City government · Pinellas County, FL
Clearwater's money: where it comes from and where it goes
In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended September 30, 2023), Clearwater took in $476 million and spent $499 million.
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Where it comes from
What stands out
of Clearwater's money comes from fees for services such as water, sewer and parking.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people gets 30%.
City taxes34%
What's in other taxesPublic utility taxes; occupation and business licenses and 3 more
- Public utility taxes$24.5 million
- Occupation and business licenses$15.1 million
- Other licenses$4.0 million
- Insurance premium taxes$2.9 million
- Motor fuel taxes$1.5 million
Amounts are by Census tax category.
Fees for services49%
What's in fees for servicesWater; sewer and 7 more
- Water$56.1 million
- Sewer$49.6 million
- Gas$46.7 million
- Garbage collection$31.7 million
- Parks, land and natural resources$17.4 million
- Other service charges$14.2 million
- Parks and recreation$10.2 million
- Parking$9.7 million
- Airport$8 thousand
Amounts are by Census type of charge.
Federal tax money0.7%
Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.
State tax money3.6%
Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.
County and local tax money4.2%
Money passed on by the county or other local governments.
Fines and other8.2%
Where it goes
What stands out
of Clearwater's spending goes to parks, recreation and libraries.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people spends 6.4%.
Spending by category100%
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems; gas supply and 2 more
- Sewer systems$67.9 million
- Gas supply$42.7 million
- Garbage and solid waste$25.8 million
- Water supply$24.8 million
What's in running the government and other costsFinance, tax collection and budgeting; other and not broken out and 1 more
- Finance, tax collection and budgeting$79.7 million
- Other and not broken out$10.8 million
- Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$4.4 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
- Police$56.9 million
- Fire protection$28.0 million
- Inspections and regulation$5.2 million
- Courts and legal services$2.4 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
- Parks and recreation$76.3 million
- Libraries$8.4 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways; parking and 2 more
- Roads and highways$17.5 million
- Parking$7.7 million
- Airports$473 thousand
- Toll roads and bridges$225 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
- Natural resources, farming and conservation$17.2 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
- Public health$13.8 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on water supply debt; interest on general debt and 1 more
- Interest on water supply debt$4.6 million
- Interest on general debt$1.7 million
- Interest on gas supply debt$351 thousand
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$336 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover
City of Clearwater. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended September 30, 2023.
What this covers. The money of City of Clearwater 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.