ZIP 98199 · Seattle, WA

Four governments run on your community's money

From the state down to your schools: where each one's money comes from and goes.

Yearly budgets from each government's latest fiscal year on record. Tap one to jump to it.

Your state

State of Washington

$80.4 billion budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

Where the money comes from

State taxes51%Federal tax money30%Fees for services (hospital bills, college tuition)11%Fines and other7.7%Local tax money0.7%
Full Washington breakdown

What stands out

31%

of Washington's money comes from sales tax.A typical state government gets 14%.

State taxes51%

Sales tax
31%$22.8 billion
Other taxes
13%$9.57 billion
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; motor fuel taxes and 18 more
  • Other selective sales taxes$1.54 billion
  • Motor fuel taxes$1.53 billion
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$1.22 billion
  • Motor vehicle licenses$1.00 billion
  • Insurance premium taxes$888 million
  • Public utility taxes$808 million
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$478 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$438 million
  • Estate and gift taxes$406 million
  • Tobacco taxes$292 million
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$211 million
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$207 million
  • Other licenses$190 million
  • Driver's licenses$136 million
  • Corporation licenses$62.8 million
  • Hunting and fishing licenses$44.7 million
  • Severance taxes$41.0 million
  • Public utility licenses$37.9 million
  • Amusement taxes$21.9 million
  • Amusement licenses$16.7 million

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Property tax
6.2%$4.61 billion
Individual income tax
0.5%$350 million

Fees for services11%

Fees for services
11%$8.03 billion
What's in fees for servicesHospital bills; college tuition and 9 more
  • Hospital bills$3.05 billion
  • College tuition$2.70 billion
  • University housing and dining$968 million
  • Other service charges$591 million
  • Tolls on roads and bridges$359 million
  • Parks, land and natural resources$195 million
  • Housing$72.0 million
  • Other education charges$47.7 million
  • Road charges$45.5 million
  • Electric power$5.3 million
  • Parks and recreation$5.0 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money30%

Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.

From the federal government
30%$22.3 billion

Local tax money0.7%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From local governments
0.7%$527 million

Fines and other7.7%

Interest, rents and other
7.4%$5.46 billion
Fines
0.3%$203 million
Washington page →

Where the money goes

Sent to local governments29%Social services25%Schools and colleges15%Health and hospitals14%Roads, transit and parking5.0%All other spending12%

What stands out

14%

of Washington's spending goes to health services and hospitals.A typical state government spends 5.7%.

Full Washington breakdown

Spending by category100%

Sent to local governments
29%$23.6 billion
What's in sent to local governmentsSent to school districts; sent to local governments: other and not broken out and 19 more
  • Sent to school districts$17.3 billion
  • Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$2.33 billion
  • Sent to local governments: public health$1.48 billion
  • Sent to local governments: roads and highways$794 million
  • Sent to local governments: other government administration$331 million
  • Sent to local governments: parks and recreation$241 million
  • Sent to local governments: natural resources, farming and conservation$193 million
  • Sent to local governments: police$185 million
  • Sent to local governments: general support$180 million
  • Sent to local governments: finance, tax collection and budgeting$169 million
  • Sent to local governments: other public welfare$139 million
  • Sent to local governments: other education$49.4 million
  • Sent to local governments: courts and legal services$49.4 million
  • Sent to local governments: housing and community development$30.3 million
  • Sent to local governments: inspections and regulation$22.2 million
  • Sent to local governments: sewer systems$19.9 million
  • Sent to local governments: garbage and solid waste$16.7 million
  • Sent to local governments: central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$5.0 million
  • Sent to local governments: airports$4.9 million
  • Sent to local governments: libraries$197 thousand
  • Sent to local governments: hospitals$1 thousand
Social services
25%$20.0 billion
What's in social servicesOther public welfare; unemployment and social insurance offices and 2 more
  • Other public welfare$19.5 billion
  • Unemployment and social insurance offices$308 million
  • Welfare institutions$96.7 million
  • Veterans' services$45.8 million
Schools and colleges
15%$11.9 billion
What's in schools and collegesColleges and universities; other education and 2 more
  • Colleges and universities$7.95 billion
  • Other education$1.50 billion
  • Scholarships and other education subsidies$1.50 billion
  • College housing, dining and bookstores$954 million
Health and hospitals
14%$11.1 billion
What's in health and hospitalsHospitals and public health
  • Hospitals$6.73 billion
  • Public health$4.39 billion
Roads, transit and parking
5.0%$4.00 billion
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways; toll roads and bridges and 2 more
  • Roads and highways$3.12 billion
  • Toll roads and bridges$834 million
  • Public transit$45.8 million
  • Airports$2.7 million
Running the government and other costs
4.8%$3.84 billion
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; finance, tax collection and budgeting and 3 more
  • Other and not broken out$2.17 billion
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$932 million
  • Other government administration$382 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$206 million
  • Government buildings$150 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
4.0%$3.25 billion
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPrisons and jails; courts and legal services and 3 more
  • Prisons and jails$1.29 billion
  • Courts and legal services$584 million
  • Inspections and regulation$568 million
  • Police$475 million
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$335 million
Interest on debt
1.5%$1.20 billion
Environment and natural resources
1.5%$1.20 billion
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$1.20 billion
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.3%$249 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$239 million
  • Libraries$10.7 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
<0.1%$32.2 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste; electric power and 1 more
  • Garbage and solid waste$24.3 million
  • Electric power$7.9 million
  • Water supply$9 thousand
Housing and community development
<0.1%$27.7 million
Washington page →

