County government · Columbia County, NY
Columbia County's money: where it comes from and where it goes
In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2023), Columbia County took in $211 million and spent $216 million.
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Where it comes from
What stands out
of Columbia County's money comes from sales tax.A typical U.S. county of 50,000 to 250,000 people gets 4.2%.
County taxes61%
What's in other taxesOther taxes not classified elsewhere; other licenses and 1 more
- Other taxes not classified elsewhere$2.6 million
- Other licenses$116 thousand
- Other selective sales taxes$1 thousand
Amounts are by Census tax category.
Fees for services7.6%
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges; college tuition and 5 more
- Other service charges$8.0 million
- College tuition$4.4 million
- Garbage collection$2.7 million
- Sewer$408 thousand
- Water$167 thousand
- Transit fares$145 thousand
- Airport$73 thousand
Amounts are by Census type of charge.
Federal tax money4.0%
Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.
State tax money19%
Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.
Local tax money4.0%
Money passed on by the county or other local governments.
Fines and other4.4%
Where it goes
What stands out
of Columbia County's spending goes to local governments.Most U.S. counties of 50,000 to 250,000 people spend nothing on this.
Spending by category100%
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; government buildings and 2 more
- Other and not broken out$40.3 million
- Government buildings$6.0 million
- Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$3.3 million
- Finance, tax collection and budgeting$1.8 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$38.4 million
- Sent to the state government$9.8 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
- Other public welfare$24.5 million
What's in schools and collegesColleges and universities and scholarships and other education subsidies
- Colleges and universities$20.2 million
- Scholarships and other education subsidies$1.6 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; prisons and jails and 3 more
- Police$8.5 million
- Prisons and jails$6.0 million
- Courts and legal services$4.9 million
- Probation, parole and other corrections$1.5 million
- Fire protection$323 thousand
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways; public transit and 1 more
- Roads and highways$18.3 million
- Public transit$756 thousand
- Airports$633 thousand
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
- Public health$15.5 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste; water supply and 1 more
- Garbage and solid waste$6.0 million
- Water supply$168 thousand
- Sewer systems$120 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
- Parks and recreation$2.6 million
- Libraries$71 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
- Natural resources, farming and conservation$954 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover
Columbia 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 Columbia 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.