City government · McKenzie County, ND

Watford City's money: where it comes from and where it goes

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2023), Watford City took in $42.2 million and spent $36.8 million.

Latest recorded year: ended December 31, 2023Comes fromGoes to

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Where it comes from

State tax money56%City taxes17%Fees for services (water, garbage collection)16%Fines and other9.8%County and local tax money0.7%Federal tax money0.6%

What stands out

56%

of Watford City's money comes from state tax money.A typical U.S. city, town or village of under 10,000 people gets 10%.

City taxes17%

Sales tax
12%$4.9 million
Property tax
3.7%$1.5 million
Other taxes
1.7%$719 thousand
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; other licenses and 7 more
  • Other selective sales taxes$564 thousand
  • Other licenses$56 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$46 thousand
  • Public utility licenses$22 thousand
  • Occupation and business licenses$20 thousand
  • Public utility taxes$5 thousand
  • Amusement taxes$4 thousand
  • Amusement licenses$1 thousand
  • Motor vehicle licenses$1 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services16%

Fees for services
16%$6.7 million
What's in fees for servicesWater; garbage collection and 4 more
  • Water$2.4 million
  • Garbage collection$1.5 million
  • Sewer$1.5 million
  • Other service charges$1.1 million
  • Airport$65 thousand
  • Other government-run businesses$3 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money0.6%

Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.

From the federal government
0.6%$233 thousand

State tax money56%

Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.

From the state
56%$23.7 million

County and local tax money0.7%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
0.7%$286 thousand

Fines and other9.8%

Interest, rents and other
9.5%$4.0 million
Fines
0.3%$136 thousand

Where it goes

Running the government and other costs52%Police, fire, courts and jails14%Water, sewer, trash and utilities13%Interest on debt9.7%Roads, transit and parking9.0%All other spending2.5%

What stands out

52%

of Watford City's spending goes to running the government and other costs.A typical U.S. city, town or village of under 10,000 people spends 22%.

Spending by category100%

Running the government and other costs
52%$19.2 million
What's in running the government and other costsGovernment buildings; other and not broken out and 3 more
  • Government buildings$12.1 million
  • Other and not broken out$3.1 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$1.8 million
  • Other government-run businesses$1.6 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$671 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
14%$5.1 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice and fire protection
  • Police$4.8 million
  • Fire protection$327 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
13%$4.7 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply; garbage and solid waste and 1 more
  • Water supply$2.3 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$1.3 million
  • Sewer systems$1.0 million
Interest on debt
9.7%$3.6 million
Roads, transit and parking
9.0%$3.3 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and airports
  • Roads and highways$3.1 million
  • Airports$267 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
2.0%$725 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$725 thousand
Housing and community development
0.4%$140 thousand
Health and hospitals
0.1%$47 thousand
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$47 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Watford City. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

What this covers. The money of City of Watford City 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.