Where does municipal finance data come from?

Municipal finance data comes from the Illinois Comptroller's Annual Financial Reports (AFR). Every municipality in Illinois is required to file an annual report detailing revenue, expenditures, fund balances, and debt. These reports are public record.

What are the main revenue sources for a municipality?

Most Illinois municipalities rely on property taxes, sales taxes, state income tax sharing, utility taxes, permits and fees, and fines. The mix varies by town. Some municipalities also receive revenue from TIF districts, enterprise funds (water/sewer), and intergovernmental transfers.

What is a General Fund and why does it matter?

The General Fund is the municipality's primary operating fund. It covers core services like police, fire, public works, and administration. A healthy General Fund balance (typically 25-50% of annual expenditures) indicates the town can handle unexpected expenses without raising taxes or cutting services.

How current is this financial data?

The Illinois Comptroller's data warehouse typically lags 6-12 months behind the current fiscal year. The most recent year with complete data is usually one to two fiscal years prior. Data is refreshed monthly as new filings are processed.

Fairburn, GA Municipal Budget — Revenue & Spending Breakdown

Showing latest fiscal year with year-over-year changes. Full budget history available with a paid plan. View plans →

Finances — FY 2024

IL Comptroller

Total Revenuei

$152.0M

-10.5%YoY

Total Expenditurei

$141.8M

-7.6%YoY

Property Tax Revenuei

$109K

0.1%of revenue

Revenue vs Expenditurei

$152.0M

$141.8M

Revenue

Expenditure

+$10.2M surplus

Revenue Sources — vs prior yeari

Total Other Sources

+2.7%19.3%$29.4M

Total Part I - Tax Revenues

+8.8%17.3%$26.4M

Total Enterprise Revenue

-19.1%11.2%$17.1M

Total Section 1A - General Property Taxes

-11.3%7.8%$11.9M

Real Property Taxes - Current Year

-12.1%7%$10.7M

Enterprise - Transit

-3.7%6.7%$10.2M

Total Section 1B - General Sales and Use Taxes

+69.2%6.1%$9.2M

Local Option Sales Tax (LOST)

+1.7%3.6%$5.5M

Total Section 1C - Selective Sales Taxes

-1.1%3.3%$5.0M

Enterprise - Electric

-10.6%2.8%$4.2M

Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax - Municipal

2.4%$3.7M

Total Part III

-31.3%2%$3.0M

Total Service Charges - Section B

+83.1%1.9%$2.9M

Insurance Premiums Tax

+7.4%1%$1.5M

Enterprise - Water Sales

+42.4%0.9%$1.4M

Business and Occupation Taxes

+16.1%0.7%$1.1M

Investment Income

-7.4%0.7%$1.0M

Sale of General Fixed Assets

+1133.4%0.6%$934K

Franchise Taxes - Electric

-8.8%0.6%$922K

Enterprise - Telecom

-10.3%0.6%$850K

Personal Property Tax - Title Ad Valorem (TAVT)

0.5%$792K

Court Fines

0.4%$638K

Enterprise - Gas

-88.9%0.3%$390K

Franchise Taxes - Other

+376.2%0.2%$313K

Hotel/Motel Excise Tax

+3.2%0.2%$310K

Total Section 1D - Licenses and Permits

-15.9%0.2%$294K

Alcoholic Beverage Excise - Beer & Wine

-1.8%0.2%$288K

LMIG Grants from State

0.1%$218K

Total Intergov from State

-57.8%0.1%$218K

Real Property Taxes - Prior Year

+3.2%0.1%$199K

Intangible - Real Estate Transfer Tax

+174.9%0.1%$184K

Culture & Recreation Fees

+26.1%0.1%$177K

Franchise Taxes - Natural Gas

0.1%$147K

Franchise Taxes - Cable Television

-7.5%0.1%$132K

Personal Property Tax - Boats/Aircraft

-28.9%0.1%$109K

Penalties & Interest on Delinquent Taxes

+65.2%0.1%$107K

Franchise Taxes - Sanitation

-72.3%0.1%$82K

Total Service Charges - Section A

-97.3%0.1%$76K

Non-Business Licenses and Permits

-44.9%0%$73K

Alcoholic Beverage License Fees

+24.2%0%$70K

Regulatory Building Permits / Inspections

-43.8%0%$65K

Recording Fees

-94.4%0%$58K

Other General Fund Svc Charges

0%$48K

Non-Business Licenses - Other

0%$45K

Regulatory Fees - Other

-9.4%0%$41K

Forfeitures

0%$40K

Proceeds from Bonds

-85%0%$32K

Franchise Taxes - Telephone

-96.1%0%$22K

Excise Tax on Rental Motor Vehicles

0%$19K

Registration Fees

+27.1%0%$18K

Contributions from Private Sources

-19.4%0%$13K

Bond Forfeitures

-61%0%$9K

Expenditure Categories — vs prior yeari

Total Part V - Current Operations

+94.9%28.8%$40.9M

Total Departmental Aggregated - Current Ops

-47.8%23.6%$33.4M

Electric

8.1%$11.5M

Debt Service - 10yr GO Principal

-8.4%8%$11.3M

Debt Service - 5yr General Obligation Principal

+14.7%5.6%$7.9M

Water

4.3%$6.1M

Police Protection

+0.4%4.1%$5.8M

Fire Protection

-7.2%3.3%$4.7M

Admin Support - Executive

-3.1%1.8%$2.6M

Housing & Development - Current Ops

+33.7%1.3%$1.9M

Roads, Streets, and Bridges

-70.3%1.3%$1.8M

Debt Service - 40yr GO Principal

+77.7%1.1%$1.6M

Administration - Gen. Govmt Buildings & Plant

+44.7%1%$1.4M

Recreation

+23.7%0.8%$1.2M

Culture & Recreation - Current Ops

+22.5%0.8%$1.2M

Administration - Financial

-4.4%0.7%$1.0M

Administration - Data Processing/MIS

+56.1%0.7%$935K

Total Part V - Property Capital

-87.9%0.6%$868K

Economic Development and Resources

+47.1%0.5%$744K

Protective Inspection

+3.8%0.5%$683K

Municipal Court

-4.2%0.4%$627K

Administration - Law

0.4%$574K

Administration - Human Resources

+8.4%0.4%$536K

Public Works Administration

-84.7%0.4%$531K

Planning and Zoning

+3%0.3%$458K

Admin Support - Legislative

+3%0.3%$356K

Total Part V - Machinery Capital

-82%0.2%$349K

Debt Service - Other Principal

-76.5%0.2%$253K

Maintenance Shop

+6.8%0.2%$220K

Storm Drainage

0.1%$184K

Public Education

0.1%$166K

Health & Welfare - Current Ops

0.1%$126K