Municipal government · Anchorage Municipality Borough, AK
Anchorage's money: where it comes from and where it goes
In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2023), Anchorage took in $1.64 billion and spent $1.78 billion.
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Where it comes from
What stands out
of Anchorage's money comes from state tax money.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people gets 6.4%.
Municipal taxes46%
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; motor vehicle licenses and 8 more
- Other selective sales taxes$49.2 million
- Motor vehicle licenses$21.4 million
- Tobacco taxes$20.7 million
- Alcoholic beverage taxes$16.3 million
- Motor fuel taxes$14.4 million
- Other licenses$9.9 million
- Public utility taxes$8.1 million
- Public utility licenses$478 thousand
- Occupation and business licenses$151 thousand
- Driver's licenses$19 thousand
Amounts are by Census tax category.
Fees for services15%
What's in fees for servicesWater; sewer and 13 more
- Water$68.6 million
- Sewer$67.6 million
- Garbage collection$42.9 million
- Ports and waterways$18.2 million
- Other service charges$14.8 million
- Parks and recreation$10.9 million
- Parking$6.8 million
- Other school charges$5.9 million
- Transit fares$3.5 million
- Electric power$2.3 million
- Airport$1.9 million
- School lunches$1.8 million
- Other government-run businesses$390 thousand
- School tuition and transportation$142 thousand
- Housing$73 thousand
Amounts are by Census type of charge.
Federal tax money1.8%
Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.
State tax money30%
Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.
Fines and other7.6%
Where it goes
What stands out
of Anchorage's spending goes to schools and colleges.Most U.S. cities of 50,000+ people spend nothing on this.
Spending by category100%
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
- Elementary and secondary schools$848 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
- Police$156 million
- Fire protection$127 million
- Inspections and regulation$7.4 million
- Courts and legal services$4.0 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingPorts and harbors; roads and highways and 3 more
- Ports and harbors$88.1 million
- Roads and highways$85.4 million
- Public transit$40.2 million
- Airports$8.2 million
- Parking$6.8 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste; sewer systems and 2 more
- Garbage and solid waste$60.9 million
- Sewer systems$42.9 million
- Water supply$35.1 million
- Electric power$555 thousand
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$79.7 million
- Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$10.2 million
- Finance, tax collection and budgeting$7.1 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
- Parks and recreation$50.9 million
- Libraries$8.8 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
- Interest on general debt$43.5 million
- Interest on water supply debt$8.1 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
- Public health$49.3 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
- Other public welfare$9.5 million
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover
Municipality of Anchorage. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.
What this covers. The money of Municipality of Anchorage 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.