City government · Cass County, ND

West Fargo's money: where it comes from and where it goes

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2023), West Fargo took in $108 million and spent $114 million.

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

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Where it comes from

City taxes38%Fines and other27%Fees for services (water, garbage collection)20%State tax money14%County and local tax money0.7%Federal tax money<0.1%

What stands out

16%

of West Fargo's money comes from sales tax.Most U.S. cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people get none.

City taxes38%

Property tax
19%$20.7 million
Sales tax
16%$17.2 million
Other taxes
2.5%$2.7 million
What's in other taxesPublic utility taxes; other licenses and 4 more
  • Public utility taxes$1.4 million
  • Other licenses$537 thousand
  • Other selective sales taxes$292 thousand
  • Occupation and business licenses$284 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$109 thousand
  • Motor vehicle licenses$89 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services20%

Fees for services
20%$21.6 million
What's in fees for servicesWater; garbage collection and 3 more
  • Water$9.9 million
  • Garbage collection$5.6 million
  • Sewer$5.2 million
  • Other service charges$639 thousand
  • Parks and recreation$304 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money<0.1%

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

From the federal government
<0.1%$82 thousand

State tax money14%

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

From the state
14%$15.6 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%$704 thousand

Fines and other27%

Interest, rents and other
27%$29.4 million
Fines
0.3%$296 thousand

Where it goes

Roads, transit and parking35%Water, sewer, trash and utilities18%Police, fire, courts and jails15%Running the government and other costs13%Interest on debt8.9%All other spending10%

What stands out

35%

of West Fargo's spending goes to roads, transit and parking.A typical U.S. city of 10,000 to 50,000 people spends 10%.

Spending by category100%

Roads, transit and parking
35%$39.6 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and airports
  • Roads and highways$39.5 million
  • Airports$126 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
18%$20.6 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste; water supply and 1 more
  • Garbage and solid waste$7.1 million
  • Water supply$6.9 million
  • Sewer systems$6.7 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
15%$17.0 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 1 more
  • Police$11.5 million
  • Fire protection$4.7 million
  • Courts and legal services$693 thousand
Running the government and other costs
13%$15.0 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 2 more
  • Other and not broken out$10.3 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$2.9 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$1.4 million
  • Government buildings$316 thousand
Interest on debt
8.9%$10.1 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$9.8 million
  • Interest on water supply debt$292 thousand
Sent to other local governments
7.4%$8.4 million
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to local governments: other and not broken out
  • Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$8.4 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
2.2%$2.5 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesLibraries and parks and recreation
  • Libraries$1.5 million
  • Parks and recreation$1.0 million
Environment and natural resources
0.3%$345 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$345 thousand
Health and hospitals
<0.1%$59 thousand
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$59 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of West Fargo. 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 West Fargo 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.