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Government budget and revenue in Wilmington, North Carolina: official figures

Wilmington's city government took in $238.33 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $1,981 for each of its 120,324 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 97th lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$1,981
2024
City government spending per resident
$2,385
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$2,719
2024

How much does Wilmington spend and on what?

It spent $286.96 million in the same year, $2,385 per resident, the 223rd lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were police (16.9%), public buildings (15.9%) and parks and recreation (10.6%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Wilmington collect per resident?

Taxes raised $141.31 million ($1,174 per resident, the 245th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 59.3% 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 Wilmington rely on?

Of Wilmington's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 63.9%, general sales tax 30.4%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 4.8%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Wilmington's property tax share is the 216th 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 Wilmington get?

Payments from other governments made up 12.1% of Wilmington's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 1.0% from the federal government ($21 per resident), 11.0% 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 Wilmington raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $44.02 million, 18.5% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Wilmington spend on police?

Wilmington's city government spent $48.52 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $403 per resident (the 215th highest of 582) and 16.9% 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 Wilmington spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $24.04 million, $200 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Wilmington have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Wilmington's city government owed $327.11 million in long-term debt, $2,719 per resident (the 231st highest of 582). During the year it issued $92.98 million of new long-term debt and repaid $32.98 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Wilmington pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $14.56 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 5.1% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Wilmington city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 22.4% from $1,618 to $1,981, spending per resident rose 54.1% to $2,385, taxes per resident rose 13.6% to $1,174.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Wilmington 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))

Wilmington ranks 612 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
609Hawthorne$1,629
610Concord$1,629
611Eagle Mountain$1,622
612Wilmington$1,618
613Thousand Oaks$1,615
614Costa Mesa$1,612
615Wichita$1,611
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))

Wilmington ranks 588 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
585Huntersville$1,555
586Merced$1,555
587Parker$1,550
588Wilmington$1,548
589Livonia$1,545
590Coconut Creek$1,541
591Wheaton$1,537
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Wilmington ranks 319 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
316Santa Rosa$1,035
317Santa Maria$1,035
318Concord$1,034
319Wilmington$1,034
320Tampa$1,031
321Apex$1,030
322La Crosse$1,029
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))

Wilmington ranks 407 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
404Celina$302
405Midwest City$301
406Ogden$301
407Wilmington$301
408Fort Wayne$300
409Lodi$300
410Simi Valley$300
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))

Wilmington ranks 342 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
339Rowlett$2,132
340West Allis$2,121
341Sarasota$2,113
342Wilmington$2,100
343Spokane$2,077
344Palatine$2,075
345South Bend$2,052
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))

Wilmington ranks 225 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
222Cary64.5%
223Miramar64.4%
224Rockville64.4%
225Wilmington64.3%
226St. Cloud64.2%
227Rancho Cucamonga64.2%
228Plantation63.9%
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))

Wilmington ranks 463 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
460Davie14.4%
461Sandy14.4%
462Visalia14.4%
463Wilmington14.3%
464Salt Lake City14.2%
465Middletown14.2%
466Baton Rouge14.2%
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))

Wilmington ranks 486 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
483Reno$1,992
484Plainfield$1,987
485Huntersville$1,981
486Wilmington$1,981
487Southaven$1,971
488San Angelo$1,959
489Arlington Heights$1,956
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))

Wilmington ranks 360 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
357Largo$2,400
358Camarillo$2,399
359Albuquerque$2,393
360Wilmington$2,385
361Wichita$2,365
362Miramar$2,356
363Mount Prospect$2,353
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Wilmington ranks 245 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
242Longmont$1,179
243Duluth$1,176
244Hempstead$1,176
245Wilmington$1,174
246Apex$1,172
247Boynton Beach$1,170
248Manchester$1,165
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))

Wilmington ranks 215 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
212East Orange$407
213Cedar Rapids$405
214Largo$405
215Wilmington$403
216Suffolk$403
217Dothan$402
218Mount Prospect$401
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))

Wilmington 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 long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024
228Palatine$2,751
229Berkeley$2,738
230Waterloo$2,735
231Wilmington$2,719
232Bismarck$2,718
233Greenville$2,716
234Missoula$2,713
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))

Wilmington ranks 216 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
213St. Cloud64.6%
214Sammamish64.6%
215Atlanta64.1%
216Wilmington63.9%
217Little Elm63.9%
218Plantation63.7%
219Roanoke63.7%
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))

Wilmington ranks 414 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
411Maple Grove12.2%
412Amarillo12.1%
413San Leandro12.1%
414Wilmington12.1%
415Burnsville12.0%
416Enid11.9%
417Bowling Green11.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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