Borough government · Berks County, PA

West Reading's money: where it comes from and where it goes

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2021), West Reading took in $10.5 million and spent $11.6 million.

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

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Where it comes from

Fees for services (water, sewer)44%Borough taxes37%Fines and other11%State tax money6.3%Federal tax money2.1%County and local tax money0.3%

What stands out

7.7%

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

Borough taxes37%

Property tax
18%$1.9 million
Other taxes
11%$1.1 million
What's in other taxesOccupation and business licenses; real estate and stock transfer taxes and 1 more
  • Occupation and business licenses$911 thousand
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$128 thousand
  • Public utility licenses$77 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Individual income tax
7.7%$817 thousand

Fees for services44%

Fees for services
44%$4.6 million
What's in fees for servicesWater; sewer and 4 more
  • Water$1.9 million
  • Sewer$1.9 million
  • Garbage collection$567 thousand
  • Parks and recreation$170 thousand
  • Road charges$46 thousand
  • Other service charges$38 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money2.1%

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

From the federal government
2.1%$225 thousand

State tax money6.3%

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

From the state
6.3%$661 thousand

County and local tax money0.3%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
0.3%$31 thousand

Fines and other11%

Interest, rents and other
8.6%$902 thousand
Fines
2.4%$250 thousand

Where it goes

Police, fire, courts and jails46%Water, sewer, trash and utilities19%Roads, transit and parking14%Running the government and other costs10%Parks, recreation and libraries6.1%All other spending3.7%

What stands out

46%

of West Reading's spending goes to police, fire, courts and jails.A typical U.S. city, town or village of under 10,000 people spends 11%.

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
46%$5.3 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
  • Police$2.6 million
  • Fire protection$2.1 million
  • Inspections and regulation$525 thousand
  • Courts and legal services$75 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
19%$2.2 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply; sewer systems and 1 more
  • Water supply$901 thousand
  • Sewer systems$875 thousand
  • Garbage and solid waste$461 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
14%$1.7 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and parking
  • Roads and highways$1.6 million
  • Parking$31 thousand
Running the government and other costs
10%$1.2 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$506 thousand
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$362 thousand
  • Other and not broken out$252 thousand
  • Government buildings$72 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
6.1%$705 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$705 thousand
Interest on debt
2.7%$313 thousand
Housing and community development
0.8%$97 thousand
Environment and natural resources
0.1%$13 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$13 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

Borough of West Reading. 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 West Reading 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.