County government · Union County, NC
Union County's money: where it comes from and where it goes
In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), Union County took in $861 million and spent $1.12 billion.
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Where it comes from
What stands out
of Union County's money comes from state tax money.A typical U.S. county of 50,000 to 250,000 people gets 22%.
County taxes39%
What's in other taxesOccupation and business licenses; other selective sales taxes and 2 more
- Occupation and business licenses$3.4 million
- Other selective sales taxes$3.3 million
- Other licenses$712 thousand
- Motor vehicle licenses$359 thousand
Amounts are by Census tax category.
Fees for services12%
What's in fees for servicesWater; garbage collection and 10 more
- Water$75.3 million
- Garbage collection$10.1 million
- School lunches$7.6 million
- Other service charges$3.9 million
- School tuition and transportation$3.0 million
- Sewer$2.4 million
- Other government-run businesses$2.0 million
- Parks and recreation$840 thousand
- Parks, land and natural resources$747 thousand
- Other school charges$470 thousand
- Hospital bills$244 thousand
- Transit fares$1 thousand
Amounts are by Census type of charge.
Federal tax money2.4%
Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.
State tax money39%
Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.
Local tax money0.8%
Money passed on by the county or other local governments.
Fines and other6.0%
Where it goes
What stands out
of Union 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$551 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$267 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems; water supply and 1 more
- Sewer systems$35.8 million
- Water supply$27.4 million
- Garbage and solid waste$11.0 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; prisons and jails and 3 more
- Police$47.2 million
- Prisons and jails$12.3 million
- Inspections and regulation$4.5 million
- Fire protection$1.8 million
- Courts and legal services$1.5 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
- Other public welfare$46.9 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; government buildings and 2 more
- Other and not broken out$17.4 million
- Government buildings$11.3 million
- Finance, tax collection and budgeting$9.2 million
- Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$7.0 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
- Interest on general debt$32.2 million
- Interest on water supply debt$7.5 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesLibraries and parks and recreation
- Libraries$13.8 million
- Parks and recreation$2.8 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
- Public health$9.5 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
- Natural resources, farming and conservation$1.4 million
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover
Union 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 Union 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.