City government · King County, WA

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

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2023), Seatac took in $91.1 million and spent $71.8 million.

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

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Where it comes from

City taxes70%Fees for services (sewer, parks and recreation)14%Fines and other8.2%County and local tax money3.8%State tax money3.3%

What stands out

25%

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

City taxes70%

Other taxes
26%$23.5 million
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; other licenses and 4 more
  • Other selective sales taxes$18.1 million
  • Other licenses$2.3 million
  • Public utility taxes$1.1 million
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$883 thousand
  • Occupation and business licenses$680 thousand
  • Amusement taxes$454 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Sales tax
25%$23.0 million
Property tax
19%$17.7 million

Fees for services14%

Fees for services
14%$12.9 million
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges; sewer and 4 more
  • Other service charges$4.0 million
  • Sewer$3.9 million
  • Other government-run businesses$3.6 million
  • Parks and recreation$1.3 million
  • Road charges$51 thousand
  • Electric power$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%$36 thousand

State tax money3.3%

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

From the state
3.3%$3.0 million

County and local tax money3.8%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
3.8%$3.5 million

Fines and other8.2%

Interest, rents and other
8.1%$7.3 million
Fines
0.2%$143 thousand

Where it goes

Police, fire, courts and jails42%Running the government and other costs27%Roads, transit and parking13%Parks, recreation and libraries4.9%Environment and natural resources3.9%All other spending8.7%

What stands out

3.8%

of Seatac's spending goes to water, sewer, trash and other utilities.A typical U.S. city of 10,000 to 50,000 people spends 24%.

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
42%$30.5 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 4 more
  • Police$15.7 million
  • Fire protection$11.4 million
  • Prisons and jails$1.5 million
  • Courts and legal services$1.5 million
  • Inspections and regulation$260 thousand
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$183 thousand
Running the government and other costs
27%$19.2 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; other government-run businesses and 3 more
  • Other and not broken out$5.7 million
  • Other government-run businesses$5.4 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$3.5 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$3.4 million
  • Government buildings$1.2 million
Roads, transit and parking
13%$9.6 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$9.6 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
4.9%$3.5 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$3.5 million
Environment and natural resources
3.9%$2.8 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$2.8 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
3.8%$2.7 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems and garbage and solid waste
  • Sewer systems$2.5 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$210 thousand
Housing and community development
3.1%$2.2 million
Social services
1.0%$744 thousand
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$744 thousand
Health and hospitals
0.4%$291 thousand
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$291 thousand
Interest on debt
0.4%$256 thousand
Sent to other local governments
<0.1%$54 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$54 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Seatac. 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 Seatac 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.