County government · Fairfax County, VA
Fairfax County's money: where it comes from and where it goes
In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), Fairfax County took in $7.75 billion and spent $8.31 billion.
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Where it comes from
What stands out
of Fairfax County's money comes from property tax.A typical U.S. county of 250,000+ people gets 29%.
County taxes62%
What's in other taxesOccupation and business licenses; public utility taxes and 5 more
- Occupation and business licenses$216 million
- Public utility taxes$125 million
- Other licenses$74.9 million
- Motor vehicle licenses$27.5 million
- Other selective sales taxes$25.5 million
- Real estate and stock transfer taxes$22.2 million
- Tobacco taxes$4.0 million
Amounts are by Census tax category.
Fees for services14%
What's in fees for servicesSewer; water and 9 more
- Sewer$361 million
- Water$233 million
- Other service charges$219 million
- Garbage collection$92.5 million
- Parks and recreation$74.5 million
- Housing$38.8 million
- School lunches$37.2 million
- School tuition and transportation$8.0 million
- Parking$7.0 million
- Transit fares$6.9 million
- Other school charges$3.2 million
Amounts are by Census type of charge.
Federal tax money2.9%
Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.
State tax money16%
Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.
Local tax money0.8%
Money passed on by the county or other local governments.
Fines and other4.9%
Where it goes
What stands out
of Fairfax County's spending goes to schools and colleges.Most U.S. counties of 250,000+ people spend nothing on this.
Spending by category100%
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
- Elementary and secondary schools$3.90 billion
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; government buildings and 2 more
- Other and not broken out$863 million
- Government buildings$84.2 million
- Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$52.1 million
- Finance, tax collection and budgeting$50.2 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 4 more
- Police$422 million
- Fire protection$369 million
- Prisons and jails$94.7 million
- Courts and legal services$49.2 million
- Inspections and regulation$29.0 million
- Probation, parole and other corrections$6.2 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems; water supply and 1 more
- Sewer systems$376 million
- Water supply$251 million
- Garbage and solid waste$110 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
- Public health$324 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
- Other public welfare$307 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingPublic transit; roads and highways and 1 more
- Public transit$218 million
- Roads and highways$47.1 million
- Parking$2.4 million
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to local governments: other and not broken out and sent to the state government
- Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$237 million
- Sent to the state government$160 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
- Parks and recreation$163 million
- Libraries$49.5 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
- Interest on general debt$102 million
- Interest on water supply debt$18.2 million
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover
Fairfax County. 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 Fairfax County 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.