Government budget and revenue in Charleston, South Carolina: official figures
Charleston's city government took in $671.27 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, or $4,368 for each of its 153,672 residents (2024 figure in the finance file).
How much does Charleston spend and on what?
It spent $575.00 million in the same year, $3,742 per resident. The largest identified functions were the water utility (36.3%), police (11.3%) and parks and recreation (9.0%) of the total.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does Charleston collect per resident?
Taxes raised $317.16 million ($2,064 per resident) in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 65.0% of general revenue, compared with 49.3% for all US city governments combined in 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat taxes does Charleston rely on?
Of Charleston's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, property tax made up 34.7%, general sales tax 10.6%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 12.1%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much federal and state money does Charleston get?
Payments from other governments made up 2.0% of Charleston's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023: 0.6% from the federal government ($20 per resident), 1.3% from the state. For all US city governments in 2022 the aid share was 24.3%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Charleston raise from fees and utilities?
Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $52.19 million, 10.7% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $183.44 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Charleston spend on police?
Charleston's city government spent $65.15 million on police in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, $424 per resident and 11.3% of its total spending; police took 10.3% of spending across all US city governments in 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Charleston spend on fire protection?
Fire protection cost $47.20 million, $307 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much debt does Charleston have?
At the end of the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, Charleston's city government owed $1.0 billion in long-term debt, $6,609 per resident. During the year it issued no new long-term debt and repaid $72.83 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Charleston pay in interest on its debt?
Interest on debt cost $38.46 million in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 6.7% of total spending.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyAre the Charleston budget figures reported or estimated?
Charleston did not report most of its 2024 figures: the Census Bureau imputed 66% of the revenue dollars in its record, so these amounts are estimates and are left out of the city rankings.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyMore on Charleston: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · all cities in the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit files (item amounts for every sampled government, directory with population and fiscal year end, state estimates by type of government), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0967c4d30466…)
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