Town government · Erie County, NY

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

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2023), Amherst took in $187 million and spent $223 million.

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

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Where it comes from

Town taxes54%Federal tax money20%County and local tax money16%Fines and other5.4%Fees for services (parks and recreation, sewer)3.5%State tax money1.4%

What stands out

20%

of Amherst's money comes from federal tax money.Most U.S. townships and towns of 50,000+ people get none.

Town taxes54%

Property tax
49%$92.4 million
Other taxes
4.2%$8.0 million
What's in other taxesOther licenses; other taxes not classified elsewhere and 1 more
  • Other licenses$3.1 million
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$2.9 million
  • Public utility taxes$1.9 million

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services3.5%

Fees for services
3.5%$6.6 million
What's in fees for servicesParks and recreation; other service charges and 2 more
  • Parks and recreation$4.9 million
  • Other service charges$1.2 million
  • Sewer$426 thousand
  • Garbage collection$99 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money20%

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

From the federal government
20%$37.7 million

State tax money1.4%

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

From the state
1.4%$2.7 million

County and local tax money16%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
16%$29.7 million

Fines and other5.4%

Interest, rents and other
4.8%$9.0 million
Fines
0.6%$1.2 million

Where it goes

Police, fire, courts and jails24%Running the government and other costs22%Social services14%Parks, recreation and libraries14%Water, sewer, trash and utilities13%All other spending13%

What stands out

14%

of Amherst's spending goes to social services.Most U.S. townships and towns of 50,000+ people spend nothing on this.

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
24%$53.9 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
  • Police$41.3 million
  • Fire protection$5.5 million
  • Inspections and regulation$4.1 million
  • Courts and legal services$3.0 million
Running the government and other costs
22%$48.1 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 2 more
  • Other and not broken out$38.2 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$4.0 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$3.3 million
  • Government buildings$2.6 million
Social services
14%$32.1 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$32.1 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
14%$31.7 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$29.3 million
  • Libraries$2.3 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
13%$28.9 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems; garbage and solid waste and 1 more
  • Sewer systems$20.4 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$8.3 million
  • Water supply$203 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
7.3%$16.2 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$16.2 million
Environment and natural resources
2.1%$4.7 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$4.7 million
Interest on debt
1.7%$3.8 million
Housing and community development
1.5%$3.4 million
Sent to other local governments
0.2%$355 thousand
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$355 thousand
Health and hospitals
<0.1%$164 thousand
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$164 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

Town of Amherst. 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 Town of Amherst 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.