Vista collect per resident?

Taxes raised $85.71 million ($852 per resident, the 267th lowest of 731) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, 45.7% 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 Vista rely on?

Of Vista's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, property tax made up 32.4%, general sales tax 52.7%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 6.8%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Vista's property tax share is the 204th 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 copy

How much federal and state money does Vista get?

Payments from other governments made up 21.4% of Vista's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022: 3.6% from the federal government ($67 per resident), 6.7% from the state and 11.1% 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 Vista raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $64.46 million, 34.4% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Vista spend on police?

Vista's city government spent $28.71 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, $285 per resident (the 282nd lowest of 731) and 9.2% 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 Vista spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $19.27 million, $192 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Vista have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, Vista's city government owed $116.69 million in long-term debt, $1,160 per resident (the 223rd lowest of 731). During the year it issued no new long-term debt and repaid $8.95 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Vista pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $2.68 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, 0.9% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the latest budget data for Vista?

Vista is not in the Census Bureau's 2024 sample of local governments, so its latest full figures are from the 2022 Census of Governments, which covers every government.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Vista 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))

Vista ranks 530 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
527Rancho Cucamonga$1,868
528Marysville$1,867
529Pocatello$1,864
530Vista$1,864
531Kenosha$1,859
532Rio Rancho$1,858
533Chula Vista$1,857
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))

Vista ranks 216 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
213San Luis Obispo$3,121
214Minneapolis$3,120
215Santa Ana$3,110
216Vista$3,097
217Santa Fe$3,096
218Logan$3,086
219San Mateo$3,080
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Vista ranks 465 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
462Pensacola$855
463Bismarck$854
464Redding$853
465Vista$852
466Battle Creek$849
467Fulshear$846
468Prescott Valley$846
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))

Vista ranks 450 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
447Sandy Springs$286
448Lubbock$286
449Grand Rapids$285
450Vista$285
451Las Cruces$284
452Fort Collins$284
453Tigard$283
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))

Vista ranks 509 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
506Glendale$1,180
507San Buenaventura (Ventura)$1,180
508Auburn$1,168
509Vista$1,160
510Henderson$1,158
511Medford$1,148
512Burnsville$1,135
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))

Vista ranks 527 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
524Vallejo32.8%
525Moreno Valley32.8%
526Corona32.5%
527Vista32.4%
528Elk Grove32.4%
529Chula Vista32.2%
530Pomona32.2%
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))

Vista ranks 270 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
267Fullerton21.5%
268Goodyear21.4%
269Bethlehem21.4%
270Vista21.4%
271Missoula21.3%
272Inglewood21.3%
273Murray21.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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