County government · Kern County, CA
Kern County's money: where it comes from and where it goes
In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended June 30, 2024), Kern County took in $3.32 billion and spent $3.15 billion.
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Where it comes from
What stands out
of Kern County's money comes from state tax money.A typical U.S. county of 250,000+ people gets 19%.
County taxes22%
What's in other taxesOccupation and business licenses; public utility taxes and 4 more
- Occupation and business licenses$22.3 million
- Public utility taxes$15.7 million
- Real estate and stock transfer taxes$4.3 million
- Other licenses$4.3 million
- Other selective sales taxes$3.7 million
- Other taxes not classified elsewhere$1.1 million
Amounts are by Census tax category.
Fees for services22%
What's in fees for servicesHospital bills; other service charges and 9 more
- Hospital bills$292 million
- Other service charges$278 million
- Garbage collection$117 million
- Other school charges$13.6 million
- Sewer$8.0 million
- Airport$6.2 million
- Parks and recreation$2.1 million
- School lunches$2.0 million
- Parks, land and natural resources$1.8 million
- Road charges$939 thousand
- Transit fares$656 thousand
Amounts are by Census type of charge.
Federal tax money3.8%
Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.
State tax money45%
Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.
Local tax money2.8%
Money passed on by the county or other local governments.
Fines and other4.8%
Where it goes
What stands out
of Kern County's spending goes to schools and colleges.Most U.S. counties of 250,000+ people spend nothing on this.
Spending by category100%
What's in health and hospitalsHospitals and public health
- Hospitals$527 million
- Public health$465 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
- Other public welfare$635 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; prisons and jails and 2 more
- Police$217 million
- Prisons and jails$146 million
- Courts and legal services$82.5 million
- Probation, parole and other corrections$58.8 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
- Elementary and secondary schools$390 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; government buildings and 2 more
- Other and not broken out$155 million
- Government buildings$50.3 million
- Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$35.7 million
- Finance, tax collection and budgeting$18.4 million
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to local governments: other and not broken out and sent to the state government
- Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$107 million
- Sent to the state government$14.5 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways; public transit and 1 more
- Roads and highways$88.4 million
- Public transit$10.5 million
- Airports$4.8 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste and sewer systems
- Garbage and solid waste$89.4 million
- Sewer systems$4.3 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
- Parks and recreation$17.0 million
- Libraries$10.0 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on public transit debt
- Interest on general debt$18.7 million
- Interest on public transit debt$14 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
- Natural resources, farming and conservation$7.3 million
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover
Kern County. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2024.
What this covers. The money of Kern County itself. Other governments that serve the same area (the city, county, school district and state) are separate and not included. Borrowing, transfers between a government's own funds, and pension trust funds are not counted as revenue.