City government · Lowndes County, MS
Columbus's money: where it comes from and where it goes
In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended September 30, 2023), Columbus took in $91.4 million and spent $79.2 million.
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Where it comes from
What stands out
of Columbus' money comes from fees for services such as water, sewer and parking.A typical U.S. city of 10,000 to 50,000 people gets 30%.
City taxes15%
What's in other taxesOther licenses; occupation and business licenses and 3 more
- Other licenses$478 thousand
- Occupation and business licenses$116 thousand
- Alcoholic beverage licenses$56 thousand
- Public utility taxes$28 thousand
- Other selective sales taxes$2 thousand
Amounts are by Census tax category.
Fees for services62%
What's in fees for servicesElectric power; water and 5 more
- Electric power$42.1 million
- Water$6.1 million
- Sewer$5.6 million
- Garbage collection$2.1 million
- Other service charges$142 thousand
- Parks and recreation$57 thousand
- Other government-run businesses$56 thousand
Amounts are by Census type of charge.
Federal tax money0.7%
Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.
State tax money17%
Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.
County and local tax money0.1%
Money passed on by the county or other local governments.
Fines and other5.4%
Where it goes
What stands out
of Columbus' spending goes to water, sewer, trash and other utilities.A typical U.S. city of 10,000 to 50,000 people spends 24%.
Spending by category100%
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesElectric power; sewer systems and 2 more
- Electric power$37.6 million
- Sewer systems$6.5 million
- Water supply$4.9 million
- Garbage and solid waste$1.7 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsFire protection; police and 2 more
- Fire protection$5.3 million
- Police$4.6 million
- Courts and legal services$570 thousand
- Inspections and regulation$319 thousand
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 3 more
- Other and not broken out$2.8 million
- Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$1.9 million
- Finance, tax collection and budgeting$1.0 million
- Government buildings$511 thousand
- Other government-run businesses$186 thousand
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and airports
- Roads and highways$5.4 million
- Airports$874 thousand
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to local governments: other and not broken out
- Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$3.0 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on electric power debt; interest on general debt and 1 more
- Interest on electric power debt$542 thousand
- Interest on general debt$392 thousand
- Interest on water supply debt$238 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
- Parks and recreation$863 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover
City of Columbus. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended September 30, 2023. Most of this government's figures were estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau from a sample; the government did not report them itself.
What this covers. The money of City of Columbus 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.