Your county

King County

$5.26 billion budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended December 31, 2023.

Where the money comes from

County taxes47%Fees for services (sewer, transit fares)27%State tax money12%Local tax money4.9%Fines and other4.5%Federal tax money4.5%
Full King County breakdown

What stands out

20%

of King County's money comes from sales tax.A typical U.S. county of 250,000+ people gets 2.7%.

County taxes47%

Property tax
23%$1.25 billion
Sales tax
20%$1.11 billion
Other taxes
4.5%$249 million
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; public utility taxes and 7 more
  • Other selective sales taxes$165 million
  • Public utility taxes$30.0 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$19.3 million
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$15.3 million
  • Motor vehicle licenses$11.0 million
  • Other licenses$5.6 million
  • Public utility licenses$1.2 million
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$968 thousand
  • Severance taxes$815 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services27%

Fees for services
27%$1.49 billion
What's in fees for servicesSewer; transit fares and 8 more
  • Sewer$641 million
  • Transit fares$308 million
  • Other service charges$294 million
  • Garbage collection$172 million
  • Airport$39.7 million
  • Parks and recreation$16.7 million
  • Parks, land and natural resources$12.2 million
  • Road charges$7.2 million
  • Housing$1.4 million
  • Other government-run businesses$1.1 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money4.5%

Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.

From the federal government
4.5%$248 million

State tax money12%

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

From the state
12%$665 million

Local tax money4.9%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
4.9%$272 million

Fines and other4.5%

Interest, rents and other
4.4%$242 million
Fines
0.1%$7.3 million
King County page →

Where the money goes

Roads, transit and parking26%Health and hospitals18%Police, fire, courts and jails15%Water, sewer, trash and utilities15%Running the government and other costs12%All other spending14%

What stands out

26%

of King County's spending goes to roads, transit and parking.A typical U.S. county of 250,000+ people spends 6.3%.

Full King County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Roads, transit and parking
26%$1.35 billion
What's in roads, transit and parkingPublic transit; roads and highways and 1 more
  • Public transit$1.18 billion
  • Roads and highways$114 million
  • Airports$48.1 million
Health and hospitals
18%$971 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$971 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
15%$795 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsCourts and legal services; police and 3 more
  • Courts and legal services$299 million
  • Police$249 million
  • Prisons and jails$222 million
  • Inspections and regulation$17.6 million
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$7.2 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
15%$777 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems and garbage and solid waste
  • Sewer systems$618 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$158 million
Running the government and other costs
12%$640 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 3 more
  • Other and not broken out$498 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$61.1 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$52.4 million
  • Government buildings$24.5 million
  • Other government-run businesses$3.4 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
3.8%$201 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$201 million
Housing and community development
3.3%$175 million
Interest on debt
2.9%$153 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on public transit debt
  • Interest on general debt$150 million
  • Interest on public transit debt$2.9 million
Environment and natural resources
2.5%$131 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$131 million
Social services
1.3%$66.9 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$66.9 million
Sent to other local governments
<0.1%$1.1 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$1.1 million
King County page →

Your city

City of Seattle

$5.70 billion budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended December 31, 2023.

