Town government · Wake County, NC

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

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), Cary took in $415 million and spent $476 million.

Latest recorded year: ended June 30, 2024Comes fromGoes to

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Where it comes from

Town taxes52%Fees for services (sewer, water)30%Fines and other9.5%State tax money6.2%Federal tax money2.2%County and local tax money0.1%

What stands out

30%

of Cary's money comes from property tax.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people gets 20%.

Town taxes52%

Property tax
30%$123 million
Sales tax
14%$58.5 million
Other taxes
8.6%$35.5 million
What's in other taxesMotor vehicle licenses and other selective sales taxes
  • Motor vehicle licenses$30.6 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$4.9 million

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services30%

Fees for services
30%$123 million
What's in fees for servicesSewer; water and 6 more
  • Sewer$54.5 million
  • Water$36.4 million
  • Garbage collection$14.1 million
  • Parks and recreation$9.6 million
  • Other government-run businesses$4.9 million
  • Other service charges$3.1 million
  • Parking$225 thousand
  • Transit fares$78 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money2.2%

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

From the federal government
2.2%$9.1 million

State tax money6.2%

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

From the state
6.2%$25.9 million

County and local tax money0.1%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
0.1%$596 thousand

Fines and other9.5%

Interest, rents and other
9.4%$39.2 million
Fines
<0.1%$21 thousand

Where it goes

Running the government and other costs31%Police, fire, courts and jails19%Water, sewer, trash and utilities18%Roads, transit and parking16%Parks, recreation and libraries11%All other spending5.1%

What stands out

31%

of Cary's spending goes to running the government and other costs.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people spends 16%.

Spending by category100%

Running the government and other costs
31%$147 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 1 more
  • Other and not broken out$114 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$27.0 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$6.7 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
19%$89.2 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
  • Police$44.0 million
  • Fire protection$39.5 million
  • Inspections and regulation$4.5 million
  • Courts and legal services$1.2 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
18%$87.0 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply; garbage and solid waste and 1 more
  • Water supply$69.8 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$12.4 million
  • Sewer systems$4.8 million
Roads, transit and parking
16%$77.0 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways; public transit and 1 more
  • Roads and highways$61.1 million
  • Public transit$15.8 million
  • Parking$60 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
11%$51.4 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$51.4 million
Interest on debt
2.6%$12.5 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$6.8 million
  • Interest on water supply debt$5.7 million
Housing and community development
1.9%$9.0 million
Environment and natural resources
0.5%$2.6 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$2.6 million
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

Town of Cary. 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 Town of Cary 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.