City government · Hamilton County, OH
Cincinnati's money: where it comes from and where it goes
In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2023), Cincinnati took in $1.25 billion and spent $1.12 billion.
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Where it comes from
What stands out
of Cincinnati's money comes from a personal income tax.Most U.S. cities of 50,000+ people get none.
City taxes46%
What's in other taxesOther taxes not classified elsewhere; motor fuel taxes and 8 more
- Other taxes not classified elsewhere$23.4 million
- Motor fuel taxes$12.8 million
- Amusement taxes$11.9 million
- Other selective sales taxes$10.1 million
- Occupation and business licenses$7.5 million
- Motor vehicle licenses$4.8 million
- Alcoholic beverage licenses$683 thousand
- Public utility licenses$49 thousand
- Amusement licenses$43 thousand
- Other licenses$22 thousand
Amounts are by Census tax category.
Fees for services27%
What's in fees for servicesWater; other service charges and 6 more
- Water$199 million
- Other service charges$54.4 million
- Other government-run businesses$51.9 million
- Parks and recreation$19.6 million
- Parking$12.3 million
- Airport$2.3 million
- Transit fares$1.4 million
- Garbage collection$671 thousand
Amounts are by Census type of charge.
Federal tax money4.3%
Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.
State tax money4.0%
Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.
County and local tax money11%
Money passed on by the county or other local governments.
Fines and other6.8%
Where it goes
What stands out
of Cincinnati's spending goes to health services and hospitals.Most U.S. cities of 50,000+ people spend nothing on this.
Spending by category100%
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
- Police$179 million
- Fire protection$125 million
- Courts and legal services$13.3 million
- Inspections and regulation$12.8 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply; garbage and solid waste and 1 more
- Water supply$197 million
- Garbage and solid waste$22.9 million
- Sewer systems$11.0 million
What's in running the government and other costsCentral staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology); finance, tax collection and budgeting and 2 more
- Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$87.0 million
- Finance, tax collection and budgeting$39.2 million
- Government buildings$18.6 million
- Other and not broken out$13.1 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways; parking and 2 more
- Roads and highways$89.5 million
- Parking$8.9 million
- Public transit$6.1 million
- Airports$1.9 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
- Parks and recreation$80.1 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
- Public health$66.8 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
- Interest on general debt$22.0 million
- Interest on water supply debt$15.1 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$17.2 million
- Sent to the state government$668 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
- Natural resources, farming and conservation$5.2 million
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover
City of Cincinnati. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.
What this covers. The money of City of Cincinnati 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.