County government · Muscogee County, GA

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

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), Columbus took in $612 million and spent $513 million.

Latest recorded year: ended June 30, 2024Comes fromGoes to

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Where it comes from

City-county taxes30%County and local tax money27%Fees for services (sewer, water)24%Fines and other11%Federal tax money5.1%State tax money2.3%

What stands out

27%

of Columbus' money comes from county and other local tax money.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people gets 0.9%.

City-county taxes30%

Property tax
17%$106 million
Other taxes
13%$78.1 million
What's in other taxesOccupation and business licenses; public utility taxes and 6 more
  • Occupation and business licenses$23.4 million
  • Public utility taxes$20.2 million
  • Insurance premium taxes$18.4 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$8.0 million
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$3.6 million
  • Other licenses$2.3 million
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$1.2 million
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$1.1 million

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Sales tax
<0.1%$251 thousand

Fees for services24%

Fees for services
24%$149 million
What's in fees for servicesSewer; water and 7 more
  • Sewer$38.9 million
  • Water$37.7 million
  • Other service charges$31.4 million
  • Garbage collection$14.0 million
  • Parks, land and natural resources$11.0 million
  • Parks and recreation$7.1 million
  • Airport$6.6 million
  • Road charges$1.4 million
  • Transit fares$841 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money5.1%

Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.

From the federal government
5.1%$31.2 million

State tax money2.3%

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

From the state
2.3%$14.2 million

County and local tax money27%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
27%$163 million

Fines and other11%

Interest, rents and other
11%$65.0 million
Fines
0.9%$5.2 million

Where it goes

Police, fire, courts and jails33%Running the government and other costs32%Water, sewer, trash and utilities14%Roads, transit and parking11%Parks, recreation and libraries3.3%All other spending7.6%

What stands out

32%

of Columbus' spending goes to running the government and other costs.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people spends 16%.

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
33%$171 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 3 more
  • Police$68.1 million
  • Fire protection$41.5 million
  • Prisons and jails$35.9 million
  • Courts and legal services$23.9 million
  • Inspections and regulation$1.4 million
Running the government and other costs
32%$163 million
What's in running the government and other costsGovernment buildings; other and not broken out and 3 more
  • Government buildings$68.6 million
  • Other and not broken out$67.2 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$17.0 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$9.8 million
  • Other government-run businesses$401 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
14%$69.4 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste; sewer systems and 1 more
  • Garbage and solid waste$33.9 million
  • Sewer systems$17.9 million
  • Water supply$17.7 million
Roads, transit and parking
11%$54.0 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and airports
  • Roads and highways$45.9 million
  • Airports$8.1 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
3.3%$16.8 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$16.8 million
Interest on debt
3.1%$15.7 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$11.3 million
  • Interest on water supply debt$4.4 million
Sent to other local governments
1.8%$9.1 million
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$9.1 million
Health and hospitals
1.4%$7.4 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$7.4 million
Housing and community development
1.2%$5.9 million
Social services
0.2%$863 thousand
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$863 thousand
Environment and natural resources
<0.1%$61 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$61 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

Columbus Consolidated Government. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2024.

What this covers. The money of Columbus Consolidated Government 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.