City government · Horry County, SC

Myrtle Beach's money: where it comes from and where it goes

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), Myrtle Beach took in $369 million and spent $340 million.

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

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Where it comes from

City taxes52%Fees for services (sewer, water)25%Fines and other15%State tax money5.9%Federal tax money1.2%County and local tax money0.6%

What stands out

25%

of Myrtle Beach's money comes from sales tax.Most U.S. cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people get none.

City taxes52%

Sales tax
25%$91.9 million
Property tax
15%$54.4 million
Other taxes
12%$44.6 million
What's in other taxesOccupation and business licenses; public utility licenses and 1 more
  • Occupation and business licenses$37.1 million
  • Public utility licenses$5.0 million
  • Other licenses$2.5 million

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services25%

Fees for services
25%$93.2 million
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges; sewer and 6 more
  • Other service charges$32.0 million
  • Sewer$18.3 million
  • Water$18.3 million
  • Garbage collection$9.0 million
  • Parks and recreation$6.7 million
  • Parks, land and natural resources$5.4 million
  • Parking$3.4 million
  • Other government-run businesses$227 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money1.2%

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

From the federal government
1.2%$4.4 million

State tax money5.9%

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

From the state
5.9%$21.8 million

County and local tax money0.6%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
0.6%$2.3 million

Fines and other15%

Interest, rents and other
15%$55.1 million
Fines
0.2%$893 thousand

Where it goes

Housing and community development29%Police, fire, courts and jails23%Running the government and other costs18%Parks, recreation and libraries12%Water, sewer, trash and utilities11%All other spending7.8%

What stands out

29%

of Myrtle Beach's spending goes to housing and community development.Most U.S. cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people spend nothing on this.

Spending by category100%

Housing and community development
29%$97.4 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
23%$77.1 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
  • Police$47.3 million
  • Fire protection$25.5 million
  • Inspections and regulation$2.3 million
  • Courts and legal services$2.0 million
Running the government and other costs
18%$59.8 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 3 more
  • Other and not broken out$37.8 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$8.6 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$7.2 million
  • Government buildings$5.8 million
  • Other government-run businesses$373 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
12%$40.6 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$38.7 million
  • Libraries$1.9 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
11%$38.6 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply; sewer systems and 1 more
  • Water supply$15.3 million
  • Sewer systems$14.9 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$8.4 million
Roads, transit and parking
3.3%$11.3 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and parking
  • Roads and highways$9.6 million
  • Parking$1.7 million
Interest on debt
3.3%$11.2 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$8.7 million
  • Interest on water supply debt$2.5 million
Environment and natural resources
1.2%$4.0 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$4.0 million
Sent to other local governments
<0.1%$156 thousand
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$156 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Myrtle Beach. 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 Myrtle Beach 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.