City government · Charleston County, SC
Charleston's money: where it comes from and where it goes
In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2023), Charleston took in $671 million and spent $575 million.
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Where it comes from
What stands out
of Charleston's money comes from taxes other than property, sales and income taxes.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people gets 7.2%.
City taxes47%
What's in other taxesOther licenses; public utility licenses and 2 more
- Other licenses$70.4 million
- Public utility licenses$64.8 million
- Other selective sales taxes$23.2 million
- Public utility taxes$15.1 million
Amounts are by Census tax category.
Fees for services35%
What's in fees for servicesWater; parking and 4 more
- Water$183 million
- Parking$32.6 million
- Parks and recreation$8.7 million
- Other service charges$4.5 million
- Housing$3.6 million
- Other government-run businesses$2.8 million
Amounts are by Census type of charge.
Federal tax money0.5%
Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.
State tax money1.0%
Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.
Fines and other16%
Where it goes
What stands out
of Charleston's spending goes to water, sewer, trash and other utilities.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people spends 20%.
Spending by category100%
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply; sewer systems and 2 more
- Water supply$209 million
- Sewer systems$30.4 million
- Garbage and solid waste$9.9 million
- Electric power$5.6 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
- Police$65.1 million
- Fire protection$47.2 million
- Courts and legal services$6.5 million
- Inspections and regulation$2.1 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; finance, tax collection and budgeting and 3 more
- Other and not broken out$52.5 million
- Finance, tax collection and budgeting$12.9 million
- Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$4.0 million
- Government buildings$3.2 million
- Other government-run businesses$2.6 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
- Parks and recreation$51.7 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on water supply debt and interest on general debt
- Interest on water supply debt$30.7 million
- Interest on general debt$7.7 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and parking
- Roads and highways$10.2 million
- Parking$10.1 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$8.2 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
- Other public welfare$1.2 million
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover
City of Charleston. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. Most of this government's figures were estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau from a sample; the government did not report them itself.
What this covers. The money of City of Charleston 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.