Where Do My Tax Dollars Go?
Select your city and enter how much you pay in local taxes to see exactly how your money is allocated across city departments. Based on real Census Bureau budget data.
Enter your annual property tax or estimated local tax contribution
How to Read Your Results
The breakdown shows what percentage of your city's total spending goes to each department. If your city spends 25% of its budget on police and you enter $3,000, then $750 of your tax contribution supports police services.
Keep in mind that cities fund their budgets from many sources — property taxes, sales taxes, fees, and grants. This calculator shows how the city spends money, proportionally applied to your contribution. For a complete picture of your city's finances, search for your city on the CitySpend homepage.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the tax dollar calculator work?
Select your city and enter the amount you pay in local taxes (property tax, local sales tax, etc.). The calculator uses actual budget data from the U.S. Census Bureau to show how your city allocates spending across departments. The breakdown reflects your city's actual spending proportions.
Is this calculator based on real data?
Yes. All spending proportions are calculated from the U.S. Census Bureau Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances. We use each city's actual expenditure by department to calculate the percentage allocated to each function.
Why doesn't this exactly match my tax bill?
Your property tax bill may fund multiple taxing jurisdictions (city, county, school district, special districts), but this calculator only shows the city government portion. Also, cities fund spending from multiple sources (not just property tax), so the breakdown represents total city spending, not just the property-tax-funded portion.
About This Data
Spending proportions are from the U.S. Census Bureau Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023 fiscal year). Covers municipalities with 50,000+ residents. See our methodology.