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Government budget and revenue in Waltham, Massachusetts: official figures

Waltham's city government took in $384.58 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $6,003 for each of its 64,065 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 63rd highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$6,003
2024
City government spending per resident
$8,294
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$5,619
2024

How much does Waltham spend and on what?

It spent $531.38 million in the same year, $8,294 per resident, the 24th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were elementary and secondary schools (51.1%), fire protection (6.3%) and police (6.1%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Waltham collect per resident?

Taxes raised $249.30 million ($3,891 per resident, the 11th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 67.9% 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 Waltham rely on?

Of Waltham's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 94.2%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 3.0%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Waltham's property tax share is the 68th 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 Waltham get?

Payments from other governments made up 18.4% of Waltham's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 2.1% from the federal government ($121 per resident), 16.3% 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 Waltham raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $37.44 million, 10.2% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $17.25 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Waltham spend on police?

Waltham's city government spent $32.35 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $505 per resident (the 113th highest of 582) and 6.1% 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 Waltham spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $33.39 million, $521 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Does Waltham city government run the schools?

Waltham's city government also pays for public schools: elementary and secondary education took $271.66 million, 51.1% of its spending in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, which in most US cities is spent by a separate school district instead.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Waltham have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Waltham's city government owed $359.97 million in long-term debt, $5,619 per resident (the 69th highest of 582). During the year it issued $117.18 million of new long-term debt and repaid $14.18 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Waltham pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $8.06 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 1.5% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Waltham city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 1.7% from $5,902 to $6,003, spending per resident rose 32.7% to $8,294, taxes per resident rose 3.1% to $3,891.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Waltham 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))

Waltham ranks 50 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
47Newport News$5,965
48Tacoma$5,929
49Yonkers$5,925
50Waltham$5,902
51Long Beach$5,892
52Lakeland$5,887
53Ames$5,846
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))

Waltham ranks 43 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
40Brockton$6,420
41Bristol$6,390
42Quincy$6,309
43Waltham$6,251
44Harrisonburg$6,246
45Norwalk$6,244
46Lakeland$6,197
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Waltham ranks 12 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
9Boston$4,508
10Santa Monica$4,116
11Norwalk$4,057
12Waltham$3,773
13Nashville$3,656
14Harrisonburg$3,425
15Barnstable Town$3,360
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))

Waltham ranks 418 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
415Santee$298
416Huntington Park$297
417Greensboro$297
418Waltham$297
419Yakima$297
420High Point$296
421North Port$296
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))

Waltham ranks 145 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
142Cedar Rapids$3,820
143Appleton$3,808
144Mount Prospect$3,802
145Waltham$3,798
146Cathedral City$3,797
147Stamford$3,794
148Perth Amboy$3,774
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))

Waltham ranks 98 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
95Iowa City91.7%
96Evansville91.7%
97Rochester Hills91.6%
98Waltham91.5%
99Kentwood91.4%
100Janesville91.3%
101Bozeman91.2%
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))

Waltham ranks 216 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
213Mesa26.3%
214Warren26.2%
215Harrisonburg26.1%
216Waltham26.0%
217Burien25.9%
218Pico Rivera25.8%
219Orlando25.6%
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))

Waltham ranks 63 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
60Union City$6,068
61Roanoke$6,066
62Lowell$6,057
63Waltham$6,003
64Burbank$5,975
65Portsmouth$5,881
66Lawrence$5,866
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))

Waltham ranks 24 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
21Taunton$8,428
22Newton$8,408
23Trenton$8,380
24Waltham$8,294
25Springfield$8,223
26Everett$8,126
27New Brunswick$8,040
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Waltham 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 taxes collected per resident, 2024
8Alexandria$5,042
9Santa Monica$4,430
10Norwalk$4,194
11Waltham$3,891
12Portland$3,630
13Mountain View$3,609
14Somerville$3,476
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))

Waltham ranks 113 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
110Rocky Mount$507
111Oceanside$506
112Sherman$505
113Waltham$505
114Nashville$504
115Pembroke Pines$503
116Grapevine$502
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))

Waltham ranks 69 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
66Louisville/Jefferson County metro government$5,708
67Bridgeport$5,658
68Oshkosh$5,621
69Waltham$5,619
70Fishers$5,617
71Colorado Springs$5,614
72Fayetteville$5,478
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))

Waltham ranks 68 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
65Jersey City94.3%
66Trenton94.3%
67Troy94.2%
68Waltham94.2%
69Royal Oak94.2%
70Racine94.2%
71Peabody93.8%
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))

Waltham ranks 295 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
292Anaheim18.6%
293Brownsville18.5%
294Chula Vista18.5%
295Waltham18.4%
296Shoreline18.3%
297Hamilton18.3%
298Terre Haute18.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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