ZIP 98503 · Lacey, 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

Thurston County

$316 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended December 31, 2023.

Where the money comes from

County taxes52%State tax money20%Fees for services (garbage collection, sewer)17%Fines and other8.6%Federal tax money1.0%Local tax money0.9%
Full Thurston County breakdown

What stands out

21%

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

County taxes52%

Property tax
25%$88.6 million
Sales tax
21%$71.5 million
Other taxes
6.0%$20.8 million
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%

Fees for services
17%$59.8 million
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.

From the federal government
1.0%$3.5 million

State tax money20%

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

From the state
20%$71.0 million

Local tax money0.9%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
0.9%$3.2 million

Fines and other8.6%

Interest, rents and other
8.0%$28.0 million
Fines
0.5%$1.9 million
Thurston County page →

Where the money goes

Police, fire, courts and jails30%Running the government and other costs18%Health and hospitals15%Water, sewer, trash and utilities12%Roads, transit and parking11%All other spending14%

What stands out

12%

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%.

Full Thurston County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
30%$95.7 million
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
Running the government and other costs
18%$56.8 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
Health and hospitals
15%$46.6 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$46.6 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
12%$37.9 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
Roads, transit and parking
11%$35.3 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$35.3 million
Social services
8.1%$25.6 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$25.6 million
Environment and natural resources
1.8%$5.8 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$5.8 million
Interest on debt
1.3%$4.1 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
Parks, recreation and libraries
1.0%$3.1 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$3.1 million
Sent to other local governments
1.0%$3.0 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
Housing and community development
0.7%$2.3 million
Thurston County page →

Your city

City of Lacey

$110 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended December 31, 2023.

About 67% of this ZIP is in Lacey.

Where the money comes from

Fees for services (sewer, water)47%City taxes37%Fines and other7.6%State tax money4.9%County and local tax money2.7%Federal tax money0.7%

What stands out

47%

of Lacey'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 Lacey breakdown

City taxes37%

Sales tax
16%$22.1 million
Other taxes
15%$20.5 million
What's in other taxesPublic utility taxes; occupation and business licenses and 4 more
  • Public utility taxes$10.2 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$3.6 million
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$3.2 million
  • Other licenses$2.2 million
  • Amusement taxes$726 thousand
  • Other selective sales taxes$566 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Property tax
6.4%$9.0 million

Fees for services47%

Fees for services
47%$66.7 million
What's in fees for servicesSewer; water and 3 more
  • Sewer$31.0 million
  • Water$24.4 million
  • Other service charges$9.5 million
  • Parks and recreation$1.3 million
  • Road charges$536 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money0.7%

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

From the federal government
0.7%$1.0 million

State tax money4.9%

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

From the state
4.9%$6.8 million

County and local tax money2.7%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
2.7%$3.8 million

Fines and other7.6%

Interest, rents and other
7.5%$10.5 million
Fines
<0.1%$99 thousand
Lacey page →

Where the money goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities32%Running the government and other costs24%Police, fire, courts and jails18%Roads, transit and parking13%Parks, recreation and libraries9.1%All other spending4.5%

What stands out

32%

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

Full Lacey breakdown

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
32%$35.6 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems and water supply
  • Sewer systems$23.0 million
  • Water supply$12.6 million
Running the government and other costs
24%$26.0 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$16.1 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$5.0 million
  • Government buildings$2.5 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$2.3 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
18%$19.7 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; courts and legal services and 2 more
  • Police$15.9 million
  • Courts and legal services$1.8 million
  • Inspections and regulation$1.2 million
  • Prisons and jails$838 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
13%$13.8 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$13.8 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
9.1%$10.0 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$9.9 million
  • Libraries$88 thousand
Environment and natural resources
2.4%$2.6 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$2.6 million
Interest on debt
0.8%$859 thousand
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$509 thousand
  • Interest on water supply debt$350 thousand
Social services
0.7%$805 thousand
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$805 thousand
Health and hospitals
0.4%$467 thousand
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$467 thousand
Sent to other local governments
0.2%$197 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$197 thousand
Lacey page →

Your schools

North Thurston School District 3

$334 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended August 31, 2023.

Where the money comes from

State tax money72%School district taxes25%Fines and other1.7%Fees for services (school lunches, school tuition and transportation)1.1%Federal tax money0.2%

What stands out

72%

of North Thurston School District 3's money comes from state tax money.A typical school district with 5,000 to 25,000 students gets 59%.

Full North Thurston School District 3 breakdown

School district taxes25%

Property tax
25%$80.6 million
Other taxes
<0.1%$3 thousand
What's in other taxesOther taxes not classified elsewhere
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$3 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services1.1%

Fees for services
1.1%$3.4 million
What's in fees for servicesOther school charges; school lunches and 1 more
  • Other school charges$1.7 million
  • School lunches$1.5 million
  • School tuition and transportation$167 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money0.2%

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

From the federal government
0.2%$772 thousand

State tax money72%

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

From the state
72%$228 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%$19 thousand

Fines and other1.7%

Interest, rents and other
1.7%$5.4 million
Fines
<0.1%$40 thousand
North Thurston School District 3 page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges96%Interest on debt2.8%Sent to other local governments1.0%
Full North Thurston School District 3 breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
96%$321 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
  • Elementary and secondary schools$321 million
Interest on debt
2.8%$9.3 million
Sent to other local governments
1.0%$3.4 million
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to the state government
  • Sent to the state government$3.4 million
North Thurston School District 3 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.

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

North Thurston School District 3. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended August 31, 2023.

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