City government · Adams County, CO

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

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2023), Thornton took in $395 million and spent $355 million.

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

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Where it comes from

City taxes53%Fees for services (water, sewer)24%Fines and other15%County and local tax money3.9%State tax money2.5%Federal tax money2.2%

What stands out

38%

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

City taxes53%

Sales tax
38%$150 million
Property tax
8.2%$32.2 million
Other taxes
6.8%$26.7 million
What's in other taxesPublic utility taxes; other licenses and 4 more
  • Public utility taxes$10.9 million
  • Other licenses$8.8 million
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$5.7 million
  • Motor vehicle licenses$1.3 million
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$31 thousand
  • Other selective sales taxes$7 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services24%

Fees for services
24%$92.9 million
What's in fees for servicesWater; sewer and 3 more
  • Water$53.9 million
  • Sewer$18.9 million
  • Parks and recreation$8.6 million
  • Garbage collection$6.1 million
  • Other service charges$5.4 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money2.2%

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

From the federal government
2.2%$8.6 million

State tax money2.5%

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

From the state
2.5%$9.7 million

County and local tax money3.9%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
3.9%$15.5 million

Fines and other15%

Interest, rents and other
15%$58.0 million
Fines
0.4%$1.5 million

Where it goes

Police, fire, courts and jails29%Water, sewer, trash and utilities28%Parks, recreation and libraries15%Running the government and other costs14%Roads, transit and parking9.1%All other spending4.2%

What stands out

15%

of Thornton's spending goes to parks, recreation and libraries.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people spends 6.4%.

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
29%$104 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
  • Police$59.4 million
  • Fire protection$37.7 million
  • Courts and legal services$4.9 million
  • Inspections and regulation$2.5 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
28%$98.7 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply; sewer systems and 1 more
  • Water supply$70.1 million
  • Sewer systems$21.4 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$7.2 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
15%$54.0 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$54.0 million
Running the government and other costs
14%$50.8 million
What's in running the government and other costsCentral staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology); finance, tax collection and budgeting and 1 more
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$37.8 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$6.9 million
  • Government buildings$6.2 million
Roads, transit and parking
9.1%$32.1 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$32.1 million
Interest on debt
2.2%$7.7 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$4.0 million
  • Interest on water supply debt$3.7 million
Sent to other local governments
1.3%$4.4 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$4.4 million
Housing and community development
0.8%$2.7 million
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Thornton. 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 Thornton 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.