City government · Cameron County, TX
Brownsville's money: where it comes from and where it goes
In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended September 30, 2023), Brownsville took in $515 million and spent $469 million.
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Where it comes from
What stands out
of Brownsville's money comes from fees for services such as water, sewer and parking.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people gets 30%.
City taxes21%
What's in other taxesPublic utility taxes; other selective sales taxes and 3 more
- Public utility taxes$4.9 million
- Other selective sales taxes$2.2 million
- Occupation and business licenses$1.9 million
- Other licenses$604 thousand
- Alcoholic beverage licenses$76 thousand
Amounts are by Census tax category.
Fees for services64%
What's in fees for servicesElectric power; water and 7 more
- Electric power$222 million
- Water$35.7 million
- Sewer$28.3 million
- Garbage collection$18.1 million
- Other service charges$17.0 million
- Airport$3.1 million
- Parks and recreation$2.4 million
- Transit fares$1.5 million
- Parking$161 thousand
Amounts are by Census type of charge.
Federal tax money7.5%
Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.
State tax money0.3%
Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.
County and local tax money1.5%
Money passed on by the county or other local governments.
Fines and other5.6%
Where it goes
What stands out
of Brownsville'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 utilitiesElectric power; sewer systems and 2 more
- Electric power$169 million
- Sewer systems$30.6 million
- Water supply$28.5 million
- Garbage and solid waste$10.3 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 3 more
- Police$50.5 million
- Fire protection$26.8 million
- Courts and legal services$3.3 million
- Inspections and regulation$2.5 million
- Prisons and jails$692 thousand
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways; public transit and 2 more
- Roads and highways$32.6 million
- Public transit$11.3 million
- Airports$6.6 million
- Parking$1.2 million
What's in running the government and other costsCentral staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology); other and not broken out and 2 more
- Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$32.3 million
- Other and not broken out$13.7 million
- Finance, tax collection and budgeting$4.6 million
- Government buildings$126 thousand
What's in interest on debtInterest on electric power debt; interest on general debt and 1 more
- Interest on electric power debt$7.8 million
- Interest on general debt$6.6 million
- Interest on water supply debt$3.5 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
- Parks and recreation$12.3 million
- Libraries$4.5 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
- Public health$4.6 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$2.6 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
- Other public welfare$463 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover
City of Brownsville. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended September 30, 2023.
What this covers. The money of City of Brownsville 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.