City government · St Louis County, MO

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

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), Ferguson took in $24.8 million and spent $24.8 million.

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

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Where it comes from

City taxes61%Fines and other13%State tax money13%Federal tax money11%Fees for services (parks and recreation, sewer)2.2%

What stands out

38%

of Ferguson's money comes from sales tax.Most U.S. cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people get none.

City taxes61%

Sales tax
38%$9.5 million
Other taxes
14%$3.5 million
What's in other taxesPublic utility taxes; occupation and business licenses and 3 more
  • Public utility taxes$3.0 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$389 thousand
  • Other licenses$85 thousand
  • Motor vehicle licenses$26 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$9 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Property tax
8.6%$2.1 million

Fees for services2.2%

Fees for services
2.2%$542 thousand
What's in fees for servicesParks and recreation and sewer
  • Parks and recreation$352 thousand
  • Sewer$190 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money11%

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

From the federal government
11%$2.7 million

State tax money13%

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

From the state
13%$3.1 million

Fines and other13%

Interest, rents and other
13%$3.2 million
Fines
0.4%$92 thousand

Where it goes

Police, fire, courts and jails47%Running the government and other costs24%Roads, transit and parking14%Parks, recreation and libraries11%Interest on debt1.8%All other spending2.1%

What stands out

1.1%

of Ferguson's 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%

Police, fire, courts and jails
47%$11.7 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
  • Police$6.0 million
  • Fire protection$4.6 million
  • Inspections and regulation$849 thousand
  • Courts and legal services$238 thousand
Running the government and other costs
24%$5.9 million
What's in running the government and other costsGovernment buildings; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 2 more
  • Government buildings$2.4 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$2.0 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$787 thousand
  • Other and not broken out$727 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
14%$3.4 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and parking
  • Roads and highways$2.5 million
  • Parking$900 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
11%$2.8 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$2.8 million
Interest on debt
1.8%$439 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
1.1%$275 thousand
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems
  • Sewer systems$275 thousand
Housing and community development
0.9%$234 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Ferguson. 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 Ferguson 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.