City government · Middlesex County, MA

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

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), Marlborough took in $271 million and spent $258 million.

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

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Where it comes from

City taxes44%State tax money26%Fees for services (sewer, water)14%Federal tax money12%Fines and other3.4%

What stands out

12%

of Marlborough's money comes from federal tax money.A typical U.S. city of 10,000 to 50,000 people gets 1.2%.

City taxes44%

Property tax
41%$112 million
Other taxes
2.7%$7.4 million
What's in other taxesOther licenses and other selective sales taxes
  • Other licenses$4.6 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$2.8 million

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services14%

Fees for services
14%$38.9 million
What's in fees for servicesSewer; water and 3 more
  • Sewer$19.2 million
  • Water$12.1 million
  • Other service charges$7.6 million
  • School lunches$26 thousand
  • Other school charges$8 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money12%

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

From the federal government
12%$33.7 million

State tax money26%

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

From the state
26%$69.7 million

County and local tax money<0.1%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
<0.1%$89 thousand

Fines and other3.4%

Interest, rents and other
3.3%$9.0 million
Fines
<0.1%$168 thousand

Where it goes

Schools and colleges46%Running the government and other costs13%Police, fire, courts and jails13%Roads, transit and parking12%Water, sewer, trash and utilities8.8%All other spending6.8%

What stands out

46%

of Marlborough'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%

Schools and colleges
46%$119 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
  • Elementary and secondary schools$119 million
Running the government and other costs
13%$34.7 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; government buildings and 2 more
  • Other and not broken out$17.9 million
  • Government buildings$12.7 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$3.1 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$1.0 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
13%$33.2 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsFire protection; police and 2 more
  • Fire protection$16.1 million
  • Police$14.9 million
  • Inspections and regulation$1.5 million
  • Courts and legal services$707 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
12%$30.8 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$30.8 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
8.8%$22.7 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply and sewer systems
  • Water supply$13.2 million
  • Sewer systems$9.5 million
Sent to other local governments
4.4%$11.5 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$11.0 million
  • Sent to the state government$459 thousand
Interest on debt
1.3%$3.3 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$3.1 million
  • Interest on water supply debt$241 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.6%$1.6 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesLibraries and parks and recreation
  • Libraries$1.2 million
  • Parks and recreation$426 thousand
Health and hospitals
0.3%$777 thousand
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$777 thousand
Social services
0.1%$318 thousand
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$318 thousand
Housing and community development
<0.1%$224 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Marlborough. 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 Marlborough 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.