Budget & Finances
Where the money comes from, and where it goes
A city budget is a policy document written in dollars. This page shows the whole thing in two directions — revenue in, spending out — with no PDF to download first.
- all funds
- $412.6MEvery fund the City operates, not just the general fund.
- general fund
- $118.4MThe discretionary portion Council allocates each year.
- per resident
- $2,427All funds divided by roughly 170,000 residents.
- goes to public safety
- 31.8%Police and Fire combined, the largest single share.
FY2027. All figures illustrative.
Sales tax is the largest single source, which is why a city's budget moves with its retail economy.
$412.6 million
- Sales tax$96.4M · 23.4%
General and dedicated sales taxes, including voter-approved capital and transportation levies.
- Charges for services$88.2M · 21.4%
What residents pay for a specific service — sewer, refuse, recreation, ambulance transport.
- Intergovernmental & grants$58.9M · 14.3%
Federal and state pass-through funding, largely restricted to a named purpose.
- Utility & franchise fees$51.3M · 12.4%
Franchise fees on utilities operating in the public right-of-way.
- Property tax$42.7M · 10.3%
The City's levy only — most of a Springfield property tax bill goes to schools and the county.
- Licenses, permits & fees$26.5M · 6.4%
Building permits, business licenses, inspections and plan review.
- Fines & forfeitures$9.4M · 2.3%
Municipal court fines and related costs.
- Other & investment income$39.2M · 9.5%
Interest earnings, reimbursements, sales of surplus property and miscellaneous revenue.
View as a data table
| Category | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Sales tax | $96.4M | 23.4% |
| Charges for services | $88.2M | 21.4% |
| Intergovernmental & grants | $58.9M | 14.3% |
| Utility & franchise fees | $51.3M | 12.4% |
| Property tax | $42.7M | 10.3% |
| Licenses, permits & fees | $26.5M | 6.4% |
| Fines & forfeitures | $9.4M | 2.3% |
| Other & investment income | $39.2M | 9.5% |
Five years of all-funds spending
| Fiscal year | All-funds spending (millions) |
|---|---|
| FY2023 | $356.1M |
| FY2024 | $371.8M |
| FY2025 | $384.5M |
| FY2026 | $398.2M |
| FY2027 | $412.6M |
Illustrative. A live version would pull straight from the City's adopted budget ordinance each year.
How the budget gets decided — and where you fit
- January – March
Departments build requests
Each department submits what it needs for the coming fiscal year against Council's stated priorities.
- April
Residents weigh in
The budget priorities survey opens and neighborhood budget conversations are scheduled across all four zones.
- May
The City Manager recommends
A single balanced recommended budget goes to Council in public session, with the trade-offs written down.
- June
Council holds public hearings
Anyone may speak. Written comment submitted to the City Clerk goes into the record and to every Council member.
- Late June
Council adopts
The budget ordinance is passed before the fiscal year begins. Amendments during the year also require a public vote.
Please note: Every dollar figure on this page is invented for the design concept. These are NOT the City of Springfield's real budget numbers. The real City publishes its budget through an OpenGov portal.
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