Town government · Beaufort County, SC

Hilton Head Island's money: where it comes from and where it goes

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), Hilton Head Island took in $131 million and spent $98.6 million.

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

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Where it comes from

Town taxes76%Fines and other14%Fees for services4.1%County and local tax money2.4%State tax money2.2%Federal tax money1.1%

What stands out

51%

of Hilton Head Island'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 taxes76%

Other taxes
51%$67.0 million
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; occupation and business licenses and 3 more
  • Other selective sales taxes$44.2 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$15.6 million
  • Other licenses$4.3 million
  • Public utility licenses$2.9 million
  • Motor vehicle licenses$2 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Property tax
25%$32.4 million

Fees for services4.1%

Fees for services
4.1%$5.4 million
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges
  • Other service charges$5.4 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money1.1%

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

From the federal government
1.1%$1.4 million

State tax money2.2%

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

From the state
2.2%$2.9 million

County and local tax money2.4%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
2.4%$3.1 million

Fines and other14%

Interest, rents and other
14%$18.7 million

Where it goes

Parks, recreation and libraries51%Running the government and other costs25%Police, fire, courts and jails21%Interest on debt2.9%

What stands out

51%

of Hilton Head Island's spending goes to parks, recreation and libraries.A typical U.S. city of 10,000 to 50,000 people spends 5.6%.

Spending by category100%

Parks, recreation and libraries
51%$50.3 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$50.3 million
Running the government and other costs
25%$24.7 million
What's in running the government and other costsFinance, tax collection and budgeting; government buildings and 3 more
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$9.0 million
  • Government buildings$7.7 million
  • Other and not broken out$3.7 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$2.3 million
  • Other government-run businesses$2.0 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
21%$20.7 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsFire protection and police
  • Fire protection$20.6 million
  • Police$99 thousand
Interest on debt
2.9%$2.9 million
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

Town of Hilton Head Island. 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 Hilton Head Island 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.