City government · Adams County, CO

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

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2023), Westminster took in $358 million and spent $351 million.

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

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Where it comes from

City taxes56%Fees for services (water, sewer)26%Fines and other11%County and local tax money4.4%State tax money1.6%Federal tax money1.5%

What stands out

37%

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

City taxes56%

Sales tax
37%$133 million
Property tax
14%$51.1 million
Other taxes
4.2%$15.0 million
What's in other taxesPublic utility taxes; other selective sales taxes and 5 more
  • Public utility taxes$5.3 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$5.2 million
  • Other licenses$2.7 million
  • Amusement taxes$717 thousand
  • Occupation and business licenses$509 thousand
  • Motor vehicle licenses$477 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$100 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services26%

Fees for services
26%$93.7 million
What's in fees for servicesWater; sewer and 3 more
  • Water$46.1 million
  • Sewer$28.8 million
  • Parks and recreation$14.0 million
  • Other government-run businesses$4.4 million
  • Parking$349 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money1.5%

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

From the federal government
1.5%$5.3 million

State tax money1.6%

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

From the state
1.6%$5.6 million

County and local tax money4.4%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
4.4%$15.9 million

Fines and other11%

Interest, rents and other
11%$37.6 million
Fines
0.3%$1.0 million

Where it goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities25%Running the government and other costs24%Police, fire, courts and jails22%Parks, recreation and libraries14%Roads, transit and parking7.4%All other spending8.5%

What stands out

14%

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

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
25%$87.7 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply and sewer systems
  • Water supply$72.9 million
  • Sewer systems$14.8 million
Running the government and other costs
24%$82.6 million
What's in running the government and other costsCentral staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology); other and not broken out and 2 more
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$63.3 million
  • Other and not broken out$8.2 million
  • Government buildings$6.8 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$4.2 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
22%$75.8 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 1 more
  • Police$42.6 million
  • Fire protection$27.8 million
  • Courts and legal services$5.3 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
14%$48.7 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$42.4 million
  • Libraries$6.3 million
Roads, transit and parking
7.4%$26.0 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and parking
  • Roads and highways$24.8 million
  • Parking$1.3 million
Housing and community development
5.3%$18.6 million
Interest on debt
2.2%$7.6 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$5.6 million
  • Interest on water supply debt$2.0 million
Sent to other local governments
0.7%$2.3 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$2.3 million
Environment and natural resources
0.4%$1.3 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$1.3 million
Social services
<0.1%$70 thousand
What's in social servicesWelfare institutions
  • Welfare institutions$70 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Westminster. 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 Westminster 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.