City government · Douglas County, NE

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

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2023), Omaha took in $942 million and spent $1.03 billion.

Latest recorded year: ended December 31, 2023Comes fromGoes to

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Where it comes from

City taxes57%Fees for services (sewer, road charges)30%State tax money9.0%Fines and other2.4%County and local tax money1.9%

What stands out

22%

of Omaha's money comes from sales tax.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people gets 7.8%.

City taxes57%

Property tax
24%$222 million
Sales tax
22%$206 million
Other taxes
11%$108 million
What's in other taxesOccupation and business licenses; motor vehicle licenses and 2 more
  • Occupation and business licenses$62.6 million
  • Motor vehicle licenses$40.1 million
  • Public utility taxes$4.5 million
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$723 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services30%

Fees for services
30%$281 million
What's in fees for servicesSewer; road charges and 3 more
  • Sewer$209 million
  • Road charges$31.2 million
  • Other service charges$21.2 million
  • Parking$12.2 million
  • Parks and recreation$7.5 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

State tax money9.0%

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

From the state
9.0%$85.1 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%$17.6 million

Fines and other2.4%

Interest, rents and other
2.4%$22.3 million

Where it goes

Police, fire, courts and jails28%Water, sewer, trash and utilities27%Roads, transit and parking20%Running the government and other costs13%Parks, recreation and libraries6.1%All other spending6.5%

What stands out

20%

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

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
28%$283 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 1 more
  • Police$175 million
  • Fire protection$102 million
  • Courts and legal services$5.8 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
27%$274 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems and garbage and solid waste
  • Sewer systems$239 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$35.0 million
Roads, transit and parking
20%$204 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and parking
  • Roads and highways$176 million
  • Parking$28.3 million
Running the government and other costs
13%$137 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; government buildings and 1 more
  • Other and not broken out$103 million
  • Government buildings$22.0 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$11.9 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
6.1%$62.3 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$42.3 million
  • Libraries$20.0 million
Interest on debt
4.1%$42.3 million
Sent to other local governments
2.4%$24.6 million
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$24.6 million
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Omaha. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

What this covers. The money of City of Omaha 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.