County government · Cameron County, TX
Cameron County's money: where it comes from and where it goes
In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended September 30, 2023), Cameron County took in $279 million and spent $300 million.
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Where it comes from
What stands out
of Cameron County's money comes from taxes other than property, sales and income taxes.A typical U.S. county of 250,000+ people gets 2.5%.
County taxes61%
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; motor vehicle licenses and 3 more
- Other selective sales taxes$54.2 million
- Motor vehicle licenses$8.0 million
- Other licenses$1.4 million
- Alcoholic beverage licenses$137 thousand
- Amusement licenses$16 thousand
Amounts are by Census tax category.
Fees for services15%
What's in fees for servicesTolls on roads and bridges; parks and recreation and 3 more
- Tolls on roads and bridges$20.1 million
- Parks and recreation$13.4 million
- Other service charges$8.0 million
- Road charges$337 thousand
- Airport$71 thousand
Amounts are by Census type of charge.
Federal tax money6.1%
Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.
State tax money8.0%
Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.
Local tax money0.5%
Money passed on by the county or other local governments.
Fines and other9.4%
Where it goes
What stands out
of Cameron County's spending goes to local governments.Most U.S. counties of 250,000+ people spend nothing on this.
Spending by category100%
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPrisons and jails; police and 4 more
- Prisons and jails$29.5 million
- Police$26.9 million
- Courts and legal services$25.2 million
- Probation, parole and other corrections$10.0 million
- Inspections and regulation$1.1 million
- Fire protection$484 thousand
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to the state government and sent to local governments: other and not broken out
- Sent to the state government$53.9 million
- Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$6.6 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; finance, tax collection and budgeting and 2 more
- Other and not broken out$30.4 million
- Finance, tax collection and budgeting$7.5 million
- Government buildings$4.8 million
- Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$2.6 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways; toll roads and bridges and 1 more
- Roads and highways$34.6 million
- Toll roads and bridges$8.4 million
- Airports$128 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
- Parks and recreation$16.0 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
- Public health$14.2 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
- Other public welfare$5.2 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems
- Sewer systems$1.1 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
- Natural resources, farming and conservation$296 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover
Cameron County. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended September 30, 2023. Most of this government's figures were estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau from a sample; the government did not report them itself.
What this covers. The money of Cameron County 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.