City government · DeKalb County, AL

Fort Payne's money: where it comes from and where it goes

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended October 31, 2023), Fort Payne took in $44.1 million and spent $34.6 million.

Latest recorded year: ended October 31, 2023Comes fromGoes to

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Where it comes from

City taxes60%Fees for services (water, garbage collection)31%Fines and other5.3%State tax money3.1%

What stands out

46%

of Fort Payne's money comes from sales tax.Most U.S. cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people get none.

City taxes60%

Sales tax
46%$20.3 million
Other taxes
14%$6.4 million
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; occupation and business licenses and 3 more
  • Other selective sales taxes$3.8 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$1.5 million
  • Motor fuel taxes$585 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$394 thousand
  • Tobacco taxes$116 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services31%

Fees for services
31%$13.8 million
What's in fees for servicesWater; garbage collection and 4 more
  • Water$6.9 million
  • Garbage collection$3.1 million
  • Sewer$2.7 million
  • Airport$570 thousand
  • Parks and recreation$362 thousand
  • Other government-run businesses$60 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

State tax money3.1%

Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.

From the state
3.1%$1.4 million

Fines and other5.3%

Interest, rents and other
4.2%$1.8 million
Fines
1.1%$484 thousand

Where it goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities31%Police, fire, courts and jails28%Roads, transit and parking18%Running the government and other costs10%Parks, recreation and libraries6.4%Interest on debt6.1%

What stands out

18%

of Fort Payne's spending goes to roads, transit and parking.A typical U.S. city of 10,000 to 50,000 people spends 10%.

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
31%$10.6 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply; garbage and solid waste and 1 more
  • Water supply$4.7 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$3.6 million
  • Sewer systems$2.4 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
28%$9.7 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsFire protection; police and 2 more
  • Fire protection$4.4 million
  • Police$4.2 million
  • Courts and legal services$594 thousand
  • Inspections and regulation$553 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
18%$6.4 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and airports
  • Roads and highways$5.6 million
  • Airports$751 thousand
Running the government and other costs
10%$3.6 million
What's in running the government and other costsFinance, tax collection and budgeting; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 1 more
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$1.6 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$1.4 million
  • Government buildings$544 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
6.4%$2.2 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$2.2 million
Interest on debt
6.1%$2.1 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$1.8 million
  • Interest on water supply debt$263 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Fort Payne. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended October 31, 2023.

What this covers. The money of City of Fort Payne itself. Other governments that serve the same area (the city, county, school district and state) are separate and not included. Borrowing, transfers between a government's own funds, and pension trust funds are not counted as revenue.