City government · Polk County, IA

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

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), Altoona took in $66.9 million and spent $47.8 million.

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

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Where it comes from

City taxes55%Fees for services (sewer, water)27%Fines and other11%State tax money6.6%County and local tax money0.3%

What stands out

5.8%

of Altoona's money comes from sales tax.Most U.S. cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people get none.

City taxes55%

Property tax
37%$24.7 million
Other taxes
12%$8.3 million
What's in other taxesPublic utility taxes; other selective sales taxes and 1 more
  • Public utility taxes$5.2 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$2.0 million
  • Other licenses$1.1 million

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Sales tax
5.8%$3.9 million

Fees for services27%

Fees for services
27%$18.3 million
What's in fees for servicesSewer; water and 3 more
  • Sewer$9.5 million
  • Water$6.7 million
  • Garbage collection$1.3 million
  • Other service charges$763 thousand
  • Parks and recreation$11 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

State tax money6.6%

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

From the state
6.6%$4.4 million

County and local tax money0.3%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
0.3%$169 thousand

Fines and other11%

Interest, rents and other
11%$7.1 million
Fines
<0.1%$30 thousand

Where it goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities28%Police, fire, courts and jails25%Running the government and other costs21%Parks, recreation and libraries11%Interest on debt9.3%All other spending6.1%

What stands out

9.3%

of Altoona's spending goes to interest on debt.A typical U.S. city of 10,000 to 50,000 people spends 2.2%.

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
28%$13.3 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply; sewer systems and 1 more
  • Water supply$6.2 million
  • Sewer systems$5.6 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$1.5 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
25%$12.1 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
  • Police$6.6 million
  • Fire protection$4.2 million
  • Inspections and regulation$1.1 million
  • Courts and legal services$125 thousand
Running the government and other costs
21%$9.8 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 2 more
  • Other and not broken out$7.3 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$1.0 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$827 thousand
  • Government buildings$714 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
11%$5.2 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$3.6 million
  • Libraries$1.6 million
Interest on debt
9.3%$4.4 million
Roads, transit and parking
5.7%$2.7 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$2.7 million
Health and hospitals
0.4%$190 thousand
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$190 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Altoona. 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 City of Altoona 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.