City government · Rowan County, NC

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

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2022), Salisbury took in $83.3 million and spent $87.9 million.

Latest recorded year: ended June 30, 2022Comes fromGoes to

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Where it comes from

Fees for services (sewer, water)45%City taxes42%State tax money6.2%Federal tax money4.2%Fines and other2.5%

What stands out

14%

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

City taxes42%

Property tax
25%$21.1 million
Sales tax
14%$11.4 million
Other taxes
2.8%$2.3 million
What's in other taxesMotor vehicle licenses and other licenses
  • Motor vehicle licenses$2.1 million
  • Other licenses$248 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services45%

Fees for services
45%$37.6 million
What's in fees for servicesSewer; water and 6 more
  • Sewer$17.4 million
  • Water$15.3 million
  • Garbage collection$2.8 million
  • Other government-run businesses$2.0 million
  • Parks and recreation$121 thousand
  • Transit fares$59 thousand
  • Other service charges$24 thousand
  • Parking$8 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money4.2%

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

From the federal government
4.2%$3.5 million

State tax money6.2%

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

From the state
6.2%$5.2 million

Fines and other2.5%

Interest, rents and other
2.5%$2.1 million

Where it goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities37%Running the government and other costs23%Police, fire, courts and jails22%Roads, transit and parking6.9%Parks, recreation and libraries4.2%All other spending6.8%

What stands out

37%

of Salisbury's spending goes to water, sewer, trash and other utilities.A typical U.S. city of 10,000 to 50,000 people spends 24%.

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
37%$32.8 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems; water supply and 1 more
  • Sewer systems$20.1 million
  • Water supply$11.0 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$1.6 million
Running the government and other costs
23%$19.9 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 3 more
  • Other and not broken out$12.7 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$4.8 million
  • Government buildings$1.6 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$474 thousand
  • Other government-run businesses$254 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
22%$19.5 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice and fire protection
  • Police$11.1 million
  • Fire protection$8.4 million
Roads, transit and parking
6.9%$6.1 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and public transit
  • Roads and highways$4.9 million
  • Public transit$1.2 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
4.2%$3.7 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$3.7 million
Housing and community development
3.6%$3.1 million
Interest on debt
3.0%$2.6 million
Environment and natural resources
0.2%$155 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$155 thousand
Schools and colleges
<0.1%$40 thousand
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
  • Elementary and secondary schools$40 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Salisbury. U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments, Finance, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2022. The Census record for this government is from the 2022 survey, the newest on file.

What this covers. The money of City of Salisbury 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.