Government budget and revenue in Waterbury, Connecticut: official figures
Waterbury's city government took in $616.52 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $5,360 for each of its 115,016 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 86th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.
How much does Waterbury spend and on what?
It spent $834.12 million in the same year, $7,252 per resident, the 42nd 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 (54.6%), police (5.4%) and financial administration (3.3%) of the total.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does Waterbury collect per resident?
Taxes raised $254.89 million ($2,216 per resident, the 63rd highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 42.4% of general revenue, compared with 49.3% for all US city governments combined in 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat taxes does Waterbury rely on?
Of Waterbury's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 98.6%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Waterbury's property tax share is the 13th highest of 580 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much federal and state money does Waterbury get?
Payments from other governments made up 52.1% of Waterbury's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 0.6% from the federal government ($32 per resident), 51.4% from the state. For all US city governments in 2022 the aid share was 24.3%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Waterbury raise from fees and utilities?
Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $24.95 million, 4.2% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $15.38 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Waterbury spend on police?
Waterbury's city government spent $44.73 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $389 per resident (the 235th highest of 582) and 5.4% of its total spending; police took 10.3% of spending across all US city governments in 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Waterbury spend on fire protection?
Fire protection cost $24.34 million, $212 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyDoes Waterbury city government run the schools?
Waterbury's city government also pays for public schools: elementary and secondary education took $455.45 million, 54.6% 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 copyHow much debt does Waterbury have?
At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Waterbury's city government owed $424.41 million in long-term debt, $3,690 per resident (the 149th highest of 582). During the year it issued no new long-term debt and repaid $31.44 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Waterbury pay in interest on its debt?
Interest on debt cost $21.26 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 2.5% of total spending.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow has the Waterbury city budget changed?
Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident fell 0.9% from $5,407 to $5,360, spending per resident rose 9.6% to $7,252, taxes per resident fell 10.9% to $2,216.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Waterbury 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))
Waterbury ranks 68 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.
| Rank | City | City government total revenue per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 65 | Peabody | $5,605 |
| 66 | Framingham | $5,580 |
| 67 | Fall River | $5,538 |
| 68 | Waterbury | $5,407 |
| 69 | Somerville | $5,407 |
| 70 | Barnstable Town | $5,397 |
| 71 | Pasadena | $5,394 |
City government total spending per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Waterbury ranks 31 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.
| Rank | City | City government total spending per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 28 | Trenton | $6,762 |
| 29 | Philadelphia | $6,714 |
| 30 | Anchorage | $6,665 |
| 31 | Waterbury | $6,620 |
| 32 | Watsonville | $6,617 |
| 33 | Lansing | $6,600 |
| 34 | Buffalo | $6,591 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Waterbury ranks 37 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.
| Rank | City | City taxes collected per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | Anchorage | $2,542 |
| 35 | Virginia Beach | $2,531 |
| 36 | Hartford | $2,501 |
| 37 | Waterbury | $2,486 |
| 38 | Oakland | $2,431 |
| 39 | Peabody | $2,429 |
| 40 | White Plains | $2,427 |
City spending on police per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Waterbury ranks 239 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.
| Rank | City | City spending on police per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 236 | Palm Desert | $372 |
| 237 | North Little Rock | $372 |
| 238 | Roseville | $372 |
| 239 | Waterbury | $372 |
| 240 | Westminster | $372 |
| 241 | Arcadia | $372 |
| 242 | Buffalo | $371 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Waterbury ranks 35 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.
| Rank | City | City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | Birmingham | $7,692 |
| 33 | Norfolk | $7,596 |
| 34 | Urban Honolulu | $7,572 |
| 35 | Waterbury | $7,529 |
| 36 | Kansas City | $7,490 |
| 37 | Long Beach | $7,439 |
| 38 | Baltimore | $7,428 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Waterbury ranks 18 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.
| Rank | City | Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Nashua | 98.3% |
| 16 | South Bend | 98.2% |
| 17 | Hartford | 98.0% |
| 18 | Waterbury | 97.9% |
| 19 | East Orange | 97.8% |
| 20 | Terre Haute | 97.8% |
| 21 | Idaho Falls | 97.8% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Waterbury ranks 42 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.
| Rank | City | Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 39 | Haverhill | 46.0% |
| 40 | Everett | 45.9% |
| 41 | Franklin | 45.6% |
| 42 | Waterbury | 45.4% |
| 43 | Macon-Bibb County | 45.4% |
| 44 | Bridgeport | 45.3% |
| 45 | Racine | 45.0% |
City government total revenue per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Waterbury ranks 86 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.
| Rank | City | City government total revenue per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 83 | Kansas City | $5,437 |
| 84 | Chicago | $5,400 |
| 85 | Bridgeport | $5,367 |
| 86 | Waterbury | $5,360 |
| 87 | Worcester | $5,339 |
| 88 | Bryan | $5,326 |
| 89 | Jacksonville | $5,318 |
City government total spending per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Waterbury ranks 42 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.
| Rank | City | City government total spending per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 39 | Lynn | $7,427 |
| 40 | Buffalo | $7,406 |
| 41 | Yonkers | $7,355 |
| 42 | Waterbury | $7,252 |
| 43 | Harrisonburg | $7,247 |
| 44 | Chicopee | $7,180 |
| 45 | Portland | $7,179 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Waterbury 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.
| Rank | City | City taxes collected per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | Revere | $2,241 |
| 61 | San Luis Obispo | $2,240 |
| 62 | Pasadena | $2,235 |
| 63 | Waterbury | $2,216 |
| 64 | Atlanta | $2,198 |
| 65 | Portsmouth | $2,163 |
| 66 | Mobile | $2,146 |
City spending on police per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Waterbury ranks 235 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.
| Rank | City | City spending on police per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 232 | Greenville | $391 |
| 233 | Kent | $391 |
| 234 | Lake Havasu City | $390 |
| 235 | Waterbury | $389 |
| 236 | Gary | $389 |
| 237 | Bayonne | $387 |
| 238 | Fontana | $387 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Waterbury ranks 149 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.
| Rank | City | City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 146 | Des Plaines | $3,731 |
| 147 | Broken Arrow | $3,711 |
| 148 | Taunton | $3,701 |
| 149 | Waterbury | $3,690 |
| 150 | Normal | $3,690 |
| 151 | Dubuque | $3,676 |
| 152 | Mesa | $3,641 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Waterbury ranks 13 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.
| Rank | City | Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Elkhart | 98.8% |
| 11 | Bayonne | 98.7% |
| 12 | Norwalk | 98.7% |
| 13 | Waterbury | 98.6% |
| 14 | Nashua | 98.4% |
| 15 | Terre Haute | 97.9% |
| 16 | Cranston | 97.8% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Waterbury ranks 26 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.
| Rank | City | Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | Cheyenne | 52.8% |
| 24 | Kingsport | 52.7% |
| 25 | Everett | 52.1% |
| 26 | Waterbury | 52.1% |
| 27 | Providence | 52.0% |
| 28 | Albany | 51.9% |
| 29 | Collierville | 51.9% |
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Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit files (item amounts for every sampled government, directory with population and fiscal year end, state estimates by type of government), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0967c4d30466…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: 2022 Census of Governments: State and Local Government Finances, individual unit files (item amounts for every government, directory with population and fiscal year end, state estimates by type of government), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c8de889f6b33…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.