City government · Lewis and Clark County, MT

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

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), Helena took in $77.6 million and spent $70.6 million.

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

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Where it comes from

Fees for services (water, road charges)45%City taxes23%Fines and other18%State tax money12%Federal tax money2.1%

What stands out

17%

of Helena's money comes from interest, rents and other revenue.A typical U.S. city of 10,000 to 50,000 people gets 4.9%.

City taxes23%

Property tax
22%$17.1 million
Other taxes
0.8%$619 thousand
What's in other taxesOccupation and business licenses and other licenses
  • Occupation and business licenses$544 thousand
  • Other licenses$75 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services45%

Fees for services
45%$34.7 million
What's in fees for servicesWater; road charges and 7 more
  • Water$9.7 million
  • Road charges$6.8 million
  • Garbage collection$6.5 million
  • Sewer$6.4 million
  • Parks and recreation$2.4 million
  • Parking$1.6 million
  • Other service charges$1.1 million
  • Transit fares$71 thousand
  • Parks, land and natural resources$3 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money2.1%

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

From the federal government
2.1%$1.6 million

State tax money12%

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

From the state
12%$9.6 million

County and local tax money<0.1%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
<0.1%$10 thousand

Fines and other18%

Interest, rents and other
17%$13.4 million
Fines
0.8%$597 thousand

Where it goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities30%Police, fire, courts and jails28%Roads, transit and parking18%Running the government and other costs12%Parks, recreation and libraries9.4%All other spending3.4%

What stands out

18%

of Helena's spending goes to roads, transit and parking.A typical U.S. city of 10,000 to 50,000 people spends 10%.

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
30%$20.9 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply; garbage and solid waste and 1 more
  • Water supply$9.9 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$5.6 million
  • Sewer systems$5.3 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
28%$19.6 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
  • Police$10.8 million
  • Fire protection$6.8 million
  • Inspections and regulation$1.3 million
  • Courts and legal services$708 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
18%$12.6 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways; parking and 1 more
  • Roads and highways$9.4 million
  • Parking$1.9 million
  • Public transit$1.4 million
Running the government and other costs
12%$8.5 million
What's in running the government and other costsCentral staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology); other and not broken out and 2 more
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$2.4 million
  • Other and not broken out$2.3 million
  • Government buildings$2.2 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$1.6 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
9.4%$6.6 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$6.6 million
Environment and natural resources
2.0%$1.4 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$1.4 million
Interest on debt
0.9%$650 thousand
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$507 thousand
  • Interest on water supply debt$143 thousand
Health and hospitals
0.2%$155 thousand
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$155 thousand
Housing and community development
0.2%$134 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Helena. 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 Helena 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.