Where the money comes from

Fees for services (electric power, sewer)44%City taxes41%Fines and other7.8%State tax money4.3%Federal tax money3.1%County and local tax money0.2%
Full Seattle breakdown

What stands out

19%

of Seattle'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 taxes41%

Other taxes
19%$1.18 billion
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; other taxes not classified elsewhere and 6 more
  • Other selective sales taxes$450 million
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$347 million
  • Other licenses$152 million
  • Motor vehicle licenses$61.5 million
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$56.0 million
  • Public utility taxes$54.1 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$31.6 million
  • Amusement taxes$25.6 million

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Property tax
15%$906 million
Sales tax
6.6%$400 million

Fees for services44%

Fees for services
44%$2.65 billion
What's in fees for servicesElectric power; sewer and 7 more
  • Electric power$1.16 billion
  • Sewer$543 million
  • Water$301 million
  • Garbage collection$268 million
  • Road charges$140 million
  • Other service charges$122 million
  • Parks and recreation$49.8 million
  • Parking$42.2 million
  • Housing$23.2 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money3.1%

Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.

From the federal government
3.1%$185 million

State tax money4.3%

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

From the state
4.3%$262 million

County and local tax money0.2%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
0.2%$14.5 million

Fines and other7.8%

Interest, rents and other
7.0%$425 million
Fines
0.7%$45.5 million
Seattle page →

Where the money goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities35%Police, fire, courts and jails16%Running the government and other costs11%Parks, recreation and libraries10%Roads, transit and parking9.8%All other spending19%

What stands out

35%

of Seattle's spending goes to water, sewer, trash and other utilities.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people spends 20%.

Full Seattle breakdown

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
35%$1.97 billion
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesElectric power; sewer systems and 2 more
  • Electric power$1.24 billion
  • Sewer systems$327 million
  • Water supply$227 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$182 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
16%$887 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
  • Police$367 million
  • Fire protection$306 million
  • Inspections and regulation$111 million
  • Courts and legal services$102 million
Running the government and other costs
11%$607 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 1 more
  • Other and not broken out$468 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$122 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$17.4 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
10%$583 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$480 million
  • Libraries$103 million
Roads, transit and parking
9.8%$556 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and parking
  • Roads and highways$540 million
  • Parking$16.0 million
Housing and community development
4.6%$264 million
Interest on debt
4.2%$238 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on electric power debt; interest on general debt and 1 more
  • Interest on electric power debt$119 million
  • Interest on general debt$87.7 million
  • Interest on water supply debt$30.8 million
Sent to other local governments
3.9%$220 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$220 million
Social services
3.6%$205 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$205 million
Schools and colleges
2.2%$128 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
  • Elementary and secondary schools$128 million
Health and hospitals
0.4%$22.9 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$22.9 million
Environment and natural resources
0.3%$17.3 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$17.3 million
Seattle page →

Your schools

Seattle School District 1

$1.56 billion budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended August 31, 2023.

Where the money comes from

State tax money56%School district taxes37%Fines and other5.2%Fees for services (school lunches, school tuition and transportation)1.0%Federal tax money0.6%
Full Seattle School District 1 breakdown

What stands out

37%

of Seattle School District 1's money comes from property tax.A typical school district with 25,000+ students gets 33%.

School district taxes37%

Property tax
37%$548 million

Fees for services1.0%

Fees for services
1.0%$14.1 million
What's in fees for servicesOther school charges; school lunches and 1 more
  • Other school charges$10.0 million
  • School lunches$2.7 million
  • School tuition and transportation$1.4 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money0.6%

Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.

From the federal government
0.6%$9.0 million

State tax money56%

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

From the state
56%$821 million

County and local tax money<0.1%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
<0.1%$720 thousand

Fines and other5.2%

Interest, rents and other
5.2%$76.4 million
Fines
<0.1%$90 thousand
Seattle School District 1 page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges100%
Full Seattle School District 1 breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
100%$1.56 billion
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
  • Elementary and secondary schools$1.56 billion
Interest on debt
<0.1%$199 thousand
Sent to other local governments
<0.1%$19 thousand
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to the state government
  • Sent to the state government$19 thousand
Seattle School District 1 page →
Sources and moreEach government's source, fiscal year and how a ZIP is matched

State of Washington. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2024.

King County. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

City of Seattle. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

Seattle School District 1. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended August 31, 2023.

How a ZIP is matched. A ZIP code is not a government boundary, so we match it to the cities, counties and school districts that overlap it, using Census Bureau geography. Where a ZIP crosses several, each one is shown with its share of the ZIP. Each government's money covers its own operations only; the others listed here are separate.

Latest recorded year. The year differs by government: each block shows the newest fiscal year on file. A Census survey year covers fiscal years ending July 1 of the year before through June 30 of that year.