Government budget and revenue in Colorado, United States: official figures
Colorado's state government took in $45.5 billion in fiscal year 2024, $7,595 per resident, 8th lowest of 50 states per person (all states: $9,318 per person). The total includes taxes, federal funds, charges and pension-fund investment income.
How much does the Colorado state government spend?
The Colorado state government spent $47.9 billion in fiscal year 2024, or $8,007 per resident, 11th lowest of 50 states (all states: $9,444). Spending was 26.4% higher than in fiscal year 2019 ($37.9 billion), before adjusting for inflation.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much debt does the Colorado state government have?
Colorado state government debt outstanding was $23.6 billion at the end of fiscal year 2024, $3,936 per resident, 16th highest of 50 states (all states: $3,248). That equals 52% of one year's general revenue; in fiscal year 2019 the debt was $18.7 billion.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much federal funding does Colorado get?
The federal government provided $16.4 billion to the Colorado state government in fiscal year 2024, $2,737 per resident and 36.0% of its general revenue, 25th highest share of 50 states (all states: 34.2%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat are federal funds to Colorado spent on?
Public welfare programmes, mainly Medicaid, accounted for $8.4 billion or 51% of Colorado's federal funds in fiscal year 2024, and education for $2.9 billion (17%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat does the Colorado state government spend its money on?
Direct state spending on public welfare was $2,275 per resident in fiscal year 2024, 13th lowest of 50 states (all states: $3,000); higher education took $1,386 per resident and highways $294.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Colorado give to local governments and schools?
22.3% of Colorado's state general spending in fiscal year 2024 ($10.7 billion) was paid to other governments, mostly local governments and school districts, 18th lowest share of 50 states (all states: 27.7%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does Colorado collect?
Colorado collected $20.3 billion in state taxes in fiscal year 2025, $3,370 per resident, 10th lowest of 50 states (all states: $4,503). That was 5.6% more than in fiscal year 2024 ($19.2 billion); across all states collections rose 4.3%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat taxes does Colorado rely on?
The individual income tax raised $8.8 billion (43.5% of state taxes, 9th highest share of 50 states) in fiscal year 2025. The general sales tax raised $4.7 billion (23.2%, 13th lowest share of 50 states). The largest single tax was the individual income tax (43.5%), followed by the general sales and gross receipts tax (23.2%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyDoes Colorado have corporate, property or severance taxes?
In fiscal year 2025, in Colorado, corporate net income tax raised $2.4 billion (11.6% of state taxes); no state property tax was collected; severance tax on oil, gas, coal and minerals raised $33.1 million (0.2% of state taxes).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much money does the Colorado state government hold in reserves?
The Colorado state government held $73.8 billion in cash and securities at the end of fiscal year 2024, $12,320 per resident, of which $72.7 billion was in insurance trust funds such as public employee pension systems.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Colorado compares with other states
State government revenue per person (2024)
Colorado ranks 43 of 50, highest first. All revenue of the state government, including insurance trust income, divided by 1 July population
| Rank | Region | State government revenue per person |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | Nevada | $8,039 |
| 41 | Idaho | $7,958 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $7,883 |
| 43 | Colorado | $7,595 |
| 44 | Missouri | $7,376 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $7,353 |
| 46 | New Hampshire | $7,194 |
State government spending per person (2024)
Colorado ranks 40 of 50, highest first. Total expenditure of the state government divided by 1 July population
| Rank | Region | State government spending per person |
|---|---|---|
| 37 | Arizona | $8,113 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $8,097 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $8,090 |
| 40 | Colorado | $8,007 |
| 41 | Montana | $7,942 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $7,895 |
| 43 | New Hampshire | $7,601 |
State government debt per person (2024)
Colorado ranks 16 of 50, highest first. Debt outstanding at the end of the fiscal year divided by 1 July population
| Rank | Region | State government debt per person |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Maryland | $4,147 |
| 14 | Vermont | $4,125 |
| 15 | Oregon | $3,964 |
| 16 | Colorado | $3,936 |
| 17 | Washington | $3,862 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $3,826 |
| 19 | Virginia | $3,825 |
Federal funds received by the state government per person (2024)
Colorado ranks 39 of 50, highest first. Intergovernmental revenue from the federal government
| Rank | Region | Federal funds received by the state government per person |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | Illinois | $2,830 |
| 37 | Washington | $2,816 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $2,766 |
| 39 | Colorado | $2,737 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $2,729 |
| 41 | Wisconsin | $2,571 |
| 42 | Nevada | $2,564 |
Federal funds as a share of state general revenue (2024)
Colorado ranks 25 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Federal funds as a share of state general revenue |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Michigan | 36.3% |
| 23 | North Carolina | 36.1% |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | 36.0% |
| 25 | Colorado | 36.0% |
| 26 | Nebraska | 34.7% |
| 27 | New Hampshire | 34.6% |
| 28 | Florida | 34.4% |
State tax collections per person (2025)
Colorado ranks 41 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | State tax collections per person |
|---|---|---|
| 38 | Arizona | $3,494 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $3,455 |
| 40 | Alabama | $3,403 |
| 41 | Colorado | $3,370 |
| 42 | Ohio | $3,264 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $3,164 |
| 44 | Georgia | $3,040 |
Individual income tax as a share of state taxes (2025)
Colorado ranks 9 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Individual income tax as a share of state taxes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | California | 46.8% |
| 7 | New York | 46.6% |
| 8 | Connecticut | 45.3% |
| 9 | Colorado | 43.5% |
| 10 | Missouri | 43.2% |
| 11 | Utah | 42.8% |
| 12 | North Carolina | 42.1% |
General sales tax as a share of state taxes (2025)
Colorado ranks 38 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | General sales tax as a share of state taxes |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | Connecticut | 25.3% |
| 36 | North Dakota | 25.0% |
| 37 | Minnesota | 23.4% |
| 38 | Colorado | 23.2% |
| 39 | Illinois | 22.9% |
| 40 | Maryland | 21.5% |
| 41 | Massachusetts | 21.0% |
State spending on public welfare per person (2024)
Colorado ranks 38 of 50, highest first. Direct general expenditure on public welfare, mainly Medicaid
| Rank | Region | State spending on public welfare per person |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | Michigan | $2,416 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $2,340 |
| 37 | Kansas | $2,309 |
| 38 | Colorado | $2,275 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $2,266 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $2,110 |
| 41 | Nevada | $2,036 |
More on Colorado: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: Annual Survey of State Government Finances: State Government Finances, U.S. and States, 2012-2024 (table GS00STATEFIN01, amounts in thousands of dollars), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 72ff59b48414…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Annual Survey of State Government Tax Collections: historical database, fiscal years to 2025 (thousands of dollars), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bdf560cd3d8f…)
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