City government · Georgetown County, SC

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

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), Georgetown took in $41.2 million and spent $46.8 million.

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

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Where it comes from

Fees for services (electric power, sewer)60%City taxes26%Fines and other5.5%Federal tax money4.9%State tax money2.5%County and local tax money0.5%

What stands out

16%

of Georgetown's money comes from taxes other than property, sales and income taxes.A typical U.S. city, town or village of under 10,000 people gets 2.5%.

City taxes26%

Other taxes
16%$6.7 million
What's in other taxesOccupation and business licenses; other selective sales taxes and 3 more
  • Occupation and business licenses$4.6 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$1.9 million
  • Public utility licenses$196 thousand
  • Motor vehicle licenses$20 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$17 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Property tax
10%$4.2 million

Fees for services60%

Fees for services
60%$24.9 million
What's in fees for servicesElectric power; sewer and 2 more
  • Electric power$13.5 million
  • Sewer$5.9 million
  • Water$4.1 million
  • Garbage collection$1.4 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money4.9%

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

From the federal government
4.9%$2.0 million

State tax money2.5%

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

From the state
2.5%$1.0 million

County and local tax money0.5%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
0.5%$194 thousand

Fines and other5.5%

Interest, rents and other
5.1%$2.1 million
Fines
0.4%$166 thousand

Where it goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities65%Police, fire, courts and jails18%Running the government and other costs8.7%Roads, transit and parking3.3%Parks, recreation and libraries3.1%All other spending1.8%

What stands out

65%

of Georgetown's spending goes to water, sewer, trash and other utilities.A typical U.S. city, town or village of under 10,000 people spends 32%.

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
65%$30.4 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesElectric power; sewer systems and 2 more
  • Electric power$13.6 million
  • Sewer systems$8.3 million
  • Water supply$7.3 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$1.2 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
18%$8.5 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 1 more
  • Police$5.0 million
  • Fire protection$3.3 million
  • Courts and legal services$314 thousand
Running the government and other costs
8.7%$4.1 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 1 more
  • Other and not broken out$2.3 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$905 thousand
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$893 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
3.3%$1.6 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$1.6 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
3.1%$1.4 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$1.4 million
Housing and community development
1.6%$767 thousand
Interest on debt
0.1%$62 thousand
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt; interest on water supply debt and 1 more
  • Interest on general debt$38 thousand
  • Interest on water supply debt$13 thousand
  • Interest on electric power debt$11 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Georgetown. 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 City of Georgetown 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.