ZIP 98418 · Tacoma, 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

Pierce County

$1.02 billion budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended December 31, 2023.

Where the money comes from

County taxes45%Fees for services (sewer, parks and recreation)22%State tax money19%Fines and other7.0%Local tax money5.1%Federal tax money1.5%
Full Pierce County breakdown

What stands out

16%

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

County taxes45%

Property tax
22%$251 million
Sales tax
16%$183 million
Other taxes
7.0%$78.9 million
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%

Fees for services
22%$247 million
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.

From the federal government
1.5%$17.2 million

State tax money19%

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

From the state
19%$219 million

Local tax money5.1%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
5.1%$58.1 million

Fines and other7.0%

Interest, rents and other
6.8%$76.8 million
Fines
0.2%$2.7 million
Pierce County page →

Where the money goes

Police, fire, courts and jails31%Running the government and other costs18%Health and hospitals11%Roads, transit and parking11%Water, sewer, trash and utilities7.7%All other spending22%
Full Pierce County breakdown

What stands out

6.5%

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%

Police, fire, courts and jails
31%$312 million
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
Running the government and other costs
18%$182 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
Health and hospitals
11%$114 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$114 million
Roads, transit and parking
11%$112 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
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
7.7%$78.4 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
Housing and community development
6.5%$65.7 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
4.9%$49.8 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$49.8 million
Environment and natural resources
4.2%$42.6 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$42.6 million
Social services
2.9%$30.0 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$30.0 million
Sent to other local governments
2.1%$20.9 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
Interest on debt
1.1%$11.4 million
Pierce County page →

Your city

City of Tacoma

$1.36 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)67%City taxes23%Fines and other6.4%State tax money2.6%Federal tax money1.3%County and local tax money0.6%

What stands out

67%

of Tacoma's money comes from fees for services such as water, sewer and parking.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people gets 30%.

Full Tacoma breakdown

City taxes23%

Other taxes
9.2%$131 million
What's in other taxesOccupation and business licenses; other licenses and 6 more
  • Occupation and business licenses$65.8 million
  • Other licenses$19.9 million
  • Public utility taxes$16.0 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$11.6 million
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$8.7 million
  • Motor vehicle licenses$5.8 million
  • Amusement taxes$3.7 million
  • Amusement licenses$14 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Sales tax
7.4%$106 million
Property tax
5.9%$84.1 million

Fees for services67%

Fees for services
67%$951 million
What's in fees for servicesElectric power; sewer and 7 more
  • Electric power$509 million
  • Sewer$136 million
  • Water$124 million
  • Garbage collection$92.2 million
  • Other government-run businesses$39.9 million
  • Other service charges$26.6 million
  • Parks and recreation$15.7 million
  • Parking$4.8 million
  • Road charges$2.4 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money1.3%

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

From the federal government
1.3%$18.8 million

State tax money2.6%

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

From the state
2.6%$37.6 million

County and local tax money0.6%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
0.6%$8.5 million

Fines and other6.4%

Interest, rents and other
6.0%$85.1 million
Fines
0.5%$6.5 million
Tacoma page →

Where the money goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities57%Police, fire, courts and jails19%Running the government and other costs7.9%Roads, transit and parking5.3%Interest on debt4.8%All other spending6.6%

What stands out

57%

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

Full Tacoma breakdown

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
57%$771 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesElectric power; water supply and 2 more
  • Electric power$462 million
  • Water supply$121 million
  • Sewer systems$116 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$71.3 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
19%$252 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
  • Police$115 million
  • Fire protection$114 million
  • Inspections and regulation$19.7 million
  • Courts and legal services$3.8 million
Running the government and other costs
7.9%$108 million
What's in running the government and other costsFinance, tax collection and budgeting; other government-run businesses and 2 more
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$35.6 million
  • Other government-run businesses$32.7 million
  • Other and not broken out$21.3 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$18.2 million
Roads, transit and parking
5.3%$71.8 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and parking
  • Roads and highways$67.6 million
  • Parking$4.2 million
Interest on debt
4.8%$64.9 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on electric power debt; interest on general debt and 1 more
  • Interest on electric power debt$26.5 million
  • Interest on general debt$20.9 million
  • Interest on water supply debt$17.4 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
3.3%$44.6 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$28.2 million
  • Libraries$16.5 million
Environment and natural resources
1.6%$21.2 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$21.2 million
Housing and community development
0.9%$12.8 million
Health and hospitals
0.7%$9.8 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$9.8 million
Social services
0.1%$1.6 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$1.6 million
Tacoma page →

Your schools

Tacoma School District 10

$732 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended August 31, 2023.

Where the money comes from

State tax money67%School district taxes27%Fines and other4.3%Federal tax money1.3%County and local tax money0.6%Fees for services (school tuition and transportation, school lunches)0.5%

What stands out

67%

of Tacoma School District 10's money comes from state tax money.A typical school district with 25,000+ students gets 55%.

Full Tacoma School District 10 breakdown

School district taxes27%

Property tax
27%$180 million

Fees for services0.5%

Fees for services
0.5%$3.4 million
What's in fees for servicesOther school charges; school tuition and transportation and 1 more
  • Other school charges$3.0 million
  • School tuition and transportation$371 thousand
  • School lunches$29 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money1.3%

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

From the federal government
1.3%$8.5 million

State tax money67%

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

From the state
67%$451 million

County and local tax money0.6%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
0.6%$4.1 million

Fines and other4.3%

Interest, rents and other
4.3%$29.4 million
Fines
<0.1%$51 thousand
Tacoma School District 10 page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges96%Interest on debt4.0%
Full Tacoma School District 10 breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
96%$703 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
  • Elementary and secondary schools$703 million
Interest on debt
4.0%$28.9 million
Tacoma School District 10 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.

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

Tacoma School District 10. 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.