City government · Salem City, VA
Salem's money: where it comes from and where it goes
In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), Salem took in $211 million and spent $244 million.
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Where it comes from
What stands out
of Salem's money comes from state tax money.A typical U.S. city of 10,000 to 50,000 people gets 7%.
City taxes38%
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; occupation and business licenses and 6 more
- Other selective sales taxes$9.0 million
- Occupation and business licenses$7.2 million
- Public utility taxes$1.4 million
- Motor vehicle licenses$612 thousand
- Tobacco taxes$546 thousand
- Amusement taxes$374 thousand
- Other licenses$356 thousand
- Real estate and stock transfer taxes$332 thousand
Amounts are by Census tax category.
Fees for services36%
What's in fees for servicesElectric power; sewer and 8 more
- Electric power$46.3 million
- Sewer$7.7 million
- Water$7.7 million
- Parks and recreation$5.7 million
- Other service charges$4.3 million
- Garbage collection$3.7 million
- School lunches$634 thousand
- School tuition and transportation$356 thousand
- Other school charges$23 thousand
- Road charges$7 thousand
Amounts are by Census type of charge.
Federal tax money0.7%
Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.
State tax money18%
Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.
County and local tax money0.2%
Money passed on by the county or other local governments.
Fines and other7.1%
Where it goes
What stands out
of Salem's spending goes to schools and colleges.Most U.S. cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people spend nothing on this.
Spending by category100%
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
- Elementary and secondary schools$62.5 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesElectric power; garbage and solid waste and 2 more
- Electric power$44.3 million
- Garbage and solid waste$5.4 million
- Water supply$5.2 million
- Sewer systems$5.1 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
- Parks and recreation$29.6 million
- Libraries$1.6 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 4 more
- Police$13.6 million
- Fire protection$11.1 million
- Prisons and jails$3.3 million
- Courts and legal services$2.3 million
- Inspections and regulation$723 thousand
- Probation, parole and other corrections$1 thousand
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; finance, tax collection and budgeting and 2 more
- Other and not broken out$23.3 million
- Finance, tax collection and budgeting$1.6 million
- Government buildings$1.6 million
- Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$1.3 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
- Roads and highways$16.5 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
- Other public welfare$6.3 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
- Public health$4.4 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on electric power debt
- Interest on general debt$1.4 million
- Interest on electric power debt$214 thousand
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$277 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
- Natural resources, farming and conservation$29 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover
City of Salem. 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 Salem 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.