County government · Whatcom County, WA
Whatcom County's money: where it comes from and where it goes
In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2023), Whatcom County took in $270 million and spent $228 million.
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Where it comes from
What stands out
of Whatcom County's money comes from sales tax.A typical U.S. county of 50,000 to 250,000 people gets 4.2%.
County taxes56%
What's in other taxesReal estate and stock transfer taxes; other selective sales taxes and 6 more
- Real estate and stock transfer taxes$5.3 million
- Other selective sales taxes$4.4 million
- Other licenses$1.9 million
- Motor vehicle licenses$1.6 million
- Occupation and business licenses$1.2 million
- Public utility taxes$903 thousand
- Severance taxes$653 thousand
- Amusement taxes$29 thousand
Amounts are by Census tax category.
Fees for services7.7%
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges; tolls on roads and bridges and 4 more
- Other service charges$17.1 million
- Tolls on roads and bridges$1.5 million
- Road charges$819 thousand
- Parks, land and natural resources$790 thousand
- Garbage collection$399 thousand
- Parks and recreation$10 thousand
Amounts are by Census type of charge.
Federal tax money9.0%
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 money1.1%
Money passed on by the county or other local governments.
Fines and other7.3%
Where it goes
What stands out
of Whatcom County's spending goes to the environment and natural resources.Most U.S. counties of 50,000 to 250,000 people spend nothing on this.
Spending by category100%
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsFire protection; police and 4 more
- Fire protection$25.9 million
- Police$22.6 million
- Prisons and jails$22.0 million
- Courts and legal services$20.2 million
- Inspections and regulation$5.8 million
- Probation, parole and other corrections$2.6 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$21.8 million
- Finance, tax collection and budgeting$8.8 million
- Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$4.7 million
- Government buildings$1.4 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
- Public health$31.7 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and toll roads and bridges
- Roads and highways$26.8 million
- Toll roads and bridges$3.5 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
- Natural resources, farming and conservation$12.6 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
- Other public welfare$9.6 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
- Parks and recreation$4.5 million
- Libraries$137 thousand
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to the state government and sent to local governments: other and not broken out
- Sent to the state government$10 thousand
- Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$3 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover
Whatcom 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 Whatcom 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.