City government · Union County, NJ

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

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), Elizabeth took in $378 million and spent $366 million.

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

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Where it comes from

City taxes55%Federal tax money13%State tax money11%Fees for services (water, housing)11%Fines and other9.7%

What stands out

53%

of Elizabeth's money comes from property tax.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people gets 20%.

City taxes55%

Property tax
53%$201 million
Other taxes
2.3%$8.6 million
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; public utility taxes and 2 more
  • Other selective sales taxes$4.9 million
  • Public utility taxes$1.9 million
  • Other licenses$1.6 million
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$185 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services11%

Fees for services
11%$40.3 million
What's in fees for servicesWater; housing and 3 more
  • Water$32.7 million
  • Housing$4.1 million
  • Parking$2.9 million
  • Garbage collection$370 thousand
  • Parks and recreation$88 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money13%

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

From the federal government
13%$50.5 million

State tax money11%

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

From the state
11%$41.1 million

Fines and other9.7%

Interest, rents and other
9.6%$36.4 million
Fines
<0.1%$259 thousand

Where it goes

Running the government and other costs33%Police, fire, courts and jails30%Housing and community development14%Water, sewer, trash and utilities9.9%Parks, recreation and libraries5.8%All other spending7.4%

What stands out

14%

of Elizabeth's spending goes to housing and community development.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people spends 1.4%.

Spending by category100%

Running the government and other costs
33%$119 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; government buildings and 2 more
  • Other and not broken out$91.8 million
  • Government buildings$16.5 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$6.2 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$4.3 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
30%$111 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
  • Police$64.4 million
  • Fire protection$38.6 million
  • Courts and legal services$5.4 million
  • Inspections and regulation$2.5 million
Housing and community development
14%$51.0 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
9.9%$36.3 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems and garbage and solid waste
  • Sewer systems$23.2 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$13.2 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
5.8%$21.3 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$16.7 million
  • Libraries$4.6 million
Health and hospitals
4.1%$15.0 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$15.0 million
Roads, transit and parking
1.9%$6.9 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingParking and roads and highways
  • Parking$4.2 million
  • Roads and highways$2.7 million
Interest on debt
1.4%$5.1 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$3.1 million
  • Interest on water supply debt$2.0 million
Environment and natural resources
<0.1%$153 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$153 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Elizabeth. 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 Elizabeth 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.