City government · Middlesex County, MA
Lowell's money: where it comes from and where it goes
In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), Lowell took in $688 million and spent $804 million.
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Where it comes from
What stands out
of Lowell's money comes from state tax money.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people gets 6.4%.
City taxes28%
What's in other taxesOther licenses and other selective sales taxes
- Other licenses$4.3 million
- Other selective sales taxes$3.1 million
Amounts are by Census tax category.
Fees for services11%
What's in fees for servicesSewer; water and 8 more
- Sewer$30.1 million
- Water$18.6 million
- Parking$11.7 million
- Other service charges$6.9 million
- Garbage collection$3.5 million
- School lunches$970 thousand
- Parks and recreation$367 thousand
- Other government-run businesses$353 thousand
- School tuition and transportation$190 thousand
- Other school charges$112 thousand
Amounts are by Census type of charge.
Federal tax money6.4%
Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.
State tax money52%
Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.
Fines and other3.2%
Where it goes
What stands out
of Lowell'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$470 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$140 million
- Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$9.0 million
- Finance, tax collection and budgeting$2.9 million
- Government buildings$2.7 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
- Police$41.2 million
- Fire protection$31.8 million
- Courts and legal services$3.4 million
- Inspections and regulation$1.9 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems; water supply and 1 more
- Sewer systems$20.2 million
- Water supply$15.1 million
- Garbage and solid waste$9.5 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$13.4 million
- Sent to the state government$1.4 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and parking
- Roads and highways$8.0 million
- Parking$5.1 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
- Interest on general debt$10.3 million
- Interest on water supply debt$928 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
- Parks and recreation$4.6 million
- Libraries$1.9 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
- Public health$4.8 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
- Other public welfare$733 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover
City of Lowell. 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 Lowell 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.