Township government · Montgomery County, PA

Upper Merion Township's money: where it comes from and where it goes

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2023), Upper Merion Township took in $64.2 million and spent $59.9 million.

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

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Where it comes from

Township taxes62%Fees for services (sewer, parks and recreation)21%State tax money8.6%Fines and other7.9%Federal tax money0.2%

What stands out

42%

of Upper Merion Township's money comes from taxes other than property, sales and income taxes.A typical U.S. township or town of 10,000 to 50,000 people gets 3.2%.

Township taxes62%

Other taxes
42%$27.1 million
What's in other taxesOccupation and business licenses; real estate and stock transfer taxes and 2 more
  • Occupation and business licenses$23.7 million
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$2.1 million
  • Amusement taxes$739 thousand
  • Public utility licenses$620 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Property tax
20%$12.5 million

Fees for services21%

Fees for services
21%$13.8 million
What's in fees for servicesSewer; other service charges and 3 more
  • Sewer$9.0 million
  • Other service charges$2.8 million
  • Parks and recreation$1.7 million
  • Garbage collection$197 thousand
  • Water$53 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money0.2%

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

From the federal government
0.2%$106 thousand

State tax money8.6%

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

From the state
8.6%$5.5 million

Fines and other7.9%

Interest, rents and other
7.4%$4.7 million
Fines
0.6%$358 thousand

Where it goes

Police, fire, courts and jails49%Water, sewer, trash and utilities15%Roads, transit and parking13%Parks, recreation and libraries11%Running the government and other costs9.8%Interest on debt1.7%

What stands out

49%

of Upper Merion Township's spending goes to police, fire, courts and jails.A typical U.S. township or town of 10,000 to 50,000 people spends 16%.

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
49%$29.5 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 1 more
  • Police$20.3 million
  • Fire protection$8.2 million
  • Inspections and regulation$970 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
15%$9.3 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste and sewer systems
  • Garbage and solid waste$7.2 million
  • Sewer systems$2.1 million
Roads, transit and parking
13%$7.7 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$7.7 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
11%$6.6 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$4.6 million
  • Libraries$2.0 million
Running the government and other costs
9.8%$5.9 million
What's in running the government and other costsFinance, tax collection and budgeting; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 2 more
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$2.9 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$2.3 million
  • Other and not broken out$384 thousand
  • Government buildings$244 thousand
Interest on debt
1.7%$996 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

Upper Merion Township. 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 Upper Merion Township 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.