County government · Thurston County, WA
Thurston County's money: where it comes from and where it goes
In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2023), Thurston County took in $348 million and spent $316 million.
See every government that serves your ZIP
Where it comes from
What stands out
of Thurston County's money comes from sales tax.A typical U.S. county of 250,000+ people gets 2.7%.
County taxes52%
What's in other taxesOther licenses; real estate and stock transfer taxes and 7 more
- Other licenses$6.3 million
- Real estate and stock transfer taxes$6.0 million
- Public utility taxes$5.1 million
- Motor vehicle licenses$2.1 million
- Severance taxes$549 thousand
- Occupation and business licenses$363 thousand
- Other selective sales taxes$271 thousand
- Amusement taxes$117 thousand
- Amusement licenses$2 thousand
Amounts are by Census tax category.
Fees for services17%
What's in fees for servicesGarbage collection; other service charges and 5 more
- Garbage collection$29.0 million
- Other service charges$25.1 million
- Sewer$3.4 million
- Water$1.6 million
- Parks, land and natural resources$372 thousand
- Parks and recreation$157 thousand
- Road charges$107 thousand
Amounts are by Census type of charge.
Federal tax money1.0%
Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.
State tax money20%
Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.
Local tax money0.9%
Money passed on by the county or other local governments.
Fines and other8.6%
Where it goes
What stands out
of Thurston County's spending goes to water, sewer, trash and other utilities.A typical U.S. county of 250,000+ people spends 2.6%.
Spending by category100%
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPrisons and jails; courts and legal services and 3 more
- Prisons and jails$32.3 million
- Courts and legal services$29.9 million
- Police$28.4 million
- Fire protection$4.0 million
- Inspections and regulation$1.2 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; finance, tax collection and budgeting and 1 more
- Other and not broken out$27.7 million
- Finance, tax collection and budgeting$19.2 million
- Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$10.0 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
- Public health$46.6 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste; sewer systems and 1 more
- Garbage and solid waste$28.9 million
- Sewer systems$8.0 million
- Water supply$964 thousand
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
- Roads and highways$35.3 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
- Other public welfare$25.6 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
- Natural resources, farming and conservation$5.8 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
- Interest on general debt$4.0 million
- Interest on water supply debt$190 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
- Parks and recreation$3.1 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$3.0 million
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover
Thurston 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 Thurston 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.