County government · Somerset County, MD

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

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), Somerset County took in $186 million and spent $205 million.

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

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Where it comes from

Local tax money43%State tax money31%County taxes18%Fees for services (sewer, garbage collection)5.0%Fines and other1.5%Federal tax money1.0%

What stands out

43%

of Somerset County's money comes from county and other local tax money.Most U.S. counties of under 50,000 people get none.

County taxes18%

Property tax
11%$20.1 million
Individual income tax
6.3%$11.8 million
Other taxes
0.8%$1.5 million
What's in other taxesReal estate and stock transfer taxes; other selective sales taxes and 5 more
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$764 thousand
  • Other selective sales taxes$582 thousand
  • Public utility licenses$88 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$63 thousand
  • Amusement taxes$28 thousand
  • Occupation and business licenses$15 thousand
  • Other licenses$2 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services5.0%

Fees for services
5.0%$9.3 million
What's in fees for servicesSewer; other service charges and 6 more
  • Sewer$2.7 million
  • Other service charges$1.9 million
  • Garbage collection$1.6 million
  • Water$945 thousand
  • Parks and recreation$841 thousand
  • Other school charges$688 thousand
  • Road charges$489 thousand
  • School lunches$73 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money1.0%

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

From the federal government
1.0%$1.8 million

State tax money31%

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

From the state
31%$58.4 million

Local tax money43%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
43%$80.5 million

Fines and other1.5%

Interest, rents and other
1.5%$2.8 million
Fines
<0.1%$7 thousand

Where it goes

Running the government and other costs42%Schools and colleges41%Water, sewer, trash and utilities6.7%Police, fire, courts and jails6.5%Parks, recreation and libraries2.0%All other spending2.2%

What stands out

41%

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

Spending by category100%

Running the government and other costs
42%$85.5 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; government buildings and 2 more
  • Other and not broken out$80.9 million
  • Government buildings$1.7 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$1.7 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$1.1 million
Schools and colleges
41%$83.8 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
  • Elementary and secondary schools$83.8 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
6.7%$13.6 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems; garbage and solid waste and 1 more
  • Sewer systems$9.1 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$3.0 million
  • Water supply$1.5 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
6.5%$13.3 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; prisons and jails and 3 more
  • Police$4.3 million
  • Prisons and jails$3.8 million
  • Courts and legal services$2.4 million
  • Fire protection$1.8 million
  • Inspections and regulation$971 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
2.0%$4.2 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$3.5 million
  • Libraries$624 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
0.7%$1.4 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways; airports and 1 more
  • Roads and highways$915 thousand
  • Airports$369 thousand
  • Public transit$148 thousand
Health and hospitals
0.6%$1.3 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health and hospitals
  • Public health$1.3 million
  • Hospitals$35 thousand
Interest on debt
0.4%$920 thousand
Housing and community development
0.3%$525 thousand
Sent to other local governments
0.1%$274 thousand
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$274 thousand
Environment and natural resources
<0.1%$71 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$71 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

Somerset 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 Somerset 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.