County government · Polk County, FL
Polk County's money: where it comes from and where it goes
In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended September 30, 2023), Polk County took in $1.15 billion and spent $1.04 billion.
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Where it comes from
What stands out
of Polk County's money comes from taxes other than property, sales and income taxes.A typical U.S. county of 250,000+ people gets 2.5%.
County taxes45%
What's in other taxesPublic utility taxes; motor fuel taxes and 3 more
- Public utility taxes$52.2 million
- Motor fuel taxes$27.7 million
- Other selective sales taxes$24.3 million
- Other licenses$18.7 million
- Occupation and business licenses$1.5 million
Amounts are by Census tax category.
Fees for services25%
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges; water and 5 more
- Other service charges$129 million
- Water$117 million
- Garbage collection$40.8 million
- Hospital bills$2.6 million
- Parks and recreation$1.2 million
- Parks, land and natural resources$341 thousand
- Road charges$62 thousand
Amounts are by Census type of charge.
Federal tax money3.4%
Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.
State tax money6.7%
Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.
Local tax money4.7%
Money passed on by the county or other local governments.
Fines and other14%
Where it goes
What stands out
of Polk 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; prisons and jails and 3 more
- Police$151 million
- Prisons and jails$74.1 million
- Fire protection$65.8 million
- Courts and legal services$22.9 million
- Inspections and regulation$12.6 million
What's in running the government and other costsFinance, tax collection and budgeting; other and not broken out and 2 more
- Finance, tax collection and budgeting$103 million
- Other and not broken out$63.4 million
- Government buildings$10.6 million
- Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$10.5 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply and garbage and solid waste
- Water supply$97.9 million
- Garbage and solid waste$71.8 million
What's in health and hospitalsHospitals and public health
- Hospitals$75.1 million
- Public health$61.4 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and public transit
- Roads and highways$120 million
- Public transit$3.1 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
- Parks and recreation$19.7 million
- Libraries$6.6 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
- Natural resources, farming and conservation$23.9 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare and welfare institutions
- Other public welfare$15.4 million
- Welfare institutions$3.2 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on water supply debt and interest on general debt
- Interest on water supply debt$6.2 million
- Interest on general debt$5.8 million
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover
Polk 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 Polk 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.