County government · Cowlitz County, WA
Cowlitz County's money: where it comes from and where it goes
In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2023), Cowlitz County took in $173 million and spent $153 million.
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Where it comes from
What stands out
of Cowlitz County's money comes from fees for services such as water, sewer and parking.A typical U.S. county of 50,000 to 250,000 people gets 11%.
County taxes41%
What's in other taxesSeverance taxes; other licenses and 6 more
- Severance taxes$2.8 million
- Other licenses$2.1 million
- Public utility taxes$1.5 million
- Real estate and stock transfer taxes$1.2 million
- Other selective sales taxes$1.1 million
- Motor vehicle licenses$976 thousand
- Occupation and business licenses$556 thousand
- Amusement taxes$9 thousand
Amounts are by Census tax category.
Fees for services29%
What's in fees for servicesGarbage collection; other service charges and 4 more
- Garbage collection$27.0 million
- Other service charges$11.5 million
- Sewer$8.2 million
- Water$2.5 million
- Road charges$1.1 million
- Parks and recreation$257 thousand
Amounts are by Census type of charge.
Federal tax money0.7%
Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.
State tax money11%
Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.
Local tax money3.4%
Money passed on by the county or other local governments.
Fines and other14%
Where it goes
What stands out
of Cowlitz County's spending goes to water, sewer, trash and other utilities.A typical U.S. county of 50,000 to 250,000 people spends 1.6%.
Spending by category100%
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPrisons and jails; police and 3 more
- Prisons and jails$17.0 million
- Police$13.1 million
- Courts and legal services$10.8 million
- Probation, parole and other corrections$539 thousand
- Inspections and regulation$38 thousand
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste; sewer systems and 1 more
- Garbage and solid waste$24.6 million
- Sewer systems$12.3 million
- Water supply$1.9 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; finance, tax collection and budgeting and 2 more
- Other and not broken out$12.9 million
- Finance, tax collection and budgeting$6.4 million
- Government buildings$4.5 million
- Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$4.4 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and airports
- Roads and highways$20.4 million
- Airports$76 thousand
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
- Public health$6.0 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare and welfare institutions
- Other public welfare$5.0 million
- Welfare institutions$712 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
- Natural resources, farming and conservation$4.1 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
- Parks and recreation$3.4 million
- Libraries$42 thousand
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
- Interest on general debt$2.2 million
- Interest on water supply debt$2 thousand
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$310 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover
Cowlitz County. 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 Cowlitz 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.