ZIP 07208 · Elizabeth, NJ

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 New Jersey

$97.4 billion budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

Where the money comes from

State taxes50%Federal tax money30%Fees for services (tolls, college tuition)10%Fines and other9.4%Local tax money0.7%
Full New Jersey breakdown

What stands out

8.2%

of New Jersey's money comes from business income taxes.A typical state government gets 3.8%.

State taxes50%

Individual income tax
19%$18.9 billion
Sales tax
14%$14.3 billion
Other taxes
9.0%$9.08 billion
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; corporation licenses and 16 more
  • Other selective sales taxes$2.74 billion
  • Corporation licenses$912 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$821 million
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$735 million
  • Motor vehicle licenses$685 million
  • Insurance premium taxes$627 million
  • Estate and gift taxes$537 million
  • Amusement taxes$519 million
  • Motor fuel taxes$472 million
  • Tobacco taxes$469 million
  • Public utility taxes$236 million
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$184 million
  • Driver's licenses$59.6 million
  • Amusement licenses$47.7 million
  • Hunting and fishing licenses$14.3 million
  • Public utility licenses$10.6 million
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$4.2 million
  • Other licenses$2.0 million

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Business income tax
8.2%$8.21 billion
Property tax
<0.1%$5.0 million

Fees for services10%

Fees for services
10%$10.2 billion
What's in fees for servicesTolls on roads and bridges; college tuition and 17 more
  • Tolls on roads and bridges$2.57 billion
  • College tuition$2.43 billion
  • Hospital bills$1.86 billion
  • Other service charges$1.67 billion
  • Transit fares$832 million
  • University housing and dining$611 million
  • Housing$52.0 million
  • Parks and recreation$50.6 million
  • Water$42.1 million
  • Ports and waterways$33.1 million
  • Airport$17.2 million
  • Road charges$14.0 million
  • Sewer$11.9 million
  • Other education charges$11.7 million
  • Parks, land and natural resources$9.2 million
  • Garbage collection$2.4 million
  • School lunches$757 thousand
  • Other school charges$185 thousand
  • School tuition and transportation$5 thousand

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%$29.7 billion

Local tax money0.7%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From local governments
0.7%$683 million

Fines and other9.4%

Interest, rents and other
9.2%$9.28 billion
Fines
0.2%$178 million
New Jersey page →

Where the money goes

Social services29%Sent to local governments23%Schools and colleges17%Roads, transit and parking8.7%Running the government and other costs7.9%All other spending15%
Full New Jersey breakdown

