County government · Middlesex County, NJ
Middlesex County's money: where it comes from and where it goes
In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), Middlesex County took in $885 million and spent $725 million.
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Where it comes from
What stands out
of Middlesex County's money comes from property tax.A typical U.S. county of 250,000+ people gets 29%.
County taxes52%
What's in other taxesOther licenses
- Other licenses$422 thousand
Amounts are by Census tax category.
Fees for services27%
What's in fees for servicesSewer; garbage collection and 8 more
- Sewer$89.2 million
- Garbage collection$61.1 million
- Other service charges$57.9 million
- College tuition$25.8 million
- School tuition and transportation$516 thousand
- Other school charges$510 thousand
- School lunches$368 thousand
- Parks and recreation$211 thousand
- Road charges$135 thousand
- Parking$121 thousand
Amounts are by Census type of charge.
Federal tax money11%
Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.
State tax money6.0%
Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.
Local tax money2.1%
Money passed on by the county or other local governments.
Fines and other2.3%
Where it goes
What stands out
of Middlesex 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 collegesColleges and universities; elementary and secondary schools and 1 more
- Colleges and universities$93.9 million
- Elementary and secondary schools$72.0 million
- Scholarships and other education subsidies$8.5 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; finance, tax collection and budgeting and 2 more
- Other and not broken out$120 million
- Finance, tax collection and budgeting$11.6 million
- Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$11.5 million
- Government buildings$7.1 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems and garbage and solid waste
- Sewer systems$102 million
- Garbage and solid waste$39.7 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPrisons and jails; courts and legal services and 2 more
- Prisons and jails$50.6 million
- Courts and legal services$24.8 million
- Police$24.5 million
- Inspections and regulation$15.7 million
What's in social servicesWelfare institutions and other public welfare
- Welfare institutions$59.2 million
- Other public welfare$27.7 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
- Interest on general debt$24.2 million
- Interest on water supply debt$1.5 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
- Parks and recreation$11.9 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
- Public health$8.9 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and parking
- Roads and highways$7.5 million
- Parking$113 thousand
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$1.7 million
- Sent to the state government$98 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover
Middlesex County. 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 Middlesex 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.