Town government · Norfolk County, MA

Canton's money: where it comes from and where it goes

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), Canton took in $174 million and spent $178 million.

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

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Where it comes from

Town taxes63%Fees for services (water, sewer)15%Fines and other12%State tax money9.6%Federal tax money1.5%

What stands out

12%

of Canton's money comes from interest, rents and other revenue.A typical U.S. township or town of 10,000 to 50,000 people gets 3.3%.

Town taxes63%

Property tax
61%$107 million
Other taxes
1.4%$2.5 million
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes and other licenses
  • Other selective sales taxes$1.3 million
  • Other licenses$1.2 million

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services15%

Fees for services
15%$25.6 million
What's in fees for servicesWater; sewer and 6 more
  • Water$11.4 million
  • Sewer$7.9 million
  • Other service charges$4.8 million
  • Other school charges$608 thousand
  • Parks and recreation$499 thousand
  • School tuition and transportation$357 thousand
  • School lunches$171 thousand
  • Other government-run businesses$18 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%$2.7 million

State tax money9.6%

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

From the state
9.6%$16.7 million

Fines and other12%

Interest, rents and other
12%$20.1 million
Fines
<0.1%$67 thousand

Where it goes

Schools and colleges48%Running the government and other costs21%Water, sewer, trash and utilities12%Police, fire, courts and jails11%Roads, transit and parking3.4%All other spending5.2%

What stands out

48%

of Canton's spending goes to schools and colleges.Most U.S. townships and towns of 10,000 to 50,000 people spend nothing on this.

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
48%$85.0 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
  • Elementary and secondary schools$85.0 million
Running the government and other costs
21%$36.8 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; government buildings and 2 more
  • Other and not broken out$31.1 million
  • Government buildings$2.8 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$1.9 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$973 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
12%$22.0 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply; sewer systems and 1 more
  • Water supply$10.2 million
  • Sewer systems$8.3 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$3.4 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
11%$19.4 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsFire protection; police and 2 more
  • Fire protection$9.3 million
  • Police$8.5 million
  • Inspections and regulation$1.2 million
  • Courts and legal services$415 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
3.4%$6.1 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$6.1 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
2.0%$3.5 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesLibraries and parks and recreation
  • Libraries$1.9 million
  • Parks and recreation$1.6 million
Sent to other local governments
1.3%$2.4 million
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$1.8 million
  • Sent to the state government$614 thousand
Interest on debt
1.0%$1.8 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$1.3 million
  • Interest on water supply debt$543 thousand
Health and hospitals
0.5%$969 thousand
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$969 thousand
Social services
0.2%$311 thousand
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$311 thousand
Environment and natural resources
0.1%$209 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$209 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

Town of Canton. 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 Canton 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.