City government · Jefferson County, CO

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

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2023), Golden took in $59.2 million and spent $73.5 million.

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

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Where it comes from

Fees for services (parks and recreation, water)44%City taxes39%State tax money9.7%County and local tax money4.5%Fines and other3.0%

What stands out

19%

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

City taxes39%

Sales tax
19%$11.0 million
Property tax
14%$8.5 million
Other taxes
5.9%$3.5 million
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes and other licenses
  • Other selective sales taxes$3.4 million
  • Other licenses$38 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services44%

Fees for services
44%$26.1 million
What's in fees for servicesParks and recreation; water and 5 more
  • Parks and recreation$10.0 million
  • Water$6.5 million
  • Sewer$4.1 million
  • Other service charges$4.1 million
  • Other government-run businesses$1.0 million
  • Road charges$154 thousand
  • Housing$116 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

State tax money9.7%

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

From the state
9.7%$5.7 million

County and local tax money4.5%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
4.5%$2.7 million

Fines and other3.0%

Interest, rents and other
3.0%$1.8 million

Where it goes

Running the government and other costs31%Police, fire, courts and jails22%Parks, recreation and libraries18%Water, sewer, trash and utilities17%Roads, transit and parking6.7%All other spending4.4%

What stands out

18%

of Golden's 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%

Running the government and other costs
31%$23.1 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$20.1 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$2.1 million
  • Other government-run businesses$914 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
22%$16.4 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice and fire protection
  • Police$11.9 million
  • Fire protection$4.4 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
18%$13.5 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$12.6 million
  • Libraries$905 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
17%$12.5 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply and sewer systems
  • Water supply$7.3 million
  • Sewer systems$5.2 million
Roads, transit and parking
6.7%$4.9 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$4.9 million
Housing and community development
3.0%$2.2 million
Interest on debt
0.9%$698 thousand
Environment and natural resources
0.4%$316 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$316 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Golden. 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 Golden 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.