City government · Douglas County, KS
Lawrence's money: where it comes from and where it goes
In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2023), Lawrence took in $630 million and spent $616 million.
See every government that serves your ZIP
Where it comes from
What stands out
of Lawrence's money comes from fees for services such as water, sewer and parking.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people gets 30%.
City taxes18%
What's in other taxesPublic utility taxes; other selective sales taxes and 4 more
- Public utility taxes$8.8 million
- Other selective sales taxes$2.2 million
- Occupation and business licenses$540 thousand
- Alcoholic beverage licenses$16 thousand
- Amusement licenses$1 thousand
- Other licenses$1 thousand
Amounts are by Census tax category.
Fees for services74%
What's in fees for servicesHospital bills; water and 7 more
- Hospital bills$352 million
- Water$31.8 million
- Sewer$30.5 million
- Other service charges$22.0 million
- Garbage collection$16.6 million
- Other government-run businesses$8.3 million
- Parks and recreation$3.8 million
- Parking$1.2 million
- Airport$28 thousand
Amounts are by Census type of charge.
Federal tax money2.6%
Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.
State tax money1.3%
Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.
County and local tax money<0.1%
Money passed on by the county or other local governments.
Fines and other4.3%
Where it goes
What stands out
of Lawrence's spending goes to health services and hospitals.Most U.S. cities of 50,000+ people spend nothing on this.
Spending by category100%
What's in health and hospitalsHospitals and public health
- Hospitals$346 million
- Public health$5 thousand
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsFire protection; police and 2 more
- Fire protection$27.8 million
- Police$26.4 million
- Courts and legal services$2.7 million
- Inspections and regulation$1.6 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways; public transit and 2 more
- Roads and highways$37.2 million
- Public transit$13.6 million
- Airports$2.4 million
- Parking$1.5 million
What's in running the government and other costsCentral staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology); other and not broken out and 3 more
- Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$30.4 million
- Other and not broken out$8.9 million
- Finance, tax collection and budgeting$6.0 million
- Government buildings$1.9 million
- Other government-run businesses$712 thousand
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply; sewer systems and 1 more
- Water supply$18.0 million
- Sewer systems$17.1 million
- Garbage and solid waste$12.9 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
- Parks and recreation$19.9 million
- Libraries$5.7 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
- Interest on general debt$12.2 million
- Interest on water supply debt$6.9 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$3.2 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
- Natural resources, farming and conservation$243 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover
City of Lawrence. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. 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 Lawrence 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.