County government · Worcester County, MD

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

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), Worcester County took in $332 million and spent $445 million.

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

See every government that serves your ZIP

Where it comes from

County taxes71%State tax money15%Fees for services (sewer, garbage collection)9.0%Fines and other3.6%Federal tax money1.5%

What stands out

16%

of Worcester County's money comes from a personal income tax.Most U.S. counties of 50,000 to 250,000 people get none.

County taxes71%

Property tax
50%$165 million
Individual income tax
16%$53.8 million
Other taxes
4.5%$15.1 million
What's in other taxesReal estate and stock transfer taxes; other selective sales taxes and 5 more
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$9.2 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$2.3 million
  • Other licenses$1.7 million
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$937 thousand
  • Amusement taxes$732 thousand
  • Occupation and business licenses$132 thousand
  • Amusement licenses$65 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services9.0%

Fees for services
9.0%$30.0 million
What's in fees for servicesSewer; garbage collection and 6 more
  • Sewer$13.6 million
  • Garbage collection$5.3 million
  • Water$4.5 million
  • Other school charges$3.1 million
  • Other service charges$2.4 million
  • School lunches$449 thousand
  • Parks and recreation$440 thousand
  • School tuition and transportation$175 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money1.5%

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

From the federal government
1.5%$4.9 million

State tax money15%

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

From the state
15%$50.4 million

Fines and other3.6%

Interest, rents and other
3.6%$12.1 million

Where it goes

Schools and colleges38%Sent to other local governments29%Police, fire, courts and jails12%Running the government and other costs7.5%Water, sewer, trash and utilities6.2%All other spending7.2%

What stands out

38%

of Worcester County's spending goes to schools and colleges.Most U.S. counties of 50,000 to 250,000 people spend nothing on this.

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
38%$169 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
  • Elementary and secondary schools$169 million
Sent to other local governments
29%$129 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$129 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
12%$52.9 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; prisons and jails and 2 more
  • Police$21.1 million
  • Prisons and jails$13.6 million
  • Fire protection$11.4 million
  • Courts and legal services$6.7 million
Running the government and other costs
7.5%$33.3 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 2 more
  • Other and not broken out$17.2 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$8.2 million
  • Government buildings$4.1 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$3.8 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
6.2%$27.6 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems; garbage and solid waste and 1 more
  • Sewer systems$15.2 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$7.4 million
  • Water supply$5.1 million
Interest on debt
2.6%$11.5 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
2.5%$11.2 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$6.9 million
  • Libraries$4.3 million
Roads, transit and parking
1.6%$6.9 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$6.9 million
Health and hospitals
0.4%$1.6 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$1.6 million
Environment and natural resources
0.2%$714 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$714 thousand
Housing and community development
<0.1%$245 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

Worcester 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 Worcester 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.