City government · Lawrence County, SD

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

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2023), Spearfish took in $38.9 million and spent $38.9 million.

Latest recorded year: ended December 31, 2023Comes fromGoes to

See every government that serves your ZIP

Where it comes from

City taxes47%Fees for services (sewer, water)31%Fines and other19%State tax money2.4%County and local tax money0.8%Federal tax money0.3%

What stands out

34%

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

City taxes47%

Sales tax
34%$13.2 million
Property tax
9.7%$3.8 million
Other taxes
3.3%$1.3 million
What's in other taxesOccupation and business licenses; pari-mutuel (betting) taxes and 6 more
  • Occupation and business licenses$483 thousand
  • Pari-mutuel (betting) taxes$228 thousand
  • Motor fuel taxes$142 thousand
  • Public utility taxes$133 thousand
  • Public utility licenses$124 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$84 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$59 thousand
  • Other licenses$25 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services31%

Fees for services
31%$12.1 million
What's in fees for servicesSewer; water and 7 more
  • Sewer$4.4 million
  • Water$3.3 million
  • Parks and recreation$1.7 million
  • Garbage collection$1.6 million
  • Electric power$699 thousand
  • Other service charges$148 thousand
  • Airport$95 thousand
  • Other government-run businesses$65 thousand
  • Parking$26 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money0.3%

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

From the federal government
0.3%$107 thousand

State tax money2.4%

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

From the state
2.4%$946 thousand

County and local tax money0.8%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
0.8%$293 thousand

Fines and other19%

Interest, rents and other
19%$7.3 million
Fines
<0.1%$2 thousand

Where it goes

Parks, recreation and libraries26%Water, sewer, trash and utilities25%Roads, transit and parking20%Running the government and other costs13%Police, fire, courts and jails13%Interest on debt3.4%

What stands out

26%

of Spearfish'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
26%$10.2 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$9.6 million
  • Libraries$546 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
25%$9.6 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems; water supply and 2 more
  • Sewer systems$5.7 million
  • Water supply$2.4 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$1.2 million
  • Electric power$362 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
20%$7.7 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways; airports and 1 more
  • Roads and highways$7.4 million
  • Airports$247 thousand
  • Parking$14 thousand
Running the government and other costs
13%$5.1 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$2.7 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$1.0 million
  • Government buildings$819 thousand
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$427 thousand
  • Other government-run businesses$126 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
13%$5.0 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
  • Police$3.6 million
  • Fire protection$992 thousand
  • Inspections and regulation$324 thousand
  • Courts and legal services$170 thousand
Interest on debt
3.4%$1.3 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$1.3 million
  • Interest on water supply debt$14 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Spearfish. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

What this covers. The money of City of Spearfish 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.