City government · Palm Beach County, FL
West Palm Beach's money: where it comes from and where it goes
In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended September 30, 2023), West Palm Beach took in $529 million and spent $491 million.
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Where it comes from
What stands out
of West Palm Beach's money comes from county and other local tax money.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people gets 0.9%.
City taxes42%
What's in other taxesOther licenses; occupation and business licenses and 2 more
- Other licenses$27.2 million
- Occupation and business licenses$21.0 million
- Public utility taxes$19.8 million
- Other selective sales taxes$4.3 million
Amounts are by Census tax category.
Fees for services36%
What's in fees for servicesWater; sewer and 8 more
- Water$78.1 million
- Sewer$37.1 million
- Other service charges$29.3 million
- Garbage collection$18.2 million
- Parks, land and natural resources$16.3 million
- Parking$10.9 million
- Parks and recreation$1.9 million
- Road charges$432 thousand
- Other government-run businesses$47 thousand
- Housing$3 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 money4.9%
Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.
County and local tax money7.2%
Money passed on by the county or other local governments.
Fines and other6.6%
Where it goes
What stands out
of West Palm Beach's spending goes to running the government and other costs.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people spends 16%.
Spending by category100%
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 1 more
- Other and not broken out$119 million
- Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$17.1 million
- Finance, tax collection and budgeting$7.2 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
- Police$72.1 million
- Fire protection$50.6 million
- Inspections and regulation$15.9 million
- Courts and legal services$736 thousand
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems and garbage and solid waste
- Sewer systems$94.3 million
- Garbage and solid waste$13.9 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
- Parks and recreation$27.5 million
- Libraries$5.6 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and parking
- Roads and highways$22.8 million
- Parking$7.6 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
- Interest on general debt$13.6 million
- Interest on water supply debt$6.3 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
- Natural resources, farming and conservation$7.8 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
- Public health$3.2 million
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover
City of West Palm Beach. 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 West Palm Beach 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.