Liquor Control Board returns $425.7 million in Fiscal Year 2011

October 3, 2011

Returns $140.6 million in fourth quarter

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB) returned $425.7 million in Fiscal Year 2011 to fund state and local services.

Funds are distributed in accordance with state law. The State General Fund money is used to fund state services, including education and prevention. Distributions also go toward wine and grape research, and alcohol and drug abuse research. Cities, counties and border areas use the money to meet community needs, fund alcohol prevention and education programs, and support local law enforcement.

In Fiscal Year 2011, $345 million was sent to the General Fund, $71 million to cities and counties, $8.2 million to education and prevention, and $1.5 million to research. To see how much revenue your city or county received from the WSLCB in Fiscal Year 2011, visit lcb.wa.gov/about/where-your-liquor-dollars-go.

Fourth quarter distributions made
The WSLCB recently sent $140.6 million generated from liquor sales, taxes and fees to the State Treasurer’s Office to be distributed to the state and local communities. The distribution is for the fourth quarter distribution of Fiscal Year 2011, which ended June 30.

The $140.6 million distributed as follows,*

  • State General Fund: $117.2 million
  • Local governments: $20.6 million
  • Department of Social and Health Services: $2.3 million
  • Washington State University for wine and grape research: $97,561
  • Washington Wine Commission: $96,052
  • University of Washington for alcohol and drug abuse research: $151,349
  • Washington State University for alcohol and drug abuse research: $100,900
  • Washington State Patrol Toxicology Program: $37,500
  • Youth tobacco prevention: $27,786

The funds come from seven sources:

 

  • $74.5 million in spirit taxes (liter taxes and liquor sales taxes)
  • $27.8 million in excess funds (non-dedicated revenue after expenses)
  • $33.4 million in beer taxes
  • $2.6 million in license fees
  • $1.5 million in wine taxes
  • $763,650 in retail sales taxes
  • $30,921 from tobacco violations

 

*Figures rounded to the nearest thousand

The WSLCB sends distributions at the end of each quarter of the fiscal year. The WSLCB distributed $75.6 million in the first quarter that ended September 30, 2010, $104.8 million in the second quarter that ended December 31, 2010, and $104.7 million in the third quarter that ended March 31.

The Washington State Liquor Control Board’s mission is to contribute to the safety and financial stability of our communities by ensuring the responsible sale, and preventing the misuse of, alcohol and tobacco. The WSLCB returned $425.7 million in Fiscal Year 2011 to fund essential state and local services.