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Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Port Arthur, TX

Population: 55,897 (2022) · Small Cities (50K–100K)

C
51/100

Average fiscal health — some areas of concern

Total Spending
$1.2B
Per Capita
$21,172
Total Revenue
$0
Total Debt
$212K

Spending Breakdown

Other
30.0%$355.4M
Housing & Community Development
23.2%$275.0M
Utilities
21.4%$253.2M
Public Welfare
8.2%$97.0M
Parks & Recreation
4.6%$54.1M
Interest on Debt
3.6%$42.1M
Highways & Roads
2.8%$33.2M
Fire Protection
2.2%$26.0M
Hospitals
2.1%$24.6M
Health
1.3%$14.8M
Education
0.7%$8.0M

Spending data sourced from the Census Bureau's Annual Survey of State & Local Government Finances. Per-capita comparisons use the Lincoln Institute's Fiscally Standardized Cities methodology for fair cross-city benchmarking.

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection$465/person
Highways & Roads$594/person
Parks & Recreation$968/person
Education$143/person
Health$265/person

Score Breakdown

Budget Balance & Reserves (25%)17/100
Debt Burden (20%)100/100
Pension Funding (20%)76/100
Spending Efficiency (15%)43/100
Revenue Diversity (10%)0/100
Trend Direction (10%)50/100

Debt Overview

Total Debt$212K
Long-Term Debt$23.6M
Debt Per Capita$4
Cash & Securities$10.3M

Compare Cities

See how Port Arthur stacks up against another city.

vs Houston, TXvs San Antonio, TXvs Dallas, TX
Data source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023). Population from American Community Survey.

Other Cities in Texas

Frequently Asked Questions

Port Arthur, TX spends $21,172 per resident, based on total expenditures of $1.2B for a population of 55,897. The city has a Fiscal Health Score of C (51/100).

Port Arthur, TX has total expenditures of $1.2B and total revenue of $0. The city carries $212K in total debt, based on Census Bureau data from 2023.

Port Arthur, TX employs 0 government workers, of which 0 are full-time. The average government salary is $0, with 0.0 employees per 10,000 residents.

Port Arthur, TX has a Fiscal Health Score of C (51/100). This score evaluates budget balance, debt burden, pension funding, spending efficiency, revenue diversity, and 3-year fiscal trajectory compared to peer cities of similar population.