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Government budget and revenue in Wake Forest, North Carolina: official figures

Wake Forest's city government took in $112.06 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $2,192 for each of its 51,113 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 144th lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$2,192
2024
City government spending per resident
$2,182
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$664
2024

How much does Wake Forest spend and on what?

It spent $111.53 million in the same year, $2,182 per resident, the 174th lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were the electric utility (22.5%), police (15.0%) and fire protection (12.6%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Wake Forest collect per resident?

Taxes raised $61.54 million ($1,204 per resident, the 231st highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 70.1% 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 Wake Forest rely on?

Of Wake Forest's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 65.3%, general sales tax 28.8%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Wake Forest's property tax share is the 207th 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 Wake Forest get?

Payments from other governments made up 13.0% of Wake Forest's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 0.0% from the federal government ($0 per resident), 13.0% 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 Wake Forest raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $5.74 million, 6.5% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $24.22 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Wake Forest spend on police?

Wake Forest's city government spent $16.74 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $328 per resident (the 235th lowest of 582) and 15.0% 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 Wake Forest spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $14.07 million, $275 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Wake Forest have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Wake Forest's city government owed $33.94 million in long-term debt, $664 per resident (the 88th lowest of 582). During the year it issued $5.50 million of new long-term debt and repaid $5.22 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Wake Forest pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $1.22 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 1.1% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Wake Forest city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 7.7% from $2,036 to $2,192, spending per resident rose 27.5% to $2,182, taxes per resident rose 4.0% to $1,204.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Wake Forest 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))

Wake Forest ranks 461 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
458Parker$2,040
459Rockville$2,039
460Winston-Salem$2,037
461Wake Forest$2,036
462Kannapolis$2,036
463Enid$2,033
464Burleson$2,033
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))

Wake Forest ranks 520 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
517Kenner$1,722
518South Gate$1,717
519Vancouver$1,713
520Wake Forest$1,712
521Rockville$1,708
522Springdale$1,706
523Compton$1,696
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Wake Forest ranks 250 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
247San Buenaventura (Ventura)$1,160
248Compton$1,158
249Paterson$1,158
250Wake Forest$1,157
251Montgomery$1,157
252Chapel Hill$1,153
253Woodland$1,152
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))

Wake Forest ranks 394 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
391Plainfield$306
392Kenosha$306
393Peoria$306
394Wake Forest$305
395Naperville$305
396Plainfield$305
397Marietta$305
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))

Wake Forest ranks 580 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
577Baldwin Park$837
578Allentown$835
579East Orange$824
580Wake Forest$822
581Las Vegas$803
582Kirkland$802
583Simi Valley$800
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))

Wake Forest ranks 220 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
217Columbus65.4%
218Oak Park65.0%
219Davie65.0%
220Wake Forest64.9%
221Holly Springs64.7%
222Cary64.5%
223Miramar64.4%
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))

Wake Forest ranks 518 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
515St. Cloud12.3%
516Bend12.2%
517Fort Worth12.2%
518Wake Forest12.1%
519Gaithersburg12.1%
520Lakewood12.1%
521Ocala12.1%
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))

Wake Forest ranks 439 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
436Mesa$2,207
437Troy$2,202
438Camarillo$2,201
439Wake Forest$2,192
440North Miami$2,192
441Irvine$2,175
442Coeur d'Alene$2,169
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))

Wake Forest 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.

RankCityCity government total spending per resident, 2024
406Modesto$2,195
407Erie$2,189
408Lauderhill$2,189
409Wake Forest$2,182
410Henderson$2,178
411Little Elm$2,177
412Alpharetta$2,173
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Wake Forest ranks 231 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
228Tinley Park$1,209
229Mount Pleasant$1,208
230Cary$1,204
231Wake Forest$1,204
232Skokie$1,199
233Frederick$1,198
234Watsonville$1,195
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))

Wake Forest ranks 348 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
345Arlington$328
346Salem$328
347Anderson$328
348Wake Forest$328
349Waukesha$327
350Harrisonburg$327
351Fort Wayne$325
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))

Wake Forest ranks 495 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
492Jonesboro$687
493Boise City$674
494Dearborn Heights$665
495Wake Forest$664
496Visalia$662
497Pleasanton$662
498Trenton$661
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))

Wake Forest ranks 207 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
204Lansing66.0%
205Coconut Creek65.9%
206Columbus65.5%
207Wake Forest65.3%
208Bellevue65.3%
209Pleasanton65.1%
210Deerfield Beach65.1%
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))

Wake Forest ranks 393 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
390El Paso13.0%
391Topeka13.0%
392Kent13.0%
393Wake Forest13.0%
394Miramar13.0%
395Meridian12.9%
396Bloomington12.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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