Borough government · Washington County, PA

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

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2021), Houston took in $649 thousand and spent $914 thousand.

Latest recorded year: ended December 31, 2021Comes fromGoes to

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Where it comes from

Borough taxes55%State tax money16%Federal tax money14%Fees for services (sewer)8.6%County and local tax money4.6%Fines and other2.3%

What stands out

20%

of Houston's money comes from a personal income tax.Most U.S. cities, towns and villages of under 10,000 people get none.

Borough taxes55%

Property tax
26%$169 thousand
Individual income tax
20%$133 thousand
Other taxes
8.0%$52 thousand
What's in other taxesReal estate and stock transfer taxes; occupation and business licenses and 1 more
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$19 thousand
  • Occupation and business licenses$18 thousand
  • Public utility licenses$15 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services8.6%

Fees for services
8.6%$56 thousand
What's in fees for servicesSewer
  • Sewer$56 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money14%

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

From the federal government
14%$88 thousand

State tax money16%

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

From the state
16%$106 thousand

County and local tax money4.6%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
4.6%$30 thousand

Fines and other2.3%

Interest, rents and other
1.4%$9 thousand
Fines
0.9%$6 thousand

Where it goes

Roads, transit and parking40%Water, sewer, trash and utilities28%Running the government and other costs21%Police, fire, courts and jails9.4%Parks, recreation and libraries0.9%Health and hospitals0.8%

What stands out

40%

of Houston's spending goes to roads, transit and parking.A typical U.S. city, town or village of under 10,000 people spends 10%.

Spending by category100%

Roads, transit and parking
40%$369 thousand
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and public transit
  • Roads and highways$368 thousand
  • Public transit$1 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
28%$256 thousand
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems and garbage and solid waste
  • Sewer systems$192 thousand
  • Garbage and solid waste$64 thousand
Running the government and other costs
21%$188 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$101 thousand
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$38 thousand
  • Government buildings$30 thousand
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$19 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
9.4%$86 thousand
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 1 more
  • Police$54 thousand
  • Fire protection$26 thousand
  • Courts and legal services$6 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.9%$8 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$6 thousand
  • Libraries$2 thousand
Health and hospitals
0.8%$7 thousand
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$7 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

Borough of Houston. U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments, Finance, individual unit file, fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. The Census record for this government is from the 2022 survey, the newest on file.

What this covers. The money of Borough of Houston 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.