City government · Cowlitz County, WA

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

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2021), Kalama took in $9.1 million and spent $7.8 million.

Latest recorded year: ended December 31, 2021Comes fromGoes to

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Where it comes from

Fees for services (water, sewer)54%City taxes28%State tax money6.3%Fines and other6.2%County and local tax money5.9%

What stands out

11%

of Kalama's money comes from sales tax.Most U.S. cities, towns and villages of under 10,000 people get none.

City taxes28%

Other taxes
11%$1.0 million
What's in other taxesPublic utility taxes; other licenses and 5 more
  • Public utility taxes$625 thousand
  • Other licenses$133 thousand
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$121 thousand
  • Other selective sales taxes$116 thousand
  • Occupation and business licenses$32 thousand
  • Amusement taxes$10 thousand
  • Motor vehicle licenses$2 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Sales tax
11%$979 thousand
Property tax
5.7%$522 thousand

Fees for services54%

Fees for services
54%$4.9 million
What's in fees for servicesWater; sewer and 3 more
  • Water$2.0 million
  • Sewer$2.0 million
  • Garbage collection$474 thousand
  • Other service charges$395 thousand
  • Parks and recreation$4 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 money6.3%

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

From the state
6.3%$577 thousand

County and local tax money5.9%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
5.9%$541 thousand

Fines and other6.2%

Interest, rents and other
6.0%$546 thousand
Fines
0.2%$17 thousand

Where it goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities60%Police, fire, courts and jails15%Running the government and other costs15%Housing and community development3.5%Interest on debt3.0%All other spending4.3%

What stands out

60%

of Kalama's spending goes to water, sewer, trash and other utilities.A typical U.S. city, town or village of under 10,000 people spends 32%.

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
60%$4.6 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply; sewer systems and 1 more
  • Water supply$2.6 million
  • Sewer systems$1.6 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$457 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
15%$1.2 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 3 more
  • Police$1.1 million
  • Fire protection$47 thousand
  • Courts and legal services$30 thousand
  • Inspections and regulation$11 thousand
  • Prisons and jails$7 thousand
Running the government and other costs
15%$1.1 million
What's in running the government and other costsFinance, tax collection and budgeting; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 2 more
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$421 thousand
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$416 thousand
  • Other and not broken out$263 thousand
  • Government buildings$41 thousand
Housing and community development
3.5%$268 thousand
Interest on debt
3.0%$233 thousand
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$231 thousand
  • Interest on water supply debt$2 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
2.7%$213 thousand
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$213 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
1.5%$117 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$60 thousand
  • Libraries$57 thousand
Health and hospitals
<0.1%$3 thousand
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$3 thousand
Environment and natural resources
<0.1%$2 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$2 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Kalama. U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments, Finance, individual unit file, fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. The Census record for this government is from the 2022 survey, the newest on file.

What this covers. The money of City of Kalama 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.