Town government · Albany County, NY

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

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2023), Bethlehem took in $55.6 million and spent $60.1 million.

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

See every government that serves your ZIP

Where it comes from

Town taxes33%County and local tax money32%Fees for services (water, sewer)24%Fines and other4.8%Federal tax money4.5%State tax money1.9%

What stands out

32%

of Bethlehem's money comes from county and other local tax money.Most U.S. townships and towns of 10,000 to 50,000 people get none.

Town taxes33%

Property tax
29%$16.0 million
Other taxes
4.3%$2.4 million
What's in other taxesOther licenses and public utility taxes
  • Other licenses$1.7 million
  • Public utility taxes$666 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services24%

Fees for services
24%$13.4 million
What's in fees for servicesWater; sewer and 4 more
  • Water$7.9 million
  • Sewer$3.4 million
  • Other service charges$857 thousand
  • Parks and recreation$563 thousand
  • Garbage collection$417 thousand
  • Electric power$235 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money4.5%

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

From the federal government
4.5%$2.5 million

State tax money1.9%

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

From the state
1.9%$1.1 million

County and local tax money32%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
32%$17.6 million

Fines and other4.8%

Interest, rents and other
4.4%$2.5 million
Fines
0.3%$179 thousand

Where it goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities33%Police, fire, courts and jails20%Running the government and other costs19%Roads, transit and parking17%Parks, recreation and libraries4.2%All other spending7.0%

What stands out

33%

of Bethlehem's spending goes to water, sewer, trash and other utilities.A typical U.S. township or town of 10,000 to 50,000 people spends 4.5%.

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
33%$19.6 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply; sewer systems and 1 more
  • Water supply$11.0 million
  • Sewer systems$7.2 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$1.4 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
20%$12.0 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; courts and legal services and 2 more
  • Police$10.7 million
  • Courts and legal services$675 thousand
  • Inspections and regulation$608 thousand
  • Fire protection$30 thousand
Running the government and other costs
19%$11.2 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$7.2 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$1.8 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$1.3 million
  • Government buildings$918 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
17%$10.5 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$10.5 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
4.2%$2.5 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$2.5 million
Interest on debt
3.4%$2.1 million
Health and hospitals
2.6%$1.6 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$1.6 million
Social services
0.8%$492 thousand
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$492 thousand
Housing and community development
0.1%$68 thousand
Sent to other local governments
<0.1%$9 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$9 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

Town of Bethlehem. 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 Bethlehem 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.