City government · Suffolk County, MA
Boston's money: where it comes from and where it goes
In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), Boston took in $6.20 billion and spent $6.59 billion.
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Where it comes from
What stands out
of Boston's money comes from property tax.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people gets 20%.
City taxes58%
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; other licenses and 4 more
- Other selective sales taxes$241 million
- Other licenses$108 million
- Alcoholic beverage licenses$4.7 million
- Public utility licenses$3.9 million
- Amusement licenses$1.9 million
- Occupation and business licenses$549 thousand
Amounts are by Census tax category.
Fees for services9.1%
What's in fees for servicesSewer; water and 5 more
- Sewer$270 million
- Water$191 million
- Hospital bills$37.8 million
- Other service charges$36.0 million
- Housing$18.9 million
- Parking$7.5 million
- School lunches$2.8 million
Amounts are by Census type of charge.
Federal tax money0.4%
Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.
State tax money23%
Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.
County and local tax money2.1%
Money passed on by the county or other local governments.
Fines and other7.4%
Where it goes
What stands out
of Boston'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$2.25 billion
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$1.28 billion
- Finance, tax collection and budgeting$85.2 million
- Government buildings$64.9 million
- Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$30.7 million
- Other government-run businesses$2.9 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
- Police$551 million
- Fire protection$321 million
- Inspections and regulation$23.4 million
- Courts and legal services$10.3 million
What's in health and hospitalsHospitals and public health
- Hospitals$388 million
- Public health$46.0 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste; sewer systems and 1 more
- Garbage and solid waste$160 million
- Sewer systems$111 million
- Water supply$105 million
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to the state government and sent to local governments: other and not broken out
- Sent to the state government$345 million
- Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$10.9 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
- Parks and recreation$216 million
- Libraries$85.8 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and parking
- Roads and highways$179 million
- Parking$9.3 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
- Other public welfare$15.5 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
- Natural resources, farming and conservation$3.8 million
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover
City of Boston. 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 Boston 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.