City government · Oakland County, MI

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

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), Southfield took in $216 million and spent $220 million.

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

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Where it comes from

City taxes42%Fees for services (water, parks and recreation)27%Fines and other14%State tax money12%Federal tax money2.8%County and local tax money1.9%

What stands out

41%

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

City taxes42%

Property tax
41%$87.8 million
Other taxes
1.7%$3.7 million
What's in other taxesOccupation and business licenses
  • Occupation and business licenses$3.7 million

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services27%

Fees for services
27%$58.0 million
What's in fees for servicesWater; parks and recreation and 2 more
  • Water$46.5 million
  • Parks and recreation$4.3 million
  • Garbage collection$3.7 million
  • Other service charges$3.5 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money2.8%

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

From the federal government
2.8%$6.1 million

State tax money12%

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

From the state
12%$25.6 million

County and local tax money1.9%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
1.9%$4.0 million

Fines and other14%

Interest, rents and other
14%$30.4 million
Fines
<0.1%$111 thousand

Where it goes

Police, fire, courts and jails31%Running the government and other costs26%Water, sewer, trash and utilities20%Roads, transit and parking10%Parks, recreation and libraries6.7%All other spending5.5%

What stands out

26%

of Southfield's spending goes to running the government and other costs.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people spends 16%.

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
31%$68.9 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
  • Police$33.9 million
  • Fire protection$28.2 million
  • Courts and legal services$3.5 million
  • Inspections and regulation$3.3 million
Running the government and other costs
26%$57.9 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; finance, tax collection and budgeting and 1 more
  • Other and not broken out$31.9 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$22.9 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$3.2 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
20%$43.8 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply and garbage and solid waste
  • Water supply$39.9 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$4.0 million
Roads, transit and parking
10%$22.8 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$22.8 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
6.7%$14.7 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$8.8 million
  • Libraries$5.8 million
Housing and community development
2.3%$5.1 million
Interest on debt
2.0%$4.5 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$2.3 million
  • Interest on water supply debt$2.2 million
Health and hospitals
1.2%$2.5 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$2.5 million
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Southfield. 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 Southfield 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.