City government · Catawba County, NC

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

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), Hickory took in $147 million and spent $160 million.

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

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Where it comes from

City taxes38%Fees for services (water, sewer)34%Federal tax money9.4%State tax money9.2%Fines and other5.6%County and local tax money2.8%

What stands out

10%

of Hickory's money comes from sales tax.Most U.S. cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people get none.

City taxes38%

Property tax
27%$39.3 million
Sales tax
9.6%$14.1 million
Other taxes
2.0%$3.0 million
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; motor vehicle licenses and 2 more
  • Other selective sales taxes$2.4 million
  • Motor vehicle licenses$541 thousand
  • Other licenses$36 thousand
  • Occupation and business licenses$5 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services34%

Fees for services
34%$50.5 million
What's in fees for servicesWater; sewer and 7 more
  • Water$27.1 million
  • Sewer$13.0 million
  • Garbage collection$7.2 million
  • Airport$1.8 million
  • Other service charges$569 thousand
  • Parks and recreation$502 thousand
  • Other government-run businesses$236 thousand
  • Road charges$96 thousand
  • Parking$46 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money9.4%

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

From the federal government
9.4%$13.8 million

State tax money9.2%

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

From the state
9.2%$13.6 million

County and local tax money2.8%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
2.8%$4.1 million

Fines and other5.6%

Interest, rents and other
5.6%$8.3 million

Where it goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities39%Running the government and other costs20%Police, fire, courts and jails18%Housing and community development13%Roads, transit and parking6.5%All other spending4.6%

What stands out

13%

of Hickory's spending goes to housing and community development.Most U.S. cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people spend nothing on this.

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
39%$61.7 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply; sewer systems and 1 more
  • Water supply$34.0 million
  • Sewer systems$21.6 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$6.1 million
Running the government and other costs
20%$32.4 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; government buildings and 2 more
  • Other and not broken out$17.6 million
  • Government buildings$10.7 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$3.1 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$932 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
18%$28.2 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice and fire protection
  • Police$15.1 million
  • Fire protection$13.0 million
Housing and community development
13%$20.2 million
Roads, transit and parking
6.5%$10.3 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways; public transit and 1 more
  • Roads and highways$4.7 million
  • Public transit$3.7 million
  • Airports$2.0 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
3.1%$5.0 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$2.5 million
  • Libraries$2.4 million
Interest on debt
1.5%$2.4 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$2.1 million
  • Interest on water supply debt$269 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Hickory. 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 City of Hickory 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.