For the 2010 fiscal year, the City Audit shows $674.5 million in governmental revenues. Aside from the $157.4 million in "grants & contributions" (State and federal money that nonetheless came out of your pocket and mine, methinks), most of this came directly out of our hides (totals in $ million).
| Property Taxes | 269.3 | 40% |
| Other Taxes | 163.7 | 24% |
| Operating Grants & Contributions | 151.9 | 23% |
| Charges for Services | 83.6 | 12% |
| Capital Grants & Contributions | 5.5 | 1% |
| Inter-governmental | 0.2 | 0% |
| Miscellaneous | 0.2 | 0% |
| Investment Income | 0.1 | 0% |
| Total | 674.5 |
Here are the same data in graphical form:
That $674 million icomes to about $3,459 per person, based on the 2009-10 population of 194,974.
You probably know about the real estate tax, $1.20 per $100 of a assessed value in 2009-10. If you own a house, you know about it in detail. Then there's the tangible personal property ($3.70 per $100) and machinery and tools used for manufacturing and mining ($2.30 per $100). As to the personal property, the State now pays 70% of the car tax (up to $20,000 value of the vehicle). Of course, you pay state taxes to pay that 70%, so it's still your money, laundered through the State. You see the sales tax every time you make a purchase: 1% of the 5% tax goes to the City. On top of the sales tax comes the 6% levy on prepared meals, plus another 1% for the Performing Arts boondoggle.
That's nowhere near the end of the matter. You also get taxed on your:
- Electricity ($1.40 + $0.015116 per KW-Hr, not to exceed $4 per month)
- Electricity consumption ($.00038 per kWh for the first 2,500 kWh; sliding scale above that)
- Gas ($1.78 plus $0.010091 per 100 CCF, not to exceed $4 per month)
- Telephone (25% of first $20)
- Business & Professional Licenses (depends on the business and gross receipts)
- Motor Vehicle License ($23 on the first 4,000 lbs of car, $28 if heavier; sliding scale for trucks)
- Admission to place of amusement or entertainment (7%)
- Bank Stock ($0.80 per $100 value of the stock)
- Lodging (8%)
- Cable TV (5%)
Likewise they have commercial and industrial utility taxes and they get some folks for private utility poles, titling mobile homes, recording deeds, or renting vehicles.
So they do tax you for breathing if it's into a 'phone, or as part of your profession, or laughing at a movie, or while eating in a restaurant, or while driving a rented car.
Here are the 2009-10 expenditures per the audit (in $ million):
| General Government | 137.8 |
| Public Safety & Judiciary | 175.8 |
| Highway, Street, Sanitation, & Refuse | 61.5 |
| Human Services | 93.7 |
| Culture & Recreation | 26 |
| Education | 163.6 |
| Transportation | 11.6 |
| Interest & Fiscal Charges | 20.2 |
| Total | 690.2 |
Or, in terms of a chart:
Note that the school expenditure of $163.6 million includes some $51 million (ca. 31%) that is being wasted.