Town government · Hampshire County, MA
Amherst's money: where it comes from and where it goes
In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), Amherst took in $130 million and spent $136 million.
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Where it comes from
What stands out
of Amherst's money comes from property tax.A typical U.S. city of 10,000 to 50,000 people gets 19%.
Town taxes53%
What's in other taxesOther licenses and other selective sales taxes
- Other licenses$1.7 million
- Other selective sales taxes$990 thousand
Amounts are by Census tax category.
Fees for services15%
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges; sewer and 6 more
- Other service charges$7.3 million
- Sewer$5.7 million
- Water$5.2 million
- Garbage collection$582 thousand
- Parks and recreation$569 thousand
- School tuition and transportation$128 thousand
- School lunches$55 thousand
- Other government-run businesses$4 thousand
Amounts are by Census type of charge.
Federal tax money7.0%
Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.
State tax money18%
Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.
County and local tax money0.7%
Money passed on by the county or other local governments.
Fines and other5.9%
Where it goes
What stands out
of Amherst's spending goes to schools and colleges.Most U.S. cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people spend nothing on this.
Spending by category100%
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
- Elementary and secondary schools$37.6 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; finance, tax collection and budgeting and 2 more
- Other and not broken out$33.2 million
- Finance, tax collection and budgeting$1.5 million
- Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$1.2 million
- Government buildings$673 thousand
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to local governments: other and not broken out and sent to the state government
- Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$22.2 million
- Sent to the state government$1.4 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
- Police$6.7 million
- Fire protection$6.4 million
- Inspections and regulation$2.0 million
- Courts and legal services$204 thousand
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply; sewer systems and 1 more
- Water supply$5.1 million
- Sewer systems$3.6 million
- Garbage and solid waste$581 thousand
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
- Roads and highways$7.0 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
- Parks and recreation$3.8 million
- Libraries$1.5 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
- Natural resources, farming and conservation$549 thousand
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
- Interest on general debt$282 thousand
- Interest on water supply debt$156 thousand
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
- Other public welfare$331 thousand
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
- Public health$154 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover
Town of Amherst. 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 Town of Amherst 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.