County government · Chatham County, NC
Chatham County's money: where it comes from and where it goes
In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), Chatham County took in $298 million and spent $273 million.
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Where it comes from
What stands out
of Chatham County's money comes from sales tax.A typical U.S. county of 50,000 to 250,000 people gets 4.2%.
County taxes52%
What's in other taxesOccupation and business licenses; real estate and stock transfer taxes and 4 more
- Occupation and business licenses$2.3 million
- Real estate and stock transfer taxes$1.2 million
- Other licenses$460 thousand
- Alcoholic beverage taxes$246 thousand
- Other selective sales taxes$222 thousand
- Motor vehicle licenses$26 thousand
Amounts are by Census tax category.
Fees for services11%
What's in fees for servicesWater; other service charges and 9 more
- Water$9.4 million
- Other service charges$7.4 million
- Liquor stores$6.9 million
- Garbage collection$4.2 million
- School lunches$1.6 million
- Other government-run businesses$1.2 million
- Parks, land and natural resources$808 thousand
- School tuition and transportation$257 thousand
- Parks and recreation$178 thousand
- Sewer$15 thousand
- Other school charges$9 thousand
Amounts are by Census type of charge.
Federal tax money3.0%
Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.
State tax money28%
Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.
Local tax money<0.1%
Money passed on by the county or other local governments.
Fines and other5.7%
Where it goes
What stands out
of Chatham County's spending goes to schools and colleges.Most U.S. counties of 50,000 to 250,000 people spend nothing on this.
Spending by category100%
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
- Elementary and secondary schools$133 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 3 more
- Police$33.9 million
- Fire protection$15.6 million
- Inspections and regulation$2.4 million
- Prisons and jails$1.7 million
- Courts and legal services$254 thousand
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; government buildings and 2 more
- Other and not broken out$13.9 million
- Government buildings$5.0 million
- Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$4.8 million
- Finance, tax collection and budgeting$4.3 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
- Other public welfare$16.0 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
- Interest on general debt$12.1 million
- Interest on water supply debt$310 thousand
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesLiquor stores; garbage and solid waste and 1 more
- Liquor stores$6.7 million
- Garbage and solid waste$4.2 million
- Water supply$1.0 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
- Public health$7.8 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
- Parks and recreation$2.5 million
- Libraries$2.0 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
- Natural resources, farming and conservation$1.5 million
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$468 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover
Chatham County. 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 Chatham 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.