City government · Orleans Parish, LA
New Orleans's money: where it comes from and where it goes
In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended November 30, 2023), New Orleans took in $2.49 billion and spent $2.40 billion.
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Where it comes from
What stands out
of New Orleans' money comes from federal tax money.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people gets 3.6%.
City taxes31%
What's in other taxesPublic utility taxes; other selective sales taxes and 7 more
- Public utility taxes$53.1 million
- Other selective sales taxes$25.1 million
- Occupation and business licenses$17.8 million
- Other licenses$17.4 million
- Real estate and stock transfer taxes$4.3 million
- Alcoholic beverage licenses$2.8 million
- Motor vehicle licenses$1.8 million
- Pari-mutuel (betting) taxes$1.7 million
- Alcoholic beverage taxes$306 thousand
Amounts are by Census tax category.
Fees for services27%
What's in fees for servicesSewer; airport and 8 more
- Sewer$156 million
- Airport$149 million
- Water$125 million
- Hospital bills$87.1 million
- Other service charges$60.2 million
- Garbage collection$38.2 million
- Other government-run businesses$32.8 million
- Parks and recreation$6.6 million
- Parking$6.2 million
- Road charges$2.4 million
Amounts are by Census type of charge.
Federal tax money20%
Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.
State tax money19%
Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.
County and local tax money0.5%
Money passed on by the county or other local governments.
Fines and other3.2%
Where it goes
What stands out
of New Orleans' spending goes to housing and community development.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people spends 1.4%.
Spending by category100%
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 3 more
- Other and not broken out$419 million
- Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$110 million
- Finance, tax collection and budgeting$40.5 million
- Other government-run businesses$37.0 million
- Government buildings$10.5 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems; water supply and 1 more
- Sewer systems$275 million
- Water supply$204 million
- Garbage and solid waste$49.8 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
- Police$175 million
- Fire protection$138 million
- Courts and legal services$115 million
- Inspections and regulation$6.5 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingAirports and roads and highways
- Airports$139 million
- Roads and highways$46.5 million
What's in health and hospitalsHospitals and public health
- Hospitals$68.4 million
- Public health$37.5 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
- Parks and recreation$37.3 million
- Libraries$19.4 million
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to the state government
- Sent to the state government$23.6 million
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover
City of New Orleans. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended November 30, 2023.
What this covers. The money of City of New Orleans 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.