County government · Rowan County, NC
Rowan County's money: where it comes from and where it goes
In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), Rowan County took in $559 million and spent $531 million.
See every government that serves your ZIP
Where it comes from
What stands out
of Rowan County's money comes from state tax money.A typical U.S. county of 50,000 to 250,000 people gets 22%.
County taxes32%
What's in other taxesOccupation and business licenses; other selective sales taxes and 3 more
- Occupation and business licenses$2.5 million
- Other selective sales taxes$2.3 million
- Other licenses$1.2 million
- Alcoholic beverage taxes$641 thousand
- Motor vehicle licenses$278 thousand
Amounts are by Census tax category.
Fees for services8.9%
What's in fees for servicesLiquor stores; other service charges and 11 more
- Liquor stores$17.7 million
- Other service charges$8.6 million
- Garbage collection$8.2 million
- College tuition$5.6 million
- Other government-run businesses$3.8 million
- Parks and recreation$1.7 million
- Airport$1.6 million
- School lunches$1.3 million
- Other school charges$443 thousand
- University housing and dining$355 thousand
- Water$261 thousand
- Transit fares$155 thousand
- School tuition and transportation$111 thousand
Amounts are by Census type of charge.
Federal tax money3.9%
Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.
State tax money46%
Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.
Local tax money1.5%
Money passed on by the county or other local governments.
Fines and other7.7%
Where it goes
What stands out
of Rowan 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; colleges and universities and 2 more
- Elementary and secondary schools$266 million
- Colleges and universities$61.6 million
- Scholarships and other education subsidies$2.3 million
- College housing, dining and bookstores$441 thousand
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; prisons and jails and 2 more
- Police$35.7 million
- Prisons and jails$9.4 million
- Inspections and regulation$1.3 million
- Courts and legal services$712 thousand
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesLiquor stores; garbage and solid waste and 1 more
- Liquor stores$16.8 million
- Garbage and solid waste$14.8 million
- Water supply$434 thousand
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
- Other public welfare$25.1 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
- Public health$19.8 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; finance, tax collection and budgeting and 2 more
- Other and not broken out$5.7 million
- Finance, tax collection and budgeting$4.5 million
- Government buildings$2.8 million
- Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$2.5 million
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to local governments: other and not broken out and sent to the state government
- Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$10.7 million
- Sent to the state government$287 thousand
What's in roads, transit and parkingAirports and public transit
- Airports$5.4 million
- Public transit$4.1 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
- Parks and recreation$5.4 million
- Libraries$3.9 million
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover
Rowan 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 Rowan 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.