County government · Palm Beach County, FL
Palm Beach County's money: where it comes from and where it goes
In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended September 30, 2023), Palm Beach County took in $3.81 billion and spent $3.17 billion.
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Where it comes from
What stands out
of Palm Beach County's money comes from fees for services such as water, sewer and parking.A typical U.S. county of 250,000+ people gets 14%.
County taxes50%
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; public utility taxes and 3 more
- Other selective sales taxes$84.2 million
- Public utility taxes$76.9 million
- Motor fuel taxes$53.3 million
- Occupation and business licenses$52.8 million
- Other licenses$37.8 million
Amounts are by Census tax category.
Fees for services27%
What's in fees for servicesGarbage collection; other service charges and 8 more
- Garbage collection$353 million
- Other service charges$302 million
- Water$143 million
- Sewer$93.1 million
- Airport$86.2 million
- Parks and recreation$32.3 million
- Transit fares$10.3 million
- Parks, land and natural resources$2.3 million
- Road charges$1.4 million
- Parking$467 thousand
Amounts are by Census type of charge.
Federal tax money3.0%
Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.
State tax money8.7%
Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.
Local tax money3.0%
Money passed on by the county or other local governments.
Fines and other8.1%
Where it goes
What stands out
of Palm Beach County's spending goes to water, sewer, trash and other utilities.A typical U.S. county of 250,000+ people spends 2.6%.
Spending by category100%
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 3 more
- Police$671 million
- Fire protection$401 million
- Prisons and jails$188 million
- Courts and legal services$57.4 million
- Inspections and regulation$29.6 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste; sewer systems and 1 more
- Garbage and solid waste$323 million
- Sewer systems$199 million
- Water supply$69.9 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; finance, tax collection and budgeting and 2 more
- Other and not broken out$312 million
- Finance, tax collection and budgeting$154 million
- Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$35.5 million
- Government buildings$24.5 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingPublic transit; roads and highways and 1 more
- Public transit$151 million
- Roads and highways$112 million
- Airports$87.2 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
- Parks and recreation$95.6 million
- Libraries$67.5 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
- Public health$51.5 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
- Natural resources, farming and conservation$40.0 million
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to the state government
- Sent to the state government$33.0 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
- Interest on general debt$23.6 million
- Interest on water supply debt$3.2 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
- Other public welfare$5.9 million
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover
Palm Beach County. 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 Palm Beach County 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.