Town government · Tompkins County, NY

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

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2023), Ithaca took in $31.0 million and spent $28.8 million.

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

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Where it comes from

Fees for services (water, sewer)37%Town taxes29%County and local tax money16%Fines and other14%Federal tax money2.8%State tax money1.6%

What stands out

16%

of Ithaca'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 taxes29%

Property tax
28%$8.7 million
Other taxes
0.8%$253 thousand
What's in other taxesOther licenses and public utility taxes
  • Other licenses$196 thousand
  • Public utility taxes$57 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services37%

Fees for services
37%$11.4 million
What's in fees for servicesWater; sewer and 2 more
  • Water$8.0 million
  • Sewer$3.0 million
  • Other service charges$370 thousand
  • Parks and recreation$1 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money2.8%

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

From the federal government
2.8%$871 thousand

State tax money1.6%

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

From the state
1.6%$504 thousand

County and local tax money16%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
16%$4.9 million

Fines and other14%

Interest, rents and other
14%$4.3 million
Fines
0.4%$109 thousand

Where it goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities42%Running the government and other costs23%Police, fire, courts and jails15%Roads, transit and parking11%Parks, recreation and libraries5.4%All other spending2.5%

What stands out

42%

of Ithaca'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
42%$12.2 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply and sewer systems
  • Water supply$8.3 million
  • Sewer systems$3.9 million
Running the government and other costs
23%$6.7 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 3 more
  • Other and not broken out$4.5 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$1.7 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$283 thousand
  • Government buildings$216 thousand
  • Other government-run businesses$3 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
15%$4.4 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsFire protection; courts and legal services and 1 more
  • Fire protection$3.9 million
  • Courts and legal services$462 thousand
  • Police$35 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
11%$3.2 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$3.2 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
5.4%$1.5 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$1.5 million
  • Libraries$15 thousand
Interest on debt
2.0%$585 thousand
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$518 thousand
  • Interest on water supply debt$67 thousand
Sent to other local governments
0.2%$48 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$48 thousand
Environment and natural resources
0.2%$47 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$47 thousand
Health and hospitals
0.2%$45 thousand
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$45 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

Town of Ithaca. 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 Ithaca 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.