Where Bellingham's money goes

A plain-English look at what your town spends, what you pay, and how it's changing.

$92.8 million a year
That's what Bellingham spent across all town services.
45¢ of every dollar goes to schools.
Schools $41.7 million
45%
public schools — teachers, buildings, buses
Employee pensions & benefits $23.9 million
26%
retirement and health insurance for town & school staff
Public safety $11.1 million
12%
police, fire, and ambulance
General government $4.9 million
5%
town hall, clerk, finance, elections
State & county assessments $4.4 million
5%
required payments to the state and county
Public works $3.9 million
4%
roads, snow plowing, trash, parks
Culture & recreation $1.2 million
1%
library, parks, recreation programs
Health & human services $1.1 million
1%
public health, senior & veterans services
Debt interest $522,000
1%
interest on money borrowed for buildings & projects
Source: Bellingham FY2024 audited financial statements (audited actuals, FY2024). Figures are rounded for readability.
These figures come from official town and state documents, summarized for clarity. Always check the source for exact numbers. ← Back to Bellingham Town Watch