City government · Howell County, MO
West Plains's money: where it comes from and where it goes
In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended March 31, 2024), West Plains took in $42.2 million and spent $49.2 million.
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Where it comes from
What stands out
of West Plains' money comes from sales tax.Most U.S. cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people get none.
City taxes32%
What's in other taxesPublic utility taxes; other selective sales taxes and 4 more
- Public utility taxes$3.4 million
- Other selective sales taxes$325 thousand
- Occupation and business licenses$221 thousand
- Motor vehicle licenses$207 thousand
- Public utility licenses$56 thousand
- Alcoholic beverage licenses$24 thousand
Amounts are by Census tax category.
Fees for services60%
What's in fees for servicesElectric power; garbage collection and 6 more
- Electric power$16.4 million
- Garbage collection$3.4 million
- Water$2.3 million
- Sewer$2.0 million
- Parks and recreation$1.0 million
- Airport$250 thousand
- Transit fares$33 thousand
- Other government-run businesses$27 thousand
Amounts are by Census type of charge.
State tax money4.4%
Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.
Fines and other3.5%
Where it goes
What stands out
of West Plains' 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 utilitiesSewer systems; electric power and 2 more
- Sewer systems$15.5 million
- Electric power$15.4 million
- Garbage and solid waste$2.6 million
- Water supply$1.1 million
What's in running the government and other costsFinance, tax collection and budgeting; other and not broken out and 2 more
- Finance, tax collection and budgeting$3.7 million
- Other and not broken out$625 thousand
- Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$540 thousand
- Government buildings$143 thousand
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways; airports and 1 more
- Roads and highways$3.6 million
- Airports$355 thousand
- Public transit$200 thousand
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsFire protection; police and 2 more
- Fire protection$1.3 million
- Police$945 thousand
- Courts and legal services$242 thousand
- Inspections and regulation$156 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
- Parks and recreation$1.9 million
- Libraries$684 thousand
What's in interest on debtInterest on water supply debt and interest on general debt
- Interest on water supply debt$93 thousand
- Interest on general debt$83 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover
City of West Plains. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended March 31, 2024. 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 West Plains 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.