City government · Galveston County, TX

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

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended September 30, 2023), Friendswood took in $70.6 million and spent $70.4 million.

Latest recorded year: ended September 30, 2023Comes fromGoes to

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Where it comes from

City taxes54%Fees for services (water, sewer)31%Fines and other6.7%State tax money5.9%County and local tax money2.9%

What stands out

17%

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

City taxes54%

Property tax
32%$22.7 million
Sales tax
17%$12.0 million
Other taxes
4.5%$3.2 million
What's in other taxesPublic utility taxes; occupation and business licenses and 1 more
  • Public utility taxes$2.2 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$912 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$10 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services31%

Fees for services
31%$21.7 million
What's in fees for servicesWater; sewer and 3 more
  • Water$10.7 million
  • Sewer$9.8 million
  • Parks and recreation$513 thousand
  • Other service charges$405 thousand
  • Garbage collection$241 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money<0.1%

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

From the federal government
<0.1%$6 thousand

State tax money5.9%

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

From the state
5.9%$4.2 million

County and local tax money2.9%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
2.9%$2.0 million

Fines and other6.7%

Interest, rents and other
5.4%$3.8 million
Fines
1.4%$960 thousand

Where it goes

Police, fire, courts and jails28%Water, sewer, trash and utilities26%Running the government and other costs20%Parks, recreation and libraries7.9%Environment and natural resources7.1%All other spending11%

What stands out

7.1%

of Friendswood's spending goes to the environment and natural resources.Most U.S. cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people spend nothing on this.

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
28%$19.4 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
  • Police$13.5 million
  • Fire protection$4.8 million
  • Courts and legal services$613 thousand
  • Inspections and regulation$491 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
26%$18.4 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply and sewer systems
  • Water supply$10.5 million
  • Sewer systems$7.9 million
Running the government and other costs
20%$14.3 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; government buildings and 2 more
  • Other and not broken out$5.4 million
  • Government buildings$4.1 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$3.5 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$1.3 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
7.9%$5.6 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$4.1 million
  • Libraries$1.4 million
Environment and natural resources
7.1%$5.0 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$5.0 million
Roads, transit and parking
5.3%$3.7 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$3.7 million
Interest on debt
4.8%$3.4 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on water supply debt and interest on general debt
  • Interest on water supply debt$1.8 million
  • Interest on general debt$1.7 million
Health and hospitals
0.7%$492 thousand
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$492 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Friendswood. 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 Friendswood 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.