County government · Denver County, CO
Denver City and County's money: where it comes from and where it goes
In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2023), Denver City and County took in $6.06 billion and spent $5.59 billion.
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Where it comes from
What stands out
of Denver City and County's money comes from sales tax.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people gets 7.8%.
City-county taxes39%
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; other licenses and 4 more
- Other selective sales taxes$217 million
- Other licenses$67.8 million
- Occupation and business licenses$56.6 million
- Motor vehicle licenses$39.5 million
- Amusement taxes$20.6 million
- Public utility taxes$16.6 million
Amounts are by Census tax category.
Fees for services41%
What's in fees for servicesAirport; other service charges and 6 more
- Airport$1.30 billion
- Other service charges$367 million
- Water$352 million
- Sewer$213 million
- Parks and recreation$147 million
- Other government-run businesses$94.0 million
- Garbage collection$18.1 million
- Housing$14.3 million
Amounts are by Census type of charge.
Federal tax money2.0%
Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.
State tax money5.0%
Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.
County and local tax money2.6%
Money passed on by the county or other local governments.
Fines and other9.8%
Where it goes
What stands out
of Denver City and County's spending goes to roads, transit and parking.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people spends 10%.
Spending by category100%
What's in roads, transit and parkingAirports and roads and highways
- Airports$1.43 billion
- Roads and highways$267 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply; sewer systems and 1 more
- Water supply$632 million
- Sewer systems$177 million
- Garbage and solid waste$16.0 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; finance, tax collection and budgeting and 2 more
- Other and not broken out$394 million
- Finance, tax collection and budgeting$296 million
- Other government-run businesses$69.2 million
- Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$64.2 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; prisons and jails and 3 more
- Police$325 million
- Prisons and jails$171 million
- Fire protection$164 million
- Courts and legal services$138 million
- Inspections and regulation$8.8 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
- Interest on general debt$521 million
- Interest on water supply debt$37.1 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
- Parks and recreation$242 million
- Libraries$56.9 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
- Other public welfare$212 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
- Public health$123 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
- Natural resources, farming and conservation$18.1 million
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to local governments: other and not broken out and sent to the state government
- Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$12.4 million
- Sent to the state government$64 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover
Denver City and County. 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 Denver City and County 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.