Town government · Cherokee County, NC

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

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), Murphy took in $48.9 million and spent $43.6 million.

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

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Where it comes from

Fees for services (electric power, liquor stores)83%Town taxes8.8%Federal tax money3.5%Fines and other1.8%State tax money1.7%County and local tax money1.0%

What stands out

83%

of Murphy's money comes from fees for services such as water, sewer and parking.A typical U.S. city, town or village of under 10,000 people gets 35%.

Town taxes8.8%

Other taxes
3.8%$1.9 million
What's in other taxesOther taxes not classified elsewhere; alcoholic beverage taxes and 1 more
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$1.4 million
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$479 thousand
  • Other licenses$1 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Property tax
3.3%$1.6 million
Sales tax
1.7%$836 thousand

Fees for services83%

Fees for services
83%$40.7 million
What's in fees for servicesElectric power; liquor stores and 3 more
  • Electric power$34.0 million
  • Liquor stores$4.1 million
  • Water$2.2 million
  • Housing$426 thousand
  • Other service charges$2 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money3.5%

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

From the federal government
3.5%$1.7 million

State tax money1.7%

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

From the state
1.7%$842 thousand

County and local tax money1.0%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
1.0%$502 thousand

Fines and other1.8%

Interest, rents and other
1.8%$870 thousand

Where it goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities86%Police, fire, courts and jails5.1%Housing and community development5.0%Running the government and other costs1.3%Parks, recreation and libraries1.0%All other spending2.0%

What stands out

86%

of Murphy's spending goes to water, sewer, trash and other utilities.A typical U.S. city, town or village of under 10,000 people spends 32%.

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
86%$37.4 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesElectric power; liquor stores and 1 more
  • Electric power$31.9 million
  • Liquor stores$3.5 million
  • Water supply$2.0 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
5.1%$2.2 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice and fire protection
  • Police$1.5 million
  • Fire protection$696 thousand
Housing and community development
5.0%$2.2 million
Running the government and other costs
1.3%$574 thousand
What's in running the government and other costsFinance, tax collection and budgeting
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$574 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
1.0%$445 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$278 thousand
  • Libraries$167 thousand
Environment and natural resources
0.8%$348 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$348 thousand
Sent to other local governments
0.4%$179 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$179 thousand
Interest on debt
0.4%$160 thousand
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$120 thousand
  • Interest on water supply debt$40 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
0.4%$158 thousand
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$158 thousand
Health and hospitals
<0.1%$30 thousand
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$30 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

Town of Murphy. 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 Murphy 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.