County government · Wayne County, NC
Wayne County's money: where it comes from and where it goes
In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), Wayne County took in $436 million and spent $459 million.
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Where it comes from
What stands out
of Wayne County's money comes from state tax money.A typical U.S. county of 50,000 to 250,000 people gets 22%.
County taxes26%
What's in other taxesReal estate and stock transfer taxes; occupation and business licenses and 4 more
- Real estate and stock transfer taxes$1.1 million
- Occupation and business licenses$661 thousand
- Alcoholic beverage taxes$465 thousand
- Other selective sales taxes$403 thousand
- Other licenses$342 thousand
- Motor vehicle licenses$93 thousand
Amounts are by Census tax category.
Fees for services11%
What's in fees for servicesLiquor stores; other service charges and 10 more
- Liquor stores$12.7 million
- Other service charges$11.7 million
- Hospital bills$7.8 million
- Garbage collection$7.0 million
- Other government-run businesses$2.7 million
- College tuition$2.6 million
- Airport$1.0 million
- Sewer$729 thousand
- University housing and dining$605 thousand
- School lunches$334 thousand
- Transit fares$264 thousand
- Other school charges$7 thousand
Amounts are by Census type of charge.
Federal tax money4.1%
Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.
State tax money54%
Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.
Local tax money2.0%
Money passed on by the county or other local governments.
Fines and other3.2%
Where it goes
What stands out
of Wayne 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$216 million
- Colleges and universities$42.7 million
- Scholarships and other education subsidies$1.2 million
- College housing, dining and bookstores$12 thousand
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 2 more
- Other and not broken out$37.7 million
- Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$6.5 million
- Government buildings$6.4 million
- Finance, tax collection and budgeting$3.8 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
- Other public welfare$41.3 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; prisons and jails and 3 more
- Police$20.4 million
- Prisons and jails$9.2 million
- Fire protection$5.9 million
- Inspections and regulation$642 thousand
- Courts and legal services$154 thousand
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
- Public health$23.0 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesLiquor stores; garbage and solid waste and 1 more
- Liquor stores$11.2 million
- Garbage and solid waste$9.2 million
- Sewer systems$515 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesLibraries and parks and recreation
- Libraries$3.3 million
- Parks and recreation$106 thousand
What's in roads, transit and parkingAirports and public transit
- Airports$2.1 million
- Public transit$414 thousand
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$1.3 million
- Sent to the state government$1.0 million
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover
Wayne 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 Wayne 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.