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Government budget and revenue in Waukesha, Wisconsin: official figures

Waukesha's city government took in $205.24 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, or $2,913 for each of its 70,454 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 272nd highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$2,913
2024
City government spending per resident
$4,508
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$10,415
2024

How much does Waukesha spend and on what?

It spent $317.61 million in the same year, $4,508 per resident, the 130th 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 (43.1%), roads and highways (8.0%) and police (7.3%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Waukesha collect per resident?

Taxes raised $84.17 million ($1,195 per resident, the 235th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 47.5% 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 Waukesha rely on?

Of Waukesha's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, property tax made up 94.6%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 1.2%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Waukesha's property tax share is the 62nd 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 Waukesha get?

Payments from other governments made up 19.0% of Waukesha's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023: 3.7% from the federal government ($93 per resident), 10.6% from the state and 4.7% 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 Waukesha raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $36.20 million, 20.4% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $28.15 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Waukesha spend on police?

Waukesha's city government spent $23.05 million on police in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, $327 per resident (the 234th lowest of 582) and 7.3% 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 Waukesha spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $17.32 million, $246 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Waukesha have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, Waukesha's city government owed $733.80 million in long-term debt, $10,415 per resident (the 15th highest of 582). During the year it issued $127.02 million of new long-term debt and repaid $64.42 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Waukesha pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $17.29 million in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 5.4% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Waukesha city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 33.6% from $2,181 to $2,913, spending per resident rose 59.9% to $4,508, taxes per resident rose 12.7% to $1,195.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Waukesha 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))

Waukesha ranks 415 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
412Albuquerque$2,185
413Tamarac$2,183
414Corvallis$2,182
415Waukesha$2,181
416Sanford$2,181
417Cupertino$2,177
418Alpharetta$2,174
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))

Waukesha ranks 248 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
245Kalamazoo$2,861
246Brownsville$2,825
247Cincinnati$2,823
248Waukesha$2,819
249Evanston$2,794
250Stillwater$2,787
251Miami$2,780
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Waukesha ranks 303 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
300Oak Park$1,063
301Ocala$1,062
302Bentonville$1,061
303Waukesha$1,060
304Salinas$1,059
305Omaha$1,054
306Murfreesboro$1,053
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))

Waukesha ranks 190 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
187Schaumburg$405
188Pembroke Pines$404
189Peoria$404
190Waukesha$404
191Stamford$404
192Hammond$403
193Union City$403
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))

Waukesha ranks 19 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
16Los Angeles$9,401
17Kansas City$9,151
18Quincy$9,035
19Waukesha$8,895
20Baton Rouge$8,842
21Chicago$8,649
22Tacoma$8,614
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))

Waukesha ranks 79 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
76Warren94.0%
77Muncie94.0%
78New Haven93.9%
79Waukesha93.9%
80Peabody93.9%
81Anderson93.8%
82Jersey City93.6%
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))

Waukesha ranks 335 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
332Alexandria19.0%
333Santa Clarita19.0%
334Albany19.0%
335Waukesha18.9%
336Buena Park18.8%
337Charlotte18.8%
338Greensboro18.8%
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))

Waukesha ranks 272 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
269Vancouver$2,950
270St. Petersburg$2,948
271Augusta$2,927
272Waukesha$2,913
273Dubuque$2,911
274Oak Lawn$2,909
275Boynton Beach$2,908
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))

Waukesha ranks 130 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
127Fort Pierce$4,562
128Boca Raton$4,543
129Weymouth Town$4,534
130Waukesha$4,508
131Glendale$4,468
132Kansas City$4,426
133Newport Beach$4,409
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Waukesha 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.

RankCityCity taxes collected per resident, 2024
232Skokie$1,199
233Frederick$1,198
234Watsonville$1,195
235Waukesha$1,195
236Greensboro$1,195
237Huntington Beach$1,193
238Fort Worth$1,191
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))

Waukesha ranks 349 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
346Salem$328
347Anderson$328
348Wake Forest$328
349Waukesha$327
350Harrisonburg$327
351Fort Wayne$325
352Lenexa$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))

Waukesha ranks 15 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
12Springfield$11,472
13Alexandria$10,616
14Quincy$10,437
15Waukesha$10,415
16Chicago$10,324
17Los Angeles$10,297
18Owensboro$10,008
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))

Waukesha ranks 62 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
59Green Bay95.2%
60Dearborn Heights95.1%
61Muncie94.6%
62Waukesha94.6%
63Eagan94.6%
64Stamford94.5%
65Jersey City94.3%
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))

Waukesha ranks 282 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
279Marietta19.1%
280Raleigh19.0%
281Melbourne19.0%
282Waukesha19.0%
283Miami18.9%
284Bozeman18.9%
285St. Clair Shores18.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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