City government · Middlesex County, MA

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

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), Newton took in $708 million and spent $735 million.

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

See every government that serves your ZIP

Where it comes from

City taxes65%Fees for services (sewer, water)21%State tax money7.0%Fines and other4.3%Federal tax money2.2%

What stands out

63%

of Newton's money comes from property tax.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people gets 20%.

City taxes65%

Property tax
63%$444 million
Other taxes
2.7%$19.0 million
What's in other taxesOther licenses and other selective sales taxes
  • Other licenses$13.4 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$5.6 million

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services21%

Fees for services
21%$150 million
What's in fees for servicesSewer; water and 4 more
  • Sewer$72.7 million
  • Water$57.3 million
  • Other service charges$15.8 million
  • Other school charges$2.7 million
  • School tuition and transportation$639 thousand
  • School lunches$417 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money2.2%

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

From the federal government
2.2%$15.7 million

State tax money7.0%

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

From the state
7.0%$49.3 million

Fines and other4.3%

Interest, rents and other
4.2%$29.5 million
Fines
0.2%$1.2 million

Where it goes

Schools and colleges50%Running the government and other costs20%Water, sewer, trash and utilities11%Police, fire, courts and jails11%Parks, recreation and libraries2.4%All other spending5.7%

What stands out

50%

of Newton's spending goes to schools and colleges.Most U.S. cities of 50,000+ people spend nothing on this.

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
50%$366 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
  • Elementary and secondary schools$366 million
Running the government and other costs
20%$143 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; government buildings and 2 more
  • Other and not broken out$117 million
  • Government buildings$14.1 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$7.5 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$4.6 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
11%$84.4 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems; water supply and 1 more
  • Sewer systems$37.0 million
  • Water supply$29.3 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$18.1 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
11%$81.2 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsFire protection; police and 2 more
  • Fire protection$38.7 million
  • Police$36.7 million
  • Inspections and regulation$3.4 million
  • Courts and legal services$2.3 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
2.4%$17.7 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$10.4 million
  • Libraries$7.3 million
Roads, transit and parking
1.6%$12.0 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$12.0 million
Interest on debt
1.5%$11.3 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$10.5 million
  • Interest on water supply debt$781 thousand
Sent to other local governments
1.1%$8.3 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$6.4 million
  • Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$1.9 million
Health and hospitals
0.9%$6.5 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$6.5 million
Housing and community development
0.4%$3.3 million
Environment and natural resources
<0.1%$303 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$303 thousand
Social services
<0.1%$289 thousand
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$289 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Newton. 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 Newton 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.