Government budget and revenue in Wilmington, Delaware: official figures
Wilmington's city government took in $318.11 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $4,445 for each of its 71,569 residents (2024 figure in the finance file).
How much does Wilmington spend and on what?
It spent $342.74 million in the same year, $4,789 per resident. The largest identified functions were police (23.6%), the water utility (22.6%) and fire protection (10.7%) of the total.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does Wilmington collect per resident?
Taxes raised $140.16 million ($1,958 per resident) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 54.7% of general revenue, compared with 49.3% for all US city governments combined in 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat taxes does Wilmington rely on?
Of Wilmington's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 35.3%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 1.6%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much federal and state money does Wilmington get?
Payments from other governments made up 10.8% of Wilmington's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 0.0% from the federal government ($0 per resident), 5.8% from the state and 5.0% from other local governments. For all US city governments in 2022 the aid share was 24.3%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Wilmington raise from fees and utilities?
Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $73.76 million, 28.8% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $61.75 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Wilmington spend on police?
Wilmington's city government spent $80.83 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $1,129 per resident and 23.6% 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 Wilmington spend on fire protection?
Fire protection cost $36.77 million, $514 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much debt does Wilmington have?
At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Wilmington's city government owed $188.45 million in long-term debt, $2,633 per resident. During the year it issued no new long-term debt and repaid $26.74 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Wilmington pay in interest on its debt?
Interest on debt cost $10.98 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 3.2% of total spending.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyAre the Wilmington budget figures reported or estimated?
Wilmington did not report most of its 2024 figures: the Census Bureau imputed 100% of the revenue dollars in its record, so these amounts are estimates and are left out of the city rankings.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyMore on Wilmington: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · all cities in the United States
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…)
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