City government · New Castle County, DE

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

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), Wilmington took in $318 million and spent $343 million.

Latest recorded year: ended June 30, 2024Estimated by the U.S. Census BureauComes fromGoes to

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Where it comes from

City taxes44%Fees for services (water, sewer)43%State tax money4.7%Fines and other4.7%County and local tax money4.0%

What stands out

26%

of Wilmington's money comes from taxes other than property, sales and income taxes.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people gets 7.2%.

City taxes44%

Other taxes
26%$82.3 million
What's in other taxesOther taxes not classified elsewhere; other licenses and 3 more
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$66.7 million
  • Other licenses$6.7 million
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$6.7 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$1.3 million
  • Public utility taxes$867 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Property tax
16%$49.5 million
Business income tax
2.6%$8.3 million

Fees for services43%

Fees for services
43%$136 million
What's in fees for servicesWater; sewer and 3 more
  • Water$61.7 million
  • Sewer$34.7 million
  • Other government-run businesses$14.4 million
  • Other service charges$14.4 million
  • Parking$10.2 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

State tax money4.7%

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

From the state
4.7%$14.9 million

County and local tax money4.0%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
4.0%$12.7 million

Fines and other4.7%

Fines
3.7%$11.8 million
Interest, rents and other
0.9%$3.0 million

Where it goes

Police, fire, courts and jails37%Water, sewer, trash and utilities34%Running the government and other costs15%Roads, transit and parking6.4%Parks, recreation and libraries3.5%All other spending4.1%

What stands out

34%

of Wilmington's spending goes to water, sewer, trash and other utilities.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people spends 20%.

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
37%$128 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
  • Police$80.8 million
  • Fire protection$36.8 million
  • Inspections and regulation$7.1 million
  • Courts and legal services$3.5 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
34%$116 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply; garbage and solid waste and 1 more
  • Water supply$77.5 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$23.1 million
  • Sewer systems$15.2 million
Running the government and other costs
15%$51.0 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)$27.4 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$15.3 million
  • Government buildings$8.2 million
Roads, transit and parking
6.4%$21.8 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and parking
  • Roads and highways$12.2 million
  • Parking$9.5 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
3.5%$12.1 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$12.1 million
Interest on debt
3.2%$11.0 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$5.7 million
  • Interest on water supply debt$5.3 million
Housing and community development
0.9%$3.0 million
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Wilmington. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2024. Most of this government's figures were estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau from a sample; the government did not report them itself.

What this covers. The money of City of Wilmington 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.