Spending by category100%

Social services
29%$28.4 billion
What's in social servicesOther public welfare; unemployment and social insurance offices and 2 more
  • Other public welfare$28.0 billion
  • Unemployment and social insurance offices$305 million
  • Welfare institutions$102 million
  • Veterans' services$30.7 million
Sent to local governments
23%$22.3 billion
What's in sent to local governmentsSent to school districts; sent to local governments: elementary and secondary schools and 19 more
  • Sent to school districts$12.4 billion
  • Sent to local governments: elementary and secondary schools$4.15 billion
  • Sent to local governments: general support$2.21 billion
  • Sent to local governments: other public welfare$1.64 billion
  • Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$594 million
  • Sent to local governments: roads and highways$397 million
  • Sent to local governments: colleges and universities$186 million
  • Sent to local governments: hospitals$142 million
  • Sent to local governments: public health$132 million
  • Sent to local governments: police$86.1 million
  • Sent to local governments: natural resources, farming and conservation$77.5 million
  • Sent to local governments: prisons and jails$75.0 million
  • Sent to local governments: garbage and solid waste$51.0 million
  • Sent to local governments: parks and recreation$34.2 million
  • Sent to local governments: libraries$32.8 million
  • Sent to local governments: inspections and regulation$29.7 million
  • Sent to the federal government$26.0 million
  • Sent to local governments: courts and legal services$7.2 million
  • Sent to local governments: other government administration$4.6 million
  • Sent to local governments: sewer systems$3.9 million
  • Sent to local governments: housing and community development$1.4 million
Schools and colleges
17%$16.3 billion
What's in schools and collegesColleges and universities; elementary and secondary schools and 3 more
  • Colleges and universities$6.10 billion
  • Elementary and secondary schools$5.44 billion
  • Scholarships and other education subsidies$1.99 billion
  • Other education$1.86 billion
  • College housing, dining and bookstores$947 million
Roads, transit and parking
8.7%$8.48 billion
What's in roads, transit and parkingPublic transit; roads and highways and 3 more
  • Public transit$4.41 billion
  • Roads and highways$2.19 billion
  • Toll roads and bridges$1.80 billion
  • Ports and harbors$50.3 million
  • Airports$31.8 million
Running the government and other costs
7.9%$7.74 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$5.37 billion
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$1.88 billion
  • Other government administration$215 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$209 million
  • Government buildings$62.6 million
Health and hospitals
5.8%$5.66 billion
What's in health and hospitalsHospitals and public health
  • Hospitals$3.00 billion
  • Public health$2.67 billion
Police, fire, courts and jails
4.3%$4.15 billion
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPrisons and jails; courts and legal services and 3 more
  • Prisons and jails$1.24 billion
  • Courts and legal services$1.21 billion
  • Police$905 million
  • Inspections and regulation$438 million
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$364 million
Interest on debt
2.4%$2.30 billion
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$2.30 billion
  • Interest on water supply debt$664 thousand
Housing and community development
1.0%$932 million
Environment and natural resources
0.7%$704 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$704 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.3%$264 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$260 million
  • Libraries$4.4 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
0.1%$127 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply; electric power and 2 more
  • Water supply$59.0 million
  • Electric power$38.4 million
  • Sewer systems$21.2 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$8.0 million
New Jersey page →

Your county

Union County

$547 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended December 31, 2023.

Where the money comes from

County taxes70%State tax money8.7%Fees for services (hospital bills, parks and recreation)7.5%Local tax money6.9%Fines and other4.5%Federal tax money2.3%
Full Union County breakdown

What stands out

69%

of Union County's money comes from property tax.A typical U.S. county of 250,000+ people gets 29%.

County taxes70%

Property tax
69%$367 million
Other taxes
1.3%$7.1 million
What's in other taxesReal estate and stock transfer taxes; public utility taxes and 1 more
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$6.5 million
  • Public utility taxes$328 thousand
  • Other licenses$233 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services7.5%

Fees for services
7.5%$40.2 million
What's in fees for servicesHospital bills; other service charges and 5 more
  • Hospital bills$16.9 million
  • Other service charges$9.5 million
  • Parks and recreation$8.6 million
  • Housing$3.8 million
  • Other school charges$931 thousand
  • School tuition and transportation$287 thousand
  • School lunches$199 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money2.3%

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

From the federal government
2.3%$12.0 million

State tax money8.7%

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

From the state
8.7%$46.5 million

Local tax money6.9%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
6.9%$37.1 million

Fines and other4.5%

Interest, rents and other
4.3%$22.9 million
Fines
0.2%$1.1 million
Union County page →

Where the money goes

Running the government and other costs41%Police, fire, courts and jails17%Social services15%Schools and colleges14%Interest on debt3.9%All other spending8.8%

What stands out

14%

of Union County's spending goes to schools and colleges.Most U.S. counties of 250,000+ people spend nothing on this.

Full Union County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Running the government and other costs
41%$227 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; government buildings and 2 more
  • Other and not broken out$197 million
  • Government buildings$15.7 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$7.0 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$6.3 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
17%$93.8 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; courts and legal services and 2 more
  • Police$39.3 million
  • Courts and legal services$27.7 million
  • Prisons and jails$26.3 million
  • Fire protection$373 thousand
Social services
15%$82.2 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare and welfare institutions
  • Other public welfare$69.8 million
  • Welfare institutions$12.3 million
Schools and colleges
14%$75.8 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
  • Elementary and secondary schools$75.8 million
Interest on debt
3.9%$21.1 million
Health and hospitals
3.3%$18.3 million
What's in health and hospitalsHospitals and public health
  • Hospitals$14.2 million
  • Public health$4.1 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
3.3%$18.3 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$18.3 million
Roads, transit and parking
1.7%$9.3 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$9.3 million
Housing and community development
0.4%$2.2 million
Sent to other local governments
<0.1%$46 thousand
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to the state government
  • Sent to the state government$46 thousand
Union County page →

Your city

City of Elizabeth

$366 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

Where the money comes from

City taxes55%Federal tax money13%State tax money11%Fees for services (water, housing)11%Fines and other9.7%
Full Elizabeth breakdown

What stands out

53%

of Elizabeth's money comes from property tax.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people gets 20%.

City taxes55%

Property tax
53%$201 million
Other taxes
2.3%$8.6 million
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; public utility taxes and 2 more
  • Other selective sales taxes$4.9 million
  • Public utility taxes$1.9 million
  • Other licenses$1.6 million
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$185 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services11%

Fees for services
11%$40.3 million
What's in fees for servicesWater; housing and 3 more
  • Water$32.7 million
  • Housing$4.1 million
  • Parking$2.9 million
  • Garbage collection$370 thousand
  • Parks and recreation$88 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money13%

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

From the federal government
13%$50.5 million

State tax money11%

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

From the state
11%$41.1 million

Fines and other9.7%

Interest, rents and other
9.6%$36.4 million
Fines
<0.1%$259 thousand
Elizabeth page →

Where the money goes

Running the government and other costs33%Police, fire, courts and jails30%Housing and community development14%Water, sewer, trash and utilities9.9%Parks, recreation and libraries5.8%All other spending7.4%

What stands out

14%

of Elizabeth's spending goes to housing and community development.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people spends 1.4%.

Full Elizabeth breakdown

Spending by category100%

Running the government and other costs
33%$119 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; government buildings and 2 more
  • Other and not broken out$91.8 million
  • Government buildings$16.5 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$6.2 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$4.3 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
30%$111 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
  • Police$64.4 million
  • Fire protection$38.6 million
  • Courts and legal services$5.4 million
  • Inspections and regulation$2.5 million
Housing and community development
14%$51.0 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
9.9%$36.3 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems and garbage and solid waste
  • Sewer systems$23.2 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$13.2 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
5.8%$21.3 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$16.7 million
  • Libraries$4.6 million
Health and hospitals
4.1%$15.0 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$15.0 million
Roads, transit and parking
1.9%$6.9 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingParking and roads and highways
  • Parking$4.2 million
  • Roads and highways$2.7 million
Interest on debt
1.4%$5.1 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$3.1 million
  • Interest on water supply debt$2.0 million
Environment and natural resources
<0.1%$153 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$153 thousand
Elizabeth page →

Your schools

Elizabeth City School District

$884 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

Where the money comes from

State tax money90%School district taxes7.8%Fines and other1.4%Fees for services (school lunches)0.4%

What stands out

90%

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

Full Elizabeth City School District breakdown

School district taxes7.8%

Property tax
7.8%$59.8 million

Fees for services0.4%

Fees for services
0.4%$3.2 million
What's in fees for servicesSchool lunches and other school charges
  • School lunches$1.9 million
  • Other school charges$1.3 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

State tax money90%

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

From the state
90%$696 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%$6 thousand

Fines and other1.4%

Interest, rents and other
1.4%$10.4 million
Elizabeth City School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges97%Sent to other local governments3.1%
Full Elizabeth City School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
97%$857 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
  • Elementary and secondary schools$857 million
Sent to other local governments
3.1%$27.0 million
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to school districts and sent to the state government
  • Sent to school districts$26.8 million
  • Sent to the state government$217 thousand
Elizabeth City School District page →
Sources and moreEach government's source, fiscal year and how a ZIP is matched

State of New Jersey. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2024.

Union 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 Elizabeth. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2024.

Elizabeth City School District. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2024.

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.