City government · Arapahoe County, CO

Aurora's money: where it comes from and where it goes

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2023), Aurora took in $1.10 billion and spent $1.18 billion.

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

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Where it comes from

City taxes57%Fees for services (water, sewer)21%Fines and other15%State tax money3.6%County and local tax money2.3%Federal tax money1.1%

What stands out

36%

of Aurora's money comes from sales tax.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people gets 7.8%.

City taxes57%

Sales tax
36%$399 million
Property tax
12%$130 million
Other taxes
8.7%$95.6 million
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; public utility taxes and 6 more
  • Other selective sales taxes$47.6 million
  • Public utility taxes$17.7 million
  • Other licenses$17.7 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$11.0 million
  • Motor vehicle licenses$1.1 million
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$420 thousand
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$38 thousand
  • Amusement licenses$22 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services21%

Fees for services
21%$229 million
What's in fees for servicesWater; sewer and 3 more
  • Water$129 million
  • Sewer$82.4 million
  • Parks and recreation$12.4 million
  • Housing$4.8 million
  • Other service charges$1.1 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money1.1%

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

From the federal government
1.1%$12.6 million

State tax money3.6%

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

From the state
3.6%$39.8 million

County and local tax money2.3%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
2.3%$25.4 million

Fines and other15%

Interest, rents and other
15%$166 million
Fines
0.3%$3.8 million

Where it goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities31%Running the government and other costs21%Police, fire, courts and jails21%Roads, transit and parking12%Parks, recreation and libraries6.3%All other spending8.3%

What stands out

31%

of Aurora's spending goes to water, sewer, trash and other utilities.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people spends 20%.

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
31%$366 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply and sewer systems
  • Water supply$226 million
  • Sewer systems$140 million
Running the government and other costs
21%$253 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$177 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$37.7 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$37.7 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
21%$249 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 1 more
  • Police$149 million
  • Fire protection$82.7 million
  • Courts and legal services$16.8 million
Roads, transit and parking
12%$143 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$143 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
6.3%$73.9 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$66.7 million
  • Libraries$7.2 million
Sent to other local governments
2.8%$33.4 million
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to local governments: other and not broken out
  • Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$33.4 million
Housing and community development
2.8%$32.9 million
Interest on debt
2.7%$31.4 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$16.8 million
  • Interest on water supply debt$14.7 million
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Aurora. 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 City of Aurora 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.