County government · Caroline County, MD

Caroline County's money: where it comes from and where it goes

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), Caroline County took in $169 million and spent $193 million.

Latest recorded year: ended June 30, 2024Comes fromGoes to

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Where it comes from

State tax money59%County taxes36%Fines and other2.7%Fees for services (gas, school lunches)2.1%Local tax money0.5%Federal tax money0.2%

What stands out

15%

of Caroline County's money comes from a personal income tax.Most U.S. counties of under 50,000 people get none.

County taxes36%

Property tax
19%$31.4 million
Individual income tax
15%$26.0 million
Other taxes
1.7%$2.8 million
What's in other taxesReal estate and stock transfer taxes; other selective sales taxes and 3 more
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$2.3 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$273 thousand
  • Other licenses$150 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$59 thousand
  • Occupation and business licenses$21 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services2.1%

Fees for services
2.1%$3.5 million
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges; other school charges and 5 more
  • Other service charges$1.3 million
  • Other school charges$928 thousand
  • Gas$848 thousand
  • School lunches$426 thousand
  • School tuition and transportation$37 thousand
  • Water$17 thousand
  • Parks and recreation$6 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money0.2%

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

From the federal government
0.2%$324 thousand

State tax money59%

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

From the state
59%$100 million

Local tax money0.5%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
0.5%$859 thousand

Fines and other2.7%

Interest, rents and other
2.7%$4.6 million
Fines
<0.1%$51 thousand

Where it goes

Schools and colleges65%Sent to other local governments10%Police, fire, courts and jails8.7%Running the government and other costs8.3%Roads, transit and parking4.6%All other spending3.2%

What stands out

65%

of Caroline County's spending goes to schools and colleges.Most U.S. counties of under 50,000 people spend nothing on this.

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
65%$125 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
  • Elementary and secondary schools$125 million
Sent to other local governments
10%$19.9 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$19.9 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
8.7%$16.9 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; prisons and jails and 4 more
  • Police$5.7 million
  • Prisons and jails$5.3 million
  • Fire protection$2.5 million
  • Courts and legal services$2.2 million
  • Inspections and regulation$1.1 million
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$28 thousand
Running the government and other costs
8.3%$16.0 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 1 more
  • Other and not broken out$13.1 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$2.0 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$873 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
4.6%$8.9 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$8.9 million
Interest on debt
1.8%$3.4 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.6%$1.2 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$1.2 million
Health and hospitals
0.3%$606 thousand
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$606 thousand
Housing and community development
0.2%$427 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
0.2%$324 thousand
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste and water supply
  • Garbage and solid waste$309 thousand
  • Water supply$15 thousand
Environment and natural resources
0.1%$220 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$220 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

Caroline County. 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 Caroline County 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.