City government · Cumberland County, ME
Portland's money: where it comes from and where it goes
In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), Portland took in $540 million and spent $491 million.
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Where it comes from
What stands out
of Portland's money comes from state tax money.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people gets 6.4%.
City taxes46%
What's in other taxesMotor vehicle licenses; occupation and business licenses and 1 more
- Motor vehicle licenses$13.6 million
- Occupation and business licenses$4.3 million
- Other licenses$4.0 million
Amounts are by Census tax category.
Fees for services21%
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges; sewer and 9 more
- Other service charges$30.9 million
- Sewer$29.8 million
- Airport$19.1 million
- Hospital bills$13.8 million
- Parking$11.5 million
- Parks and recreation$5.6 million
- Other government-run businesses$1.0 million
- Ports and waterways$458 thousand
- School tuition and transportation$195 thousand
- Other school charges$64 thousand
- School lunches$53 thousand
Amounts are by Census type of charge.
Federal tax money0.9%
Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.
State tax money24%
Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.
County and local tax money0.2%
Money passed on by the county or other local governments.
Fines and other7.7%
Where it goes
What stands out
of Portland's spending goes to schools and colleges.Most U.S. cities of 50,000+ people spend nothing on this.
Spending by category100%
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
- Elementary and secondary schools$159 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; finance, tax collection and budgeting and 3 more
- Other and not broken out$47.3 million
- Finance, tax collection and budgeting$7.1 million
- Government buildings$6.1 million
- Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$4.4 million
- Other government-run businesses$794 thousand
What's in roads, transit and parkingAirports; roads and highways and 3 more
- Airports$42.1 million
- Roads and highways$14.5 million
- Parking$3.4 million
- Public transit$3.4 million
- Ports and harbors$273 thousand
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems and garbage and solid waste
- Sewer systems$44.6 million
- Garbage and solid waste$3.1 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
- Police$21.6 million
- Fire protection$19.8 million
- Inspections and regulation$2.5 million
- Courts and legal services$931 thousand
What's in social servicesWelfare institutions
- Welfare institutions$43.2 million
What's in health and hospitalsHospitals and public health
- Hospitals$13.0 million
- Public health$9.5 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
- Parks and recreation$14.0 million
- Libraries$4.5 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$102 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover
City of Portland. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2024.
What this covers. The money of City of Portland 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.