City government · Lincoln Parish, LA

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

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended September 30, 2023), Ruston took in $89.0 million and spent $89.3 million.

Latest recorded year: ended September 30, 2023Comes fromGoes to

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Where it comes from

Fees for services (electric power, sewer)39%City taxes36%State tax money22%Fines and other2.8%

What stands out

33%

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

City taxes36%

Sales tax
33%$29.7 million
Other taxes
1.6%$1.4 million
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; public utility licenses and 1 more
  • Other selective sales taxes$999 thousand
  • Public utility licenses$391 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$19 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Property tax
1.4%$1.2 million

Fees for services39%

Fees for services
39%$34.5 million
What's in fees for servicesElectric power; sewer and 4 more
  • Electric power$26.0 million
  • Sewer$4.0 million
  • Water$3.2 million
  • Garbage collection$1.2 million
  • Parks and recreation$163 thousand
  • Airport$23 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

State tax money22%

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

From the state
22%$19.7 million

Fines and other2.8%

Interest, rents and other
2.4%$2.1 million
Fines
0.4%$340 thousand

Where it goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities34%Roads, transit and parking31%Running the government and other costs17%Police, fire, courts and jails11%Interest on debt5.7%Parks, recreation and libraries0.6%

What stands out

31%

of Ruston'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%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
34%$30.5 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesElectric power; sewer systems and 2 more
  • Electric power$20.3 million
  • Sewer systems$4.4 million
  • Water supply$3.5 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$2.2 million
Roads, transit and parking
31%$27.9 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and airports
  • Roads and highways$27.4 million
  • Airports$497 thousand
Running the government and other costs
17%$15.4 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther government-run businesses; finance, tax collection and budgeting and 1 more
  • Other government-run businesses$8.2 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$6.3 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$811 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
11%$10.0 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
  • Police$5.4 million
  • Fire protection$3.9 million
  • Courts and legal services$343 thousand
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$278 thousand
Interest on debt
5.7%$5.1 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt; interest on water supply debt and 1 more
  • Interest on general debt$5.0 million
  • Interest on water supply debt$79 thousand
  • Interest on electric power debt$6 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.6%$553 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$553 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Ruston. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended September 30, 2023.

What this covers. The money of City of Ruston 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.