City government · El Paso County, TX
El Paso's money: where it comes from and where it goes
In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended August 31, 2023), El Paso took in $1.63 billion and spent $1.69 billion.
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Where it comes from
What stands out
of El Paso's money comes from federal tax money.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people gets 3.6%.
City taxes44%
What's in other taxesPublic utility taxes; other selective sales taxes and 4 more
- Public utility taxes$93.7 million
- Other selective sales taxes$25.9 million
- Other licenses$13.6 million
- Occupation and business licenses$1.8 million
- Alcoholic beverage licenses$263 thousand
- Amusement taxes$31 thousand
Amounts are by Census tax category.
Fees for services37%
What's in fees for servicesWater; sewer and 8 more
- Water$215 million
- Sewer$186 million
- Garbage collection$73.5 million
- Airport$56.9 million
- Tolls on roads and bridges$29.6 million
- Other service charges$20.4 million
- Parks and recreation$14.6 million
- Transit fares$7.2 million
- Housing$3.0 million
- Road charges$604 thousand
Amounts are by Census type of charge.
Federal tax money8.0%
Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.
State tax money3.0%
Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.
County and local tax money0.2%
Money passed on by the county or other local governments.
Fines and other7.7%
Where it goes
What stands out
of El Paso'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 utilitiesWater supply; sewer systems and 1 more
- Water supply$393 million
- Sewer systems$221 million
- Garbage and solid waste$41.9 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
- Police$159 million
- Fire protection$149 million
- Courts and legal services$12.6 million
- Inspections and regulation$8.5 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 1 more
- Other and not broken out$230 million
- Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$14.6 million
- Finance, tax collection and budgeting$7.9 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingPublic transit; roads and highways and 2 more
- Public transit$67.3 million
- Roads and highways$65.0 million
- Airports$60.4 million
- Toll roads and bridges$8.0 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt; interest on water supply debt and 1 more
- Interest on general debt$97.5 million
- Interest on water supply debt$22.2 million
- Interest on public transit debt$1.4 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
- Parks and recreation$76.7 million
- Libraries$10.4 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
- Public health$35.2 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
- Other public welfare$1.7 million
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover
City of El Paso. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended August 31, 2023.
What this covers. The money of City of El Paso 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.