Town government · Beaufort County, SC

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

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), Bluffton took in $48.7 million and spent $33.6 million.

Latest recorded year: ended June 30, 2024Comes fromGoes to

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Where it comes from

Town taxes80%State tax money8.0%Fees for services (sewer, parks and recreation)5.3%Fines and other3.1%County and local tax money2.0%Federal tax money1.5%

What stands out

49%

of Bluffton's money comes from taxes other than property, sales and income taxes.A typical U.S. city of 10,000 to 50,000 people gets 6.1%.

Town taxes80%

Other taxes
49%$23.9 million
What's in other taxesOccupation and business licenses; other selective sales taxes and 3 more
  • Occupation and business licenses$9.2 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$6.9 million
  • Other licenses$4.3 million
  • Public utility licenses$3.4 million
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$126 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Property tax
31%$15.0 million

Fees for services5.3%

Fees for services
5.3%$2.6 million
What's in fees for servicesSewer; other service charges and 1 more
  • Sewer$2.3 million
  • Other service charges$234 thousand
  • Parks and recreation$60 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money1.5%

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

From the federal government
1.5%$755 thousand

State tax money8.0%

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

From the state
8.0%$3.9 million

County and local tax money2.0%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
2.0%$999 thousand

Fines and other3.1%

Interest, rents and other
2.9%$1.4 million
Fines
0.3%$136 thousand

Where it goes

Running the government and other costs38%Police, fire, courts and jails36%Parks, recreation and libraries15%Water, sewer, trash and utilities8.2%Interest on debt2.1%Roads, transit and parking1.1%

What stands out

38%

of Bluffton's spending goes to running the government and other costs.A typical U.S. city of 10,000 to 50,000 people spends 18%.

Spending by category100%

Running the government and other costs
38%$12.9 million
What's in running the government and other costsCentral staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology); other and not broken out and 2 more
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$6.0 million
  • Other and not broken out$4.5 million
  • Government buildings$1.4 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$1.0 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
36%$12.0 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; inspections and regulation and 1 more
  • Police$10.6 million
  • Inspections and regulation$817 thousand
  • Courts and legal services$557 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
15%$4.9 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$4.9 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
8.2%$2.8 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems
  • Sewer systems$2.8 million
Interest on debt
2.1%$701 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
1.1%$383 thousand
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$383 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

Town of Bluffton. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2024.

What this covers. The money of Town of Bluffton 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.