City government · Williams County, ND

Williston's money: where it comes from and where it goes

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2023), Williston took in $97.6 million and spent $106 million.

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

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Where it comes from

City taxes44%Fees for services (water, garbage collection)29%Fines and other19%State tax money5.2%Federal tax money1.7%County and local tax money1.4%

What stands out

38%

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

City taxes44%

Sales tax
38%$36.9 million
Property tax
5.2%$5.0 million
Other taxes
1.0%$932 thousand
What's in other taxesOther licenses; public utility taxes and 2 more
  • Other licenses$378 thousand
  • Public utility taxes$369 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$115 thousand
  • Occupation and business licenses$70 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services29%

Fees for services
29%$27.9 million
What's in fees for servicesWater; garbage collection and 6 more
  • Water$11.5 million
  • Garbage collection$5.9 million
  • Airport$3.6 million
  • Other service charges$3.5 million
  • Sewer$2.9 million
  • Parks and recreation$247 thousand
  • Road charges$204 thousand
  • Other government-run businesses$69 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money1.7%

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

From the federal government
1.7%$1.7 million

State tax money5.2%

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

From the state
5.2%$5.0 million

County and local tax money1.4%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
1.4%$1.3 million

Fines and other19%

Interest, rents and other
18%$17.6 million
Fines
1.1%$1.1 million

Where it goes

Running the government and other costs28%Police, fire, courts and jails23%Roads, transit and parking19%Water, sewer, trash and utilities17%Interest on debt8.7%All other spending3.7%

What stands out

8.7%

of Williston's spending goes to interest on debt.A typical U.S. city of 10,000 to 50,000 people spends 2.2%.

Spending by category100%

Running the government and other costs
28%$30.0 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; finance, tax collection and budgeting and 3 more
  • Other and not broken out$25.9 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$1.9 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$1.3 million
  • Government buildings$655 thousand
  • Other government-run businesses$264 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
23%$24.3 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsFire protection; police and 3 more
  • Fire protection$11.7 million
  • Police$11.1 million
  • Courts and legal services$1.1 million
  • Prisons and jails$263 thousand
  • Inspections and regulation$180 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
19%$20.6 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and airports
  • Roads and highways$13.6 million
  • Airports$7.0 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
17%$17.8 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply; garbage and solid waste and 1 more
  • Water supply$10.6 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$4.9 million
  • Sewer systems$2.3 million
Interest on debt
8.7%$9.2 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$9.1 million
  • Interest on water supply debt$102 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
2.1%$2.2 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$1.3 million
  • Libraries$891 thousand
Health and hospitals
1.2%$1.2 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$1.2 million
Environment and natural resources
0.4%$457 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$457 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Williston. 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 Williston 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.