City government · Boulder County, CO

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

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2023), Lafayette took in $96.5 million and spent $116 million.

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

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Where it comes from

City taxes43%Fees for services (water, sewer)40%Fines and other8.2%Federal tax money6.3%State tax money1.8%County and local tax money0.2%

What stands out

28%

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

City taxes43%

Sales tax
28%$27.2 million
Property tax
12%$11.9 million
Other taxes
2.8%$2.7 million
What's in other taxesOther taxes not classified elsewhere; other licenses and 2 more
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$2.0 million
  • Other licenses$465 thousand
  • Occupation and business licenses$132 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$21 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services40%

Fees for services
40%$38.7 million
What's in fees for servicesWater; sewer and 4 more
  • Water$18.1 million
  • Sewer$10.1 million
  • Parks and recreation$6.0 million
  • Garbage collection$2.4 million
  • Other service charges$2.1 million
  • Other government-run businesses$22 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money6.3%

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

From the federal government
6.3%$6.1 million

State tax money1.8%

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

From the state
1.8%$1.8 million

County and local tax money0.2%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
0.2%$201 thousand

Fines and other8.2%

Interest, rents and other
7.6%$7.4 million
Fines
0.6%$567 thousand

Where it goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities40%Running the government and other costs20%Parks, recreation and libraries14%Police, fire, courts and jails13%Roads, transit and parking9.2%All other spending4.3%

What stands out

40%

of Lafayette's spending goes to water, sewer, trash and other utilities.A typical U.S. city of 10,000 to 50,000 people spends 24%.

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
40%$46.4 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems; water supply and 1 more
  • Sewer systems$30.6 million
  • Water supply$13.2 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$2.6 million
Running the government and other costs
20%$23.1 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 3 more
  • Other and not broken out$12.3 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$7.3 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$1.7 million
  • Government buildings$1.6 million
  • Other government-run businesses$183 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
14%$16.2 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$14.4 million
  • Libraries$1.8 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
13%$15.0 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsFire protection; police and 2 more
  • Fire protection$7.9 million
  • Police$6.6 million
  • Courts and legal services$291 thousand
  • Inspections and regulation$181 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
9.2%$10.7 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$10.7 million
Sent to other local governments
2.7%$3.1 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$3.1 million
Interest on debt
1.6%$1.9 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$1.6 million
  • Interest on water supply debt$262 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Lafayette. 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 Lafayette 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.