County government · Bergen County, NJ
Bergen County's money: where it comes from and where it goes
In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2023), Bergen County took in $1.49 billion and spent $1.45 billion.
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Where it comes from
What stands out
of Bergen County's money comes from county and other local tax money.A typical U.S. county of 250,000+ people gets 1.4%.
County taxes33%
What's in other taxesReal estate and stock transfer taxes
- Real estate and stock transfer taxes$9.4 million
Amounts are by Census tax category.
Fees for services34%
What's in fees for servicesHospital bills; sewer and 11 more
- Hospital bills$282 million
- Sewer$79.9 million
- Other school charges$53.8 million
- College tuition$43.5 million
- Parks and recreation$14.5 million
- Garbage collection$11.4 million
- Other service charges$10.1 million
- Housing$3.7 million
- School tuition and transportation$1.7 million
- School lunches$934 thousand
- University housing and dining$266 thousand
- Parking$153 thousand
- Road charges$55 thousand
Amounts are by Census type of charge.
Federal tax money15%
Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.
State tax money4.1%
Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.
Local tax money11%
Money passed on by the county or other local governments.
Fines and other2.5%
Where it goes
What stands out
of Bergen County's spending goes to schools and colleges.Most U.S. counties of 250,000+ people spend nothing on this.
Spending by category100%
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools; colleges and universities and 2 more
- Elementary and secondary schools$348 million
- Colleges and universities$120 million
- Scholarships and other education subsidies$15.7 million
- College housing, dining and bookstores$301 thousand
What's in health and hospitalsHospitals and public health
- Hospitals$290 million
- Public health$29.7 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPrisons and jails; police and 3 more
- Prisons and jails$61.6 million
- Police$59.3 million
- Courts and legal services$42.5 million
- Inspections and regulation$6.5 million
- Probation, parole and other corrections$2.4 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; finance, tax collection and budgeting and 1 more
- Other and not broken out$145 million
- Finance, tax collection and budgeting$13.7 million
- Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$4.1 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems and garbage and solid waste
- Sewer systems$83.1 million
- Garbage and solid waste$11.9 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and parking
- Roads and highways$31.5 million
- Parking$821 thousand
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
- Other public welfare$26.5 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
- Parks and recreation$21.8 million
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to local governments: other and not broken out and sent to the state government
- Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$4.8 million
- Sent to the state government$48 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover
Bergen County. 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 Bergen County 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.