City government · Lake County, IL

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

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended April 30, 2024), Waukegan took in $179 million and spent $162 million.

Latest recorded year: ended April 30, 2024Estimated by the U.S. Census BureauComes fromGoes to

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Where it comes from

City taxes45%State tax money26%Fees for services (water, parking)15%Fines and other8.8%Federal tax money5.4%

What stands out

26%

of Waukegan's money comes from state tax money.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people gets 6.4%.

City taxes45%

Property tax
24%$43.6 million
Other taxes
13%$22.6 million
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; other licenses and 1 more
  • Other selective sales taxes$8.4 million
  • Other licenses$7.3 million
  • Public utility taxes$6.9 million

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Sales tax
7.9%$14.1 million

Fees for services15%

Fees for services
15%$26.3 million
What's in fees for servicesWater; other service charges and 2 more
  • Water$16.5 million
  • Other service charges$9.5 million
  • Parking$253 thousand
  • Parks and recreation$34 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money5.4%

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

From the federal government
5.4%$9.8 million

State tax money26%

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

From the state
26%$47.1 million

Fines and other8.8%

Interest, rents and other
5.7%$10.1 million
Fines
3.1%$5.6 million

Where it goes

Police, fire, courts and jails50%Water, sewer, trash and utilities16%Interest on debt12%Running the government and other costs9.5%Roads, transit and parking6.9%All other spending5.4%

What stands out

50%

of Waukegan's spending goes to police, fire, courts and jails.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people spends 25%.

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
50%$82.0 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 1 more
  • Police$48.8 million
  • Fire protection$30.3 million
  • Inspections and regulation$2.9 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
16%$26.0 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste and water supply
  • Garbage and solid waste$15.9 million
  • Water supply$10.1 million
Interest on debt
12%$19.1 million
Running the government and other costs
9.5%$15.4 million
What's in running the government and other costsCentral staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and other and not broken out
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$14.8 million
  • Other and not broken out$589 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
6.9%$11.3 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$11.3 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
3.3%$5.3 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesLibraries and parks and recreation
  • Libraries$4.2 million
  • Parks and recreation$1.1 million
Housing and community development
2.1%$3.5 million
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Waukegan. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended April 30, 2024. Most of this government's figures were estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau from a sample; the government did not report them itself.

What this covers. The money of City of Waukegan 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.