Assorted other sources like interest earnings, special charges, property sales, and liquor store revenues make up the remaining 7 percent of governmental revenues. Most of the revenues described above are dedicated to specific purposes. The federal money, for example, must be spent on certain programs such as Medicaid or transportation. Utility charges collected by local water departments or the Mason County PUD are payment for services. Unemployment insurance and workers' comp premiums pay for specified benefits.
College tuition pays for a portion of a college education.
None of these funds are available for criminal justice, roads, transit or ferries. These are what are known as dedicated accounts, and can only be used for the prescribed purposes. So cutting the budget of the Silverdale Fire District is not going to free up money for Kitsap Transit. Cutting 2 percent of the Port of Bremerton's budget will not provide more revenues for state ferries. There are several ideas floating around right now that have real promise.