City government · Cook County, IL

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

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2023), Evanston took in $235 million and spent $270 million.

Latest recorded year: ended December 31, 2023Comes fromGoes to

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Where it comes from

City taxes43%Fees for services (water, parks and recreation)26%State tax money12%County and local tax money9.4%Fines and other7.0%Federal tax money3.2%

What stands out

9.4%

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

City taxes43%

Property tax
27%$64.0 million
Other taxes
16%$36.9 million
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; other licenses and 1 more
  • Other selective sales taxes$20.9 million
  • Other licenses$9.8 million
  • Public utility taxes$6.2 million

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services26%

Fees for services
26%$60.4 million
What's in fees for servicesWater; parks and recreation and 3 more
  • Water$22.9 million
  • Parks and recreation$13.6 million
  • Sewer$9.3 million
  • Parking$9.3 million
  • Garbage collection$5.3 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money3.2%

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

From the federal government
3.2%$7.4 million

State tax money12%

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

From the state
12%$27.9 million

County and local tax money9.4%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
9.4%$22.1 million

Fines and other7.0%

Interest, rents and other
5.3%$12.4 million
Fines
1.8%$4.1 million

Where it goes

Police, fire, courts and jails29%Running the government and other costs24%Water, sewer, trash and utilities15%Parks, recreation and libraries9.0%Roads, transit and parking7.7%All other spending14%

What stands out

6.9%

of Evanston's spending goes to interest on debt.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people spends 2.5%.

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
29%$79.1 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice and fire protection
  • Police$57.9 million
  • Fire protection$21.2 million
Running the government and other costs
24%$65.8 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out and central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)
  • Other and not broken out$40.4 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$25.4 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
15%$41.3 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste; water supply and 1 more
  • Garbage and solid waste$25.1 million
  • Water supply$12.5 million
  • Sewer systems$3.6 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
9.0%$24.4 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$15.2 million
  • Libraries$9.2 million
Roads, transit and parking
7.7%$20.7 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and parking
  • Roads and highways$13.7 million
  • Parking$6.9 million
Interest on debt
6.9%$18.6 million
Housing and community development
5.2%$14.0 million
Health and hospitals
2.2%$6.0 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$6.0 million
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Evanston. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

What this covers. The money of City of Evanston 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.