City government · Jefferson County, TX

Port Arthur's money: where it comes from and where it goes

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended September 30, 2023), Port Arthur took in $194 million and spent $140 million.

Latest recorded year: ended September 30, 2023Estimated by the U.S. Census BureauComes fromGoes to

See every government that serves your ZIP

Where it comes from

City taxes32%Fines and other28%Fees for services (water, sewer)23%Federal tax money13%State tax money3.7%

What stands out

27%

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

City taxes32%

Property tax
14%$26.3 million
Sales tax
11%$21.7 million
Other taxes
7.7%$15.0 million
What's in other taxesPublic utility taxes; other selective sales taxes and 3 more
  • Public utility taxes$12.3 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$1.5 million
  • Other licenses$697 thousand
  • Amusement licenses$609 thousand
  • Occupation and business licenses$9 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services23%

Fees for services
23%$44.8 million
What's in fees for servicesWater; sewer and 5 more
  • Water$21.0 million
  • Sewer$12.3 million
  • Garbage collection$9.3 million
  • Parks and recreation$1.2 million
  • Other service charges$788 thousand
  • Transit fares$161 thousand
  • Other government-run businesses$74 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money13%

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

From the federal government
13%$24.8 million

State tax money3.7%

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

From the state
3.7%$7.2 million

Fines and other28%

Interest, rents and other
27%$52.3 million
Fines
1.1%$2.2 million

Where it goes

Police, fire, courts and jails36%Water, sewer, trash and utilities23%Running the government and other costs16%Roads, transit and parking12%Parks, recreation and libraries5.4%All other spending7.3%

What stands out

36%

of Port Arthur's spending goes to police, fire, courts and jails.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people spends 25%.

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
36%$50.6 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
  • Police$28.7 million
  • Fire protection$17.2 million
  • Courts and legal services$3.4 million
  • Inspections and regulation$1.3 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
23%$32.6 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply; sewer systems and 1 more
  • Water supply$14.7 million
  • Sewer systems$9.4 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$8.6 million
Running the government and other costs
16%$21.7 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; government buildings and 3 more
  • Other and not broken out$12.6 million
  • Government buildings$3.5 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$2.7 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$2.1 million
  • Other government-run businesses$833 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
12%$17.1 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and public transit
  • Roads and highways$12.6 million
  • Public transit$4.5 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
5.4%$7.6 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$6.0 million
  • Libraries$1.6 million
Social services
2.4%$3.4 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$3.4 million
Housing and community development
2.2%$3.1 million
Health and hospitals
1.9%$2.6 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$2.6 million
Interest on debt
0.8%$1.1 million
Environment and natural resources
<0.1%$22 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$22 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Port Arthur. 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 City of Port Arthur 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.