ZIP 08821 · Hillsborough Township, NJ

Four governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 08821: the state, county, city or town and school district, and where each one's money comes from and goes.

Each government is shown for its own newest fiscal year on file, so the years differ. Figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau's Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, the government's own report or, for New Jersey governments, the New Jersey Department of Education, as named under Sources and more.

Where do my taxes go in 08821?
08821 is served by the State of New Jersey, Somerset County, Hillsborough Township and Hillsborough School District. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of New Jersey spent $97.4 billion (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Somerset County spent $405 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2023), Hillsborough Township spent $47.4 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2023) and Hillsborough School District spent $187 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 08821?
Of the governments serving 08821, Somerset County collected $221 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2023), Hillsborough School District collected $119 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), Hillsborough Township collected $23.1 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2023) and State of New Jersey collected $5.0 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 08821.

See another ZIP code

From the state down to your schools: where each one's money comes from and goes.

See the full budget for: Somerset County, Hillsborough Township and Hillsborough School District

Why not this year? New Jersey governments with newer filings show school district figures from the New Jersey Department of Education (for 2025). Each other figure is the newest year the U.S. Census Bureau has published for that government, so the years differ and are not the current year. Most governments post their current budget on their own website.

Where property tax goes in 08821

Somerset County$221 million

65% of its $340 million in revenue · fiscal year ended December 31, 2023

Hillsborough School District$119 million

66% of its $181 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

Hillsborough Township$23.1 million

52% of its $44.1 million in revenue · fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 · estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

State of New Jersey$5.0 million

<0.1% of its $100.6 billion in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024

These are each government's total property tax collections, not your bill. Your own bill is split by each government's tax rate, shown on your property tax bill.

Your county

Somerset County

$405 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended December 31, 2023.

Where the money comes from

County taxes65%Fees for services (college tuition, garbage collection)13%State tax money6.0%Local tax money5.8%Federal tax money5.4%Fines and other5.0%
Full Somerset County breakdown

What stands out

65%

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

County taxes65%

Property tax
65%$221 million

Fees for services13%

Fees for services
13%$43.8 million
What's in fees for servicesCollege tuition; other service charges and 4 more
  • College tuition$20.3 million
  • Other service charges$18.3 million
  • Garbage collection$3.2 million
  • University housing and dining$1.4 million
  • Other school charges$363 thousand
  • School lunches$82 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money5.4%

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

From the federal government
5.4%$18.2 million

State tax money6.0%

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

From the state
6.0%$20.3 million

Local tax money5.8%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
5.8%$19.6 million

Fines and other5.0%

Interest, rents and other
5.0%$17.0 million
Fines
<0.1%$1 thousand
Somerset County page →

Where the money goes

Running the government and other costs38%Schools and colleges22%Roads, transit and parking11%Police, fire, courts and jails11%Health and hospitals4.3%All other spending13%

What stands out

22%

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

Full Somerset County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Running the government and other costs
38%$153 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; government buildings and 2 more
  • Other and not broken out$105 million
  • Government buildings$43.8 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$2.3 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$2.1 million
Schools and colleges
22%$90.7 million
What's in schools and collegesColleges and universities; elementary and secondary schools and 2 more
  • Colleges and universities$61.1 million
  • Elementary and secondary schools$22.3 million
  • Scholarships and other education subsidies$4.8 million
  • College housing, dining and bookstores$2.5 million
Roads, transit and parking
11%$44.8 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$44.8 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
11%$44.4 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPrisons and jails; courts and legal services and 1 more
  • Prisons and jails$18.5 million
  • Courts and legal services$15.6 million
  • Police$10.3 million
Health and hospitals
4.3%$17.5 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$17.5 million
Social services
4.0%$16.2 million
What's in social servicesWelfare institutions
  • Welfare institutions$16.2 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
3.3%$13.4 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$13.4 million
Interest on debt
3.2%$12.8 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
2.6%$10.5 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste
  • Garbage and solid waste$10.5 million
Environment and natural resources
0.3%$1.3 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$1.3 million
Sent to other local governments
<0.1%$37 thousand
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to the state government and sent to local governments: other and not broken out
  • Sent to the state government$20 thousand
  • Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$17 thousand
Housing and community development
<0.1%$13 thousand
Somerset County page →

Your town

Hillsborough Township

$47.4 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended December 31, 2023. Estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

Where the money comes from

Township taxes59%Fees for services (sewer)30%State tax money6.1%Fines and other5.1%

What stands out

30%

of Hillsborough Township's money comes from fees for services such as water, sewer and parking.A typical U.S. township or town of 10,000 to 50,000 people gets 8.8%.

Full Hillsborough Township breakdown

Township taxes59%

Property tax
52%$23.1 million
Other taxes
6.4%$2.8 million
What's in other taxesOther licenses; public utility taxes and 1 more
  • Other licenses$2.7 million
  • Public utility taxes$61 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$51 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services30%

Fees for services
30%$13.3 million
What's in fees for servicesSewer and other service charges
  • Sewer$13.2 million
  • Other service charges$72 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

State tax money6.1%

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

From the state
6.1%$2.7 million

Fines and other5.1%

Interest, rents and other
3.0%$1.3 million
Fines
2.0%$900 thousand
Hillsborough Township page →

Where the money goes

Running the government and other costs30%Water, sewer, trash and utilities25%Police, fire, courts and jails25%Roads, transit and parking8.6%Sent to other local governments6.9%All other spending4.7%

What stands out

25%

of Hillsborough Township's spending goes to water, sewer, trash and other utilities.A typical U.S. township or town of 10,000 to 50,000 people spends 4.5%.

Full Hillsborough Township breakdown

Spending by category100%

Running the government and other costs
30%$14.1 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$11.7 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$1.1 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$1.1 million
  • Government buildings$201 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
25%$11.9 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems and garbage and solid waste
  • Sewer systems$11.5 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$448 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
25%$11.8 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; inspections and regulation and 2 more
  • Police$9.2 million
  • Inspections and regulation$1.1 million
  • Fire protection$1.0 million
  • Courts and legal services$430 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
8.6%$4.1 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$4.1 million
Sent to other local governments
6.9%$3.3 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$3.3 million
Health and hospitals
2.0%$925 thousand
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$925 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
1.7%$819 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$819 thousand
Social services
0.6%$276 thousand
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$276 thousand
Interest on debt
0.5%$216 thousand
Environment and natural resources
<0.1%$7 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$7 thousand
Hillsborough Township page →

Your schools

Hillsborough School District

$187 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the New Jersey Department of Education.

Where the money comes from

School district taxes66%State tax money30%Fines and other1.6%Federal tax money1.6%Fees for services0.5%
Full Hillsborough School District breakdown

School district taxes66%

Property tax
66%$119 million

Fees for services0.5%

Fees for services
0.5%$856 thousand

Federal tax money1.6%

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

From the federal government
1.6%$2.8 million

State tax money30%

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

From the state
30%$54.9 million

Fines and other1.6%

Interest, rents and other
1.6%$3.0 million
Hillsborough School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges96%Sent to other local governments2.9%Debt payments (principal and interest)1.2%
Full Hillsborough School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
96%$179 million
Sent to other local governments
2.9%$5.4 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
1.2%$2.2 million
Hillsborough School District page →

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 →
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.

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

Hillsborough Township. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. Most of this government's figures were estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau from a sample; the government did not report them itself.

Hillsborough School District. New Jersey Department of Education, district Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (audited), fiscal year 2025, fiscal year ended June 30, 2025. The earlier Census figures are from U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2024.

How these figures are counted. New Jersey school district figures are from each district's audited Annual Comprehensive Financial Report filed with the New Jersey Department of Education for the 2024-25 school year, ended June 30, 2025, grouped into the same categories as the Census figures. They cover governmental funds (general, special revenue, capital projects, debt service) and enterprise funds