City government · Harris County, TX

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

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended September 30, 2023), Pasadena took in $267 million and spent $226 million.

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

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Where it comes from

City taxes41%Fines and other25%Fees for services (water, sewer)24%Federal tax money9.0%State tax money0.3%County and local tax money0.1%

What stands out

24%

of Pasadena's money comes from interest, rents and other revenue.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people gets 6.9%.

City taxes41%

Property tax
20%$53.4 million
Sales tax
16%$43.9 million
Other taxes
4.8%$12.9 million
What's in other taxesPublic utility taxes; occupation and business licenses and 2 more
  • Public utility taxes$8.8 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$2.5 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$1.6 million
  • Other licenses$50 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services24%

Fees for services
24%$64.4 million
What's in fees for servicesWater; sewer and 3 more
  • Water$31.4 million
  • Sewer$18.5 million
  • Garbage collection$10.8 million
  • Parks and recreation$2.3 million
  • Other service charges$1.4 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money9.0%

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

From the federal government
9.0%$24.0 million

State tax money0.3%

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

From the state
0.3%$713 thousand

County and local tax money0.1%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
0.1%$367 thousand

Fines and other25%

Interest, rents and other
24%$63.8 million
Fines
1.3%$3.6 million

Where it goes

Police, fire, courts and jails29%Water, sewer, trash and utilities21%Parks, recreation and libraries14%Running the government and other costs14%Roads, transit and parking10%All other spending12%

What stands out

14%

of Pasadena's spending goes to parks, recreation and libraries.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people spends 6.4%.

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
29%$66.5 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
  • Police$49.6 million
  • Fire protection$9.7 million
  • Courts and legal services$3.7 million
  • Inspections and regulation$3.5 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
21%$46.8 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply; sewer systems and 1 more
  • Water supply$21.0 million
  • Sewer systems$15.5 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$10.3 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
14%$31.2 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$27.3 million
  • Libraries$3.9 million
Running the government and other costs
14%$30.9 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 2 more
  • Other and not broken out$12.8 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$12.0 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$4.2 million
  • Government buildings$1.9 million
Roads, transit and parking
10%$22.9 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$22.9 million
Housing and community development
5.5%$12.5 million
Health and hospitals
3.5%$8.0 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$8.0 million
Interest on debt
3.0%$6.9 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$4.6 million
  • Interest on water supply debt$2.2 million
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Pasadena. 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 Pasadena 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.