City government · Kanawha County, WV

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

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), Charleston took in $195 million and spent $183 million.

Latest recorded year: ended June 30, 2024Comes fromGoes to

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Where it comes from

City taxes52%Fees for services (parks and recreation, sewer)32%Fines and other5.3%Federal tax money5.2%State tax money4.8%

What stands out

33%

of Charleston's money comes from taxes other than property, sales and income taxes.A typical U.S. city of 10,000 to 50,000 people gets 6.1%.

City taxes52%

Other taxes
33%$64.2 million
What's in other taxesOccupation and business licenses; other selective sales taxes and 4 more
  • Occupation and business licenses$55.1 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$3.3 million
  • Public utility taxes$3.0 million
  • Other licenses$1.4 million
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$1.1 million
  • Amusement taxes$351 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Sales tax
10%$19.8 million
Property tax
9.2%$18.1 million

Fees for services32%

Fees for services
32%$63.4 million
What's in fees for servicesParks and recreation; sewer and 3 more
  • Parks and recreation$21.1 million
  • Sewer$20.9 million
  • Other service charges$14.9 million
  • Garbage collection$4.1 million
  • Parking$2.4 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money5.2%

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

From the federal government
5.2%$10.1 million

State tax money4.8%

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

From the state
4.8%$9.4 million

County and local tax money<0.1%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
<0.1%$75 thousand

Fines and other5.3%

Interest, rents and other
5.0%$9.7 million
Fines
0.3%$545 thousand

Where it goes

Police, fire, courts and jails37%Parks, recreation and libraries20%Running the government and other costs15%Water, sewer, trash and utilities14%Roads, transit and parking9.3%All other spending5.6%

What stands out

20%

of Charleston's spending goes to parks, recreation and libraries.A typical U.S. city of 10,000 to 50,000 people spends 5.6%.

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
37%$67.8 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 1 more
  • Police$33.7 million
  • Fire protection$31.1 million
  • Courts and legal services$3.0 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
20%$36.0 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$35.0 million
  • Libraries$973 thousand
Running the government and other costs
15%$26.7 million
What's in running the government and other costsGovernment buildings; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 3 more
  • Government buildings$8.8 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$8.1 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$6.8 million
  • Other and not broken out$1.7 million
  • Other government-run businesses$1.3 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
14%$24.8 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems and garbage and solid waste
  • Sewer systems$18.4 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$6.4 million
Roads, transit and parking
9.3%$17.0 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and parking
  • Roads and highways$14.3 million
  • Parking$2.8 million
Housing and community development
3.8%$6.9 million
Interest on debt
1.2%$2.2 million
Social services
0.7%$1.2 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$1.2 million
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Charleston. 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 Charleston 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.