City government · Thurston County, WA
Olympia's money: where it comes from and where it goes
In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2023), Olympia took in $214 million and spent $189 million.
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Where it comes from
What stands out
of Olympia's money comes from taxes other than property, sales and income taxes.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people gets 7.2%.
City taxes48%
What's in other taxesPublic utility taxes; occupation and business licenses and 5 more
- Public utility taxes$18.2 million
- Occupation and business licenses$8.4 million
- Other licenses$4.2 million
- Motor vehicle licenses$1.6 million
- Real estate and stock transfer taxes$1.5 million
- Other selective sales taxes$1.5 million
- Amusement taxes$416 thousand
Amounts are by Census tax category.
Fees for services39%
What's in fees for servicesSewer; other service charges and 5 more
- Sewer$32.6 million
- Other service charges$22.1 million
- Garbage collection$14.5 million
- Water$12.6 million
- Parks and recreation$1.4 million
- Road charges$329 thousand
- Housing$144 thousand
Amounts are by Census type of charge.
Federal tax money0.3%
Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.
State tax money7.4%
Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.
County and local tax money0.5%
Money passed on by the county or other local governments.
Fines and other4.2%
Where it goes
What stands out
of Olympia's spending goes to water, sewer, trash and other utilities.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people spends 20%.
Spending by category100%
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems; water supply and 1 more
- Sewer systems$26.8 million
- Water supply$15.1 million
- Garbage and solid waste$13.7 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsFire protection; police and 3 more
- Fire protection$21.6 million
- Police$16.3 million
- Prisons and jails$4.0 million
- Courts and legal services$2.9 million
- Inspections and regulation$1.8 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$19.9 million
- Finance, tax collection and budgeting$7.7 million
- Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$7.3 million
- Government buildings$4.0 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
- Parks and recreation$20.1 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
- Roads and highways$10.8 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
- Interest on general debt$5.5 million
- Interest on water supply debt$422 thousand
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
- Other public welfare$4.5 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
- Natural resources, farming and conservation$4.1 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
- Public health$1.1 million
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover
City of Olympia. 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 Olympia 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.