City government · Alexandria City, VA
Alexandria's money: where it comes from and where it goes
In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), Alexandria took in $1.23 billion and spent $1.52 billion.
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Where it comes from
What stands out
of Alexandria's money comes from property tax.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people gets 20%.
City taxes64%
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; occupation and business licenses and 6 more
- Other selective sales taxes$46.6 million
- Occupation and business licenses$42.3 million
- Public utility taxes$19.8 million
- Other licenses$12.0 million
- Real estate and stock transfer taxes$3.9 million
- Tobacco taxes$1.9 million
- Amusement taxes$373 thousand
- Motor vehicle licenses$2 thousand
Amounts are by Census tax category.
Fees for services10%
What's in fees for servicesSewer; other service charges and 9 more
- Sewer$84.3 million
- Other service charges$11.0 million
- Housing$6.8 million
- Garbage collection$6.2 million
- Parks and recreation$6.2 million
- Parking$5.8 million
- School lunches$2.1 million
- Road charges$643 thousand
- Transit fares$378 thousand
- School tuition and transportation$136 thousand
- Other school charges$103 thousand
Amounts are by Census type of charge.
Federal tax money9.6%
Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.
State tax money8.7%
Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.
County and local tax money1.0%
Money passed on by the county or other local governments.
Fines and other6.9%
Where it goes
What stands out
of Alexandria's spending goes to schools and colleges.Most U.S. cities of 50,000+ people spend nothing on this.
Spending by category100%
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
- Elementary and secondary schools$371 million
What's in running the government and other costsGovernment buildings; other and not broken out and 2 more
- Government buildings$104 million
- Other and not broken out$86.0 million
- Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$18.6 million
- Finance, tax collection and budgeting$15.0 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingPublic transit and roads and highways
- Public transit$165 million
- Roads and highways$49.0 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 3 more
- Police$81.6 million
- Fire protection$62.9 million
- Prisons and jails$26.7 million
- Courts and legal services$18.0 million
- Inspections and regulation$8.3 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems and garbage and solid waste
- Sewer systems$175 million
- Garbage and solid waste$9.9 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
- Other public welfare$62.4 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
- Public health$55.3 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
- Parks and recreation$34.1 million
- Libraries$9.2 million
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to local governments: other and not broken out
- Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$1.6 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
- Natural resources, farming and conservation$378 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover
City of Alexandria. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2024.
What this covers. The money of City of Alexandria 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.