County government · Delaware County, PA

Delaware County's money: where it comes from and where it goes

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2023), Delaware County took in $783 million and spent $797 million.

Latest recorded year: ended December 31, 2023Comes fromGoes to

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Where it comes from

State tax money46%County taxes23%Federal tax money18%Fees for services11%Fines and other2.4%

What stands out

46%

of Delaware County's money comes from state tax money.A typical U.S. county of 250,000+ people gets 19%.

County taxes23%

Property tax
22%$174 million
Other taxes
0.5%$3.9 million
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes and other licenses
  • Other selective sales taxes$3.9 million
  • Other licenses$59 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services11%

Fees for services
11%$86.9 million
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges
  • Other service charges$86.9 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money18%

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

From the federal government
18%$138 million

State tax money46%

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

From the state
46%$361 million

Fines and other2.4%

Interest, rents and other
2.4%$18.6 million

Where it goes

Social services55%Running the government and other costs26%Police, fire, courts and jails15%Sent to other local governments1.2%Roads, transit and parking1.2%All other spending1.4%

What stands out

55%

of Delaware County's spending goes to social services.A typical U.S. county of 250,000+ people spends 4.3%.

Spending by category100%

Social services
55%$438 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare and welfare institutions
  • Other public welfare$369 million
  • Welfare institutions$69.1 million
Running the government and other costs
26%$206 million
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$139 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$40.2 million
  • Government buildings$26.4 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$454 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
15%$122 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPrisons and jails and courts and legal services
  • Prisons and jails$79.5 million
  • Courts and legal services$42.6 million
Sent to other local governments
1.2%$9.9 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$9.9 million
Roads, transit and parking
1.2%$9.4 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$9.4 million
Interest on debt
0.8%$6.2 million
Housing and community development
0.6%$4.8 million
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

Delaware County. 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 Delaware 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.