City government · Johnson County, KS

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

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2023), Merriam took in $38.7 million and spent $27.3 million.

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

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Where it comes from

City taxes83%Fines and other9.2%Fees for services (parks and recreation)4.1%County and local tax money2.5%State tax money1.0%Federal tax money0.4%

What stands out

50%

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

City taxes83%

Sales tax
50%$19.5 million
Property tax
27%$10.4 million
Other taxes
5.4%$2.1 million
What's in other taxesPublic utility taxes; other taxes not classified elsewhere and 1 more
  • Public utility taxes$1.3 million
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$555 thousand
  • Occupation and business licenses$209 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services4.1%

Fees for services
4.1%$1.6 million
What's in fees for servicesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$1.6 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money0.4%

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

From the federal government
0.4%$165 thousand

State tax money1.0%

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

From the state
1.0%$379 thousand

County and local tax money2.5%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
2.5%$987 thousand

Fines and other9.2%

Interest, rents and other
7.3%$2.8 million
Fines
1.9%$754 thousand

Where it goes

Roads, transit and parking30%Running the government and other costs30%Police, fire, courts and jails27%Parks, recreation and libraries10%Interest on debt2.2%Social services<0.1%

What stands out

30%

of Merriam's spending goes to roads, transit and parking.A typical U.S. city of 10,000 to 50,000 people spends 10%.

Spending by category100%

Roads, transit and parking
30%$8.3 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$8.3 million
Running the government and other costs
30%$8.2 million
What's in running the government and other costsCentral staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology); other and not broken out and 2 more
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$4.4 million
  • Other and not broken out$1.9 million
  • Government buildings$1.5 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$405 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
27%$7.4 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 1 more
  • Police$4.3 million
  • Fire protection$2.7 million
  • Courts and legal services$368 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
10%$2.8 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$2.8 million
Interest on debt
2.2%$588 thousand
Social services
<0.1%$20 thousand
What's in social servicesWelfare institutions
  • Welfare institutions$20 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Merriam. 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 Merriam 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.