City government · Whatcom County, WA

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

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2023), Ferndale took in $44.5 million and spent $35.6 million.

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

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Where it comes from

City taxes36%Fees for services (sewer, water)35%State tax money20%Fines and other6.8%County and local tax money1.7%

What stands out

13%

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

City taxes36%

Other taxes
19%$8.5 million
What's in other taxesPublic utility taxes; other licenses and 3 more
  • Public utility taxes$6.3 million
  • Other licenses$1.1 million
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$779 thousand
  • Occupation and business licenses$165 thousand
  • Other selective sales taxes$80 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Sales tax
13%$5.6 million
Property tax
4.6%$2.1 million

Fees for services35%

Fees for services
35%$15.4 million
What's in fees for servicesSewer; water and 3 more
  • Sewer$8.9 million
  • Water$5.0 million
  • Other service charges$1.5 million
  • Parks and recreation$3 thousand
  • Housing$1 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%$3 thousand

State tax money20%

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

From the state
20%$9.1 million

County and local tax money1.7%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
1.7%$775 thousand

Fines and other6.8%

Interest, rents and other
6.5%$2.9 million
Fines
0.3%$140 thousand

Where it goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities30%Roads, transit and parking27%Police, fire, courts and jails20%Running the government and other costs9.5%Environment and natural resources6.3%All other spending6.4%

What stands out

27%

of Ferndale'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%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
30%$10.7 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply and sewer systems
  • Water supply$6.1 million
  • Sewer systems$4.6 million
Roads, transit and parking
27%$9.7 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$9.7 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
20%$7.2 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; courts and legal services and 3 more
  • Police$5.7 million
  • Courts and legal services$651 thousand
  • Inspections and regulation$468 thousand
  • Prisons and jails$311 thousand
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$131 thousand
Running the government and other costs
9.5%$3.4 million
What's in running the government and other costsCentral staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology); other and not broken out and 2 more
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$1.3 million
  • Other and not broken out$848 thousand
  • Government buildings$748 thousand
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$535 thousand
Environment and natural resources
6.3%$2.2 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$2.2 million
Interest on debt
3.2%$1.1 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$922 thousand
  • Interest on water supply debt$213 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
2.0%$709 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$709 thousand
Social services
0.9%$311 thousand
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$311 thousand
Sent to other local governments
0.2%$75 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$75 thousand
Health and hospitals
0.1%$36 thousand
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$36 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Ferndale. 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 Ferndale 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.