City government · Kanawha County, WV

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

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), South Charleston took in $49.3 million and spent $49.4 million.

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

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Where it comes from

City taxes58%Fees for services (sewer, garbage collection)33%Fines and other7.4%Federal tax money0.7%State tax money0.5%County and local tax money0.3%

What stands out

32%

of South 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 taxes58%

Other taxes
32%$15.9 million
What's in other taxesOccupation and business licenses; public utility taxes and 3 more
  • Occupation and business licenses$14.1 million
  • Public utility taxes$935 thousand
  • Other selective sales taxes$629 thousand
  • Other licenses$177 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$111 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Property tax
13%$6.4 million
Sales tax
13%$6.3 million

Fees for services33%

Fees for services
33%$16.3 million
What's in fees for servicesSewer; other service charges and 1 more
  • Sewer$11.3 million
  • Other service charges$3.6 million
  • Garbage collection$1.4 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money0.7%

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

From the federal government
0.7%$326 thousand

State tax money0.5%

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

From the state
0.5%$225 thousand

County and local tax money0.3%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
0.3%$130 thousand

Fines and other7.4%

Interest, rents and other
5.7%$2.8 million
Fines
1.7%$839 thousand

Where it goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities28%Running the government and other costs23%Police, fire, courts and jails17%Parks, recreation and libraries15%Roads, transit and parking9.1%Interest on debt7.3%

What stands out

15%

of South 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%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
28%$13.8 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems and garbage and solid waste
  • Sewer systems$12.0 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$1.8 million
Running the government and other costs
23%$11.5 million
What's in running the government and other costsCentral staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology); other and not broken out and 1 more
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$8.7 million
  • Other and not broken out$2.2 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$630 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
17%$8.6 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsFire protection; police and 1 more
  • Fire protection$4.7 million
  • Police$3.8 million
  • Courts and legal services$147 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
15%$7.4 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$6.5 million
  • Libraries$866 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
9.1%$4.5 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$4.5 million
Interest on debt
7.3%$3.6 million
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of South 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 South 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.