The Graffiti Problem.

The United States spends approximately $12 billion annually cleaning up graffiti. (Dept. of Justice)

Figures from a variety of cities across the country suggest that graffiti cleanup alone costs taxpayers about $1 to $3 per person each year. For communities with smaller populations, per capita costs are typically under $1. (Dept. of Justice) The cost of graffiti abatement in California (statewide) is upwards of $350 million annually.  As one of the nations largest hubs for graffiti-related crimes, Los Angeles spends an average of $55 million annually on cleanup.  In 2006, L.A. cleanup crews removed 27 million square feet of graffiti.

With a population of 2.8 million, Chicago budgeted $6.5 million in 2006 for graffiti removal. Las Vegas, with a population of about 1.7 million, spends more than $3 million each year cleaning up graffiti. Denver and Milwaukee, each with populations just over 550,000, spend about $1 million annually on graffiti remediation. Graffiti contributes to lost revenue associated with reduced rider-sssship on transit systems, reduced retail sales and declines in property value. (Dept. of Justice)