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.

Hamilton, 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

$6.6M

+8.9%YoY

Total Expenditurei

$9.1M

-9.1%YoY

Property Tax Revenuei

$6K

0.1%of revenue

Revenue vs Expenditurei

$6.6M

$9.1M

Revenue

Expenditure

$2.6M deficit

Revenue Sources — vs prior yeari

Total Other Sources

+13%19.1%$1.3M

Total Part I - Tax Revenues

+10.3%15.5%$1.0M

Total Enterprise Revenue

+2.1%8.3%$543K

Total Section 1A - General Property Taxes

+18.9%5.8%$384K

Real Property Taxes - Current Year

+17.8%5.1%$337K

Total Section 1C - Selective Sales Taxes

+6.9%5%$329K

Local Option Sales Tax (LOST)

+5.7%4.6%$303K

Total Section 1B - General Sales and Use Taxes

+5.7%4.6%$303K

Enterprise - Gas

-2.4%4.4%$288K

Enterprise - Electric

+7.6%3.9%$255K

Total Part III

+25.7%3.6%$239K

Total Service Charges - Section B

+25.7%3.6%$239K

Insurance Premiums Tax

+13.3%2.7%$175K

SPLOST Distributions from Local

-11%2.6%$171K

Total Intergov from Local

-11%2.6%$171K

Court Fines

+1.5%2.4%$160K

Franchise Taxes - Electric

+4.2%1.5%$96K

Total Intergov from State

-13.6%0.9%$56K

Personal Property Tax - TAVT Local Share

+30.5%0.6%$42K

Other Financing Sources - Misc

+1922%0.5%$36K

Contributions from Private Sources

+109.3%0.5%$33K

Other Intergov from State

-33.1%0.4%$29K

LMIG Grants from State

+23.8%0.4%$28K

Alcoholic Beverage Excise - Beer & Wine

+3.7%0.3%$21K

Franchise Taxes - Cable Television

-14.8%0.2%$14K

Intangible - Real Estate Transfer Tax

+86.3%0.2%$13K

Other General Fund Svc Charges

-7.8%0.1%$6K

Personal Property Tax - Title Ad Valorem (TAVT)

+5.7%0.1%$6K

Business and Occupation Taxes

-61.7%0.1%$5K

Sale of General Fixed Assets

-52.8%0.1%$4K

Total Section 1D - Licenses and Permits

-49.8%0.1%$3K

Hotel/Motel Excise Tax

+43.5%0.1%$3K

Alcoholic Beverage License Fees

-50.5%0.1%$3K

Franchise Taxes - Telephone

+72.4%0%$800

Franchise Taxes - Natural Gas

+16.5%0%$374

Regulatory Fees - Other

0%$50

Investment Income

+0%0%$3

Expenditure Categories — vs prior yeari

Total Departmental Aggregated - Current Ops

+7.6%66.3%$6.1M

Total Part V - Current Operations

+7.2%13.1%$1.2M

Debt Service - 5yr General Obligation Principal

+5.3%6.2%$563K

Police Protection

+3.1%4.4%$402K

Roads, Streets, and Bridges

-34.3%3.5%$320K

Administration - Financial

+20.9%3.4%$309K

Fire Protection

-85.4%1.2%$107K

Total Part V - Machinery Capital

-93.5%0.5%$46K

Administration - Law

+28.8%0.3%$28K

Administration - Gen. Govmt Buildings & Plant

+287.4%0.2%$22K

Judicial Administration

+76.7%0.2%$22K

Administration - Risk Management

+56.3%0.2%$21K

Debt Service - 5yr General Obligation Interest

-4.5%0.2%$21K

Administration - Data Processing/MIS

+65.4%0.1%$13K

Admin Support - Executive

-8.9%0%$3K