County government · Pierce County, WA
Pierce County's money: where it comes from and where it goes
In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2023), Pierce County took in $1.13 billion and spent $1.02 billion.
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Where it comes from
What stands out
of Pierce County's money comes from sales tax.A typical U.S. county of 250,000+ people gets 2.7%.
County taxes45%
What's in other taxesOther licenses; real estate and stock transfer taxes and 7 more
- Other licenses$29.9 million
- Real estate and stock transfer taxes$22.0 million
- Public utility taxes$14.9 million
- Other selective sales taxes$5.4 million
- Motor vehicle licenses$5.3 million
- Severance taxes$662 thousand
- Amusement taxes$592 thousand
- Occupation and business licenses$161 thousand
- Amusement licenses$21 thousand
Amounts are by Census tax category.
Fees for services22%
What's in fees for servicesSewer; other service charges and 5 more
- Sewer$115 million
- Other service charges$98.2 million
- Parks and recreation$11.8 million
- Tolls on roads and bridges$9.3 million
- Garbage collection$6.9 million
- Parks, land and natural resources$3.0 million
- Airport$2.2 million
Amounts are by Census type of charge.
Federal tax money1.5%
Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.
State tax money19%
Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.
Local tax money5.1%
Money passed on by the county or other local governments.
Fines and other7.0%
Where it goes
What stands out
of Pierce County's spending goes to housing and community development.Most U.S. counties of 250,000+ people spend nothing on this.
Spending by category100%
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; courts and legal services and 4 more
- Police$145 million
- Courts and legal services$70.8 million
- Prisons and jails$67.2 million
- Probation, parole and other corrections$24.1 million
- Fire protection$3.0 million
- Inspections and regulation$1.9 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 2 more
- Other and not broken out$91.7 million
- Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$56.8 million
- Finance, tax collection and budgeting$32.1 million
- Other government-run businesses$1.5 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
- Public health$114 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways; toll roads and bridges and 1 more
- Roads and highways$98.2 million
- Toll roads and bridges$10.7 million
- Airports$3.2 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems and garbage and solid waste
- Sewer systems$72.5 million
- Garbage and solid waste$5.9 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
- Parks and recreation$49.8 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
- Natural resources, farming and conservation$42.6 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
- Other public welfare$30.0 million
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$20.9 million
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover
Pierce 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 Pierce 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.