City government · Worcester County, MA
Worcester's money: where it comes from and where it goes
In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), Worcester took in $1.10 billion and spent $1.34 billion.
See every government that serves your ZIP
Where it comes from
What stands out
of Worcester's money comes from state tax money.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people gets 6.4%.
City taxes39%
What's in other taxesOther licenses and other selective sales taxes
- Other licenses$10.9 million
- Other selective sales taxes$7.0 million
Amounts are by Census tax category.
Fees for services11%
What's in fees for servicesSewer; water and 8 more
- Sewer$48.8 million
- Water$30.5 million
- Other service charges$29.7 million
- Parking$7.0 million
- Garbage collection$4.4 million
- Parks and recreation$1.9 million
- School lunches$908 thousand
- Other government-run businesses$899 thousand
- Other school charges$130 thousand
- Parks, land and natural resources$19 thousand
Amounts are by Census type of charge.
Federal tax money7.7%
Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.
State tax money40%
Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.
County and local tax money<0.1%
Money passed on by the county or other local governments.
Fines and other2.2%
Where it goes
What stands out
of Worcester'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$730 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
- Police$101 million
- Fire protection$78.7 million
- Inspections and regulation$7.2 million
- Courts and legal services$2.6 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; government buildings and 2 more
- Other and not broken out$154 million
- Government buildings$11.7 million
- Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$10.4 million
- Finance, tax collection and budgeting$6.4 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems and water supply
- Sewer systems$46.8 million
- Water supply$30.8 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and parking
- Roads and highways$50.6 million
- Parking$6.7 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
- Interest on general debt$33.0 million
- Interest on water supply debt$1.8 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$20.2 million
- Sent to the state government$4.4 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
- Parks and recreation$9.1 million
- Libraries$6.9 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
- Public health$8.0 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
- Other public welfare$2.4 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
- Natural resources, farming and conservation$3 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover
City of Worcester. 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 Worcester 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.