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Government budget and revenue in Waco, Texas: official figures

Waco's city government took in $492.43 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, or $3,420 for each of its 143,984 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 210th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$3,420
2024
City government spending per resident
$3,787
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$12,382
2024

How much does Waco spend and on what?

It spent $545.20 million in the same year, $3,787 per resident, the 167th highest 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 (9.4%), police (9.2%) and sewerage (8.2%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Waco collect per resident?

Taxes raised $187.65 million ($1,303 per resident, the 197th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, 44.2% 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 Waco rely on?

Of Waco's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, property tax made up 56.3%, general sales tax 29.7%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 12.2%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Waco's property tax share is the 281st highest 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 Waco get?

Payments from other governments made up 12.2% of Waco's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023: 10.3% from the federal government ($304 per resident), 1.9% from the state. For all US city governments in 2022 the aid share was 24.3%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Waco raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $99.90 million, 23.5% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $67.65 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Waco spend on police?

Waco's city government spent $50.29 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, $349 per resident (the 274th lowest of 582) 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 Waco spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $35.90 million, $249 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Waco have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, Waco's city government owed $1.8 billion in long-term debt, $12,382 per resident (the 11th highest of 582). During the year it issued $242.00 million of new long-term debt and repaid $190.78 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Waco pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $74.43 million in the fiscal year ended 30 September 2023, 13.7% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Waco city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 30.6% from $2,619 to $3,420, spending per resident rose 20.9% to $3,787, taxes per resident rose 8.9% to $1,303.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Waco 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))

Waco 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.

RankCityCity government total revenue per resident, 2022
302Commerce City$2,640
303Grand Forks$2,639
304Charlotte$2,625
305Waco$2,619
306Pompano Beach$2,619
307Kirkland$2,615
308Vacaville$2,613
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))

Waco 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.

RankCityCity government total spending per resident, 2022
209Olympia$3,165
210Pompano Beach$3,160
211Longmont$3,156
212Waco$3,132
213San Luis Obispo$3,121
214Minneapolis$3,120
215Santa Ana$3,110
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Waco ranks 232 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
229Rancho Cordova$1,199
230Joplin$1,198
231North Little Rock$1,197
232Waco$1,196
233Temecula$1,195
234Euless$1,194
235Redondo Beach$1,191
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))

Waco ranks 342 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
339Winston-Salem$325
340Joliet$325
341Modesto$325
342Waco$325
343North Richland Hills$324
344Davis$324
345Spokane$324
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))

Waco ranks 10 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
7San Mateo$14,778
8Nashville$13,658
9Miami Beach$13,578
10Waco$13,237
11Denton$12,388
12Denver$11,796
13Springfield$11,105
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))

Waco ranks 301 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
298Alpharetta57.5%
299Tampa57.4%
300Hillsboro57.2%
301Waco56.9%
302Flower Mound56.8%
303Franklin56.6%
304Wellington56.4%
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))

Waco ranks 612 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
609Grand Island9.3%
610Arlington9.2%
611Menifee9.0%
612Waco9.0%
613Fort Lauderdale9.0%
614Compton8.9%
615Concord8.9%
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))

Waco ranks 210 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
207Boulder$3,447
208Topeka$3,429
209North Port$3,428
210Waco$3,420
211South Bend$3,390
212Fargo$3,383
213Evansville$3,370
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))

Waco ranks 167 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
164Dothan$3,825
165Richland$3,823
166Rochester$3,795
167Waco$3,787
168Temecula$3,774
169Corona$3,773
170Scottsdale$3,768
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Waco ranks 197 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
194Canton$1,306
195Rancho Cucamonga$1,305
196Bayonne$1,304
197Waco$1,303
198Carson City$1,299
199Des Moines$1,298
200Bloomington$1,297
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))

Waco ranks 309 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
306Topeka$354
307Normal$350
308Oklahoma City$349
309Waco$349
310Las Cruces$348
311Plainfield$347
312Coeur d'Alene$347
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))

Waco ranks 11 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
8Gainesville$13,438
9Denver$12,637
10Pflugerville$12,628
11Waco$12,382
12Springfield$11,472
13Alexandria$10,616
14Quincy$10,437
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))

Waco ranks 281 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
278Sanford56.6%
279Miami Gardens56.5%
280Roswell56.3%
281Waco56.3%
282Sandy Springs56.2%
283Downers Grove55.9%
284Des Plaines55.8%
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))

Waco ranks 409 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
406Canton12.4%
407Galveston12.3%
408Bellevue12.3%
409Waco12.2%
410Killeen12.2%
411Maple Grove12.2%
412Amarillo12.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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