City government · Colbert County, AL

Muscle Shoals's money: where it comes from and where it goes

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended September 30, 2023), Muscle Shoals took in $36.6 million and spent $25.0 million.

Latest recorded year: ended September 30, 2023Comes fromGoes to

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Where it comes from

City taxes78%Fees for services (garbage collection, parks and recreation)8.5%Federal tax money4.8%State tax money4.5%Fines and other3.2%County and local tax money1.2%

What stands out

54%

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

City taxes78%

Sales tax
54%$19.9 million
Other taxes
14%$5.0 million
What's in other taxesOccupation and business licenses; other licenses and 5 more
  • Occupation and business licenses$2.5 million
  • Other licenses$830 thousand
  • Motor fuel taxes$711 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$446 thousand
  • Other selective sales taxes$385 thousand
  • Tobacco taxes$91 thousand
  • Motor vehicle licenses$9 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Property tax
9.9%$3.6 million

Fees for services8.5%

Fees for services
8.5%$3.1 million
What's in fees for servicesGarbage collection; parks and recreation and 3 more
  • Garbage collection$1.5 million
  • Parks and recreation$1.5 million
  • Other service charges$36 thousand
  • Road charges$6 thousand
  • Other government-run businesses$2 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money4.8%

Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.

From the federal government
4.8%$1.8 million

State tax money4.5%

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

From the state
4.5%$1.7 million

County and local tax money1.2%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
1.2%$432 thousand

Fines and other3.2%

Interest, rents and other
3.2%$1.2 million
Fines
<0.1%$6 thousand

Where it goes

Police, fire, courts and jails34%Running the government and other costs26%Parks, recreation and libraries16%Roads, transit and parking12%Water, sewer, trash and utilities8.5%All other spending3.7%

What stands out

16%

of Muscle Shoals' spending goes to parks, recreation and libraries.A typical U.S. city of 10,000 to 50,000 people spends 5.6%.

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
34%$8.5 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
  • Police$4.7 million
  • Fire protection$3.3 million
  • Courts and legal services$494 thousand
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$62 thousand
Running the government and other costs
26%$6.4 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 1 more
  • Other and not broken out$4.0 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$2.1 million
  • Government buildings$286 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
16%$3.9 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$3.2 million
  • Libraries$659 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
12%$3.1 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and airports
  • Roads and highways$3.1 million
  • Airports$9 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
8.5%$2.1 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste and sewer systems
  • Garbage and solid waste$2.1 million
  • Sewer systems$23 thousand
Interest on debt
2.4%$607 thousand
Social services
0.8%$200 thousand
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$200 thousand
Health and hospitals
0.5%$127 thousand
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$127 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Muscle Shoals. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended September 30, 2023.

What this covers. The money of City of Muscle Shoals 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.