City government · Houghton County, MI

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

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), Houghton took in $16.0 million and spent $16.0 million.

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

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Where it comes from

Fees for services (sewer, water)31%City taxes21%State tax money20%Federal tax money19%Fines and other9.7%County and local tax money0.5%

What stands out

19%

of Houghton's money comes from federal tax money.Most U.S. cities, towns and villages of under 10,000 people get none.

City taxes21%

Property tax
20%$3.2 million
Other taxes
0.4%$57 thousand
What's in other taxesOccupation and business licenses
  • Occupation and business licenses$57 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services31%

Fees for services
31%$5.0 million
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges; sewer and 5 more
  • Other service charges$1.5 million
  • Sewer$1.5 million
  • Water$757 thousand
  • Parking$717 thousand
  • Parks and recreation$251 thousand
  • Housing$219 thousand
  • Transit fares$80 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money19%

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

From the federal government
19%$3.0 million

State tax money20%

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

From the state
20%$3.1 million

County and local tax money0.5%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
0.5%$80 thousand

Fines and other9.7%

Interest, rents and other
9.7%$1.6 million

Where it goes

Running the government and other costs41%Water, sewer, trash and utilities25%Roads, transit and parking17%Police, fire, courts and jails9.4%Parks, recreation and libraries4.7%Interest on debt2.4%

What stands out

41%

of Houghton's spending goes to running the government and other costs.A typical U.S. city, town or village of under 10,000 people spends 22%.

Spending by category100%

Running the government and other costs
41%$6.6 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$5.9 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$406 thousand
  • Government buildings$150 thousand
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$122 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
25%$4.0 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems; water supply and 1 more
  • Sewer systems$2.2 million
  • Water supply$1.4 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$383 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
17%$2.8 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and public transit
  • Roads and highways$2.2 million
  • Public transit$562 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
9.4%$1.5 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 1 more
  • Police$1.2 million
  • Fire protection$253 thousand
  • Courts and legal services$32 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
4.7%$753 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$753 thousand
Interest on debt
2.4%$385 thousand
What's in interest on debtInterest on water supply debt and interest on general debt
  • Interest on water supply debt$214 thousand
  • Interest on general debt$171 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Houghton. 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 Houghton 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.