City government · Shawnee County, KS

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

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2023), Topeka took in $430 million and spent $292 million.

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

See every government that serves your ZIP

Where it comes from

Fees for services (water, sewer)43%City taxes37%Fines and other9.3%Federal tax money7.0%State tax money2.7%County and local tax money0.5%

What stands out

17%

of Topeka's money comes from sales tax.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people gets 7.8%.

City taxes37%

Sales tax
17%$72.3 million
Property tax
14%$58.5 million
Other taxes
6.7%$29.0 million
What's in other taxesPublic utility taxes; motor vehicle licenses and 1 more
  • Public utility taxes$15.2 million
  • Motor vehicle licenses$10.5 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$3.3 million

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services43%

Fees for services
43%$186 million
What's in fees for servicesWater; sewer and 5 more
  • Water$92.4 million
  • Sewer$39.9 million
  • Road charges$25.9 million
  • Housing$14.3 million
  • Other service charges$11.0 million
  • Parking$2.2 million
  • Transit fares$859 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money7.0%

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

From the federal government
7.0%$30.1 million

State tax money2.7%

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

From the state
2.7%$11.5 million

County and local tax money0.5%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
0.5%$2.2 million

Fines and other9.3%

Interest, rents and other
8.9%$38.3 million
Fines
0.4%$1.7 million

Where it goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities41%Police, fire, courts and jails30%Roads, transit and parking19%Interest on debt6.2%Running the government and other costs3.5%

What stands out

41%

of Topeka's spending goes to water, sewer, trash and other utilities.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people spends 20%.

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
41%$120 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply and sewer systems
  • Water supply$66.0 million
  • Sewer systems$53.8 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
30%$86.6 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
  • Police$44.4 million
  • Fire protection$37.9 million
  • Courts and legal services$3.1 million
  • Inspections and regulation$1.2 million
Roads, transit and parking
19%$56.6 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and public transit
  • Roads and highways$42.0 million
  • Public transit$14.6 million
Interest on debt
6.2%$18.2 million
Running the government and other costs
3.5%$10.3 million
What's in running the government and other costsGovernment buildings; finance, tax collection and budgeting and 1 more
  • Government buildings$5.4 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$3.0 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$1.9 million
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Topeka. 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 Topeka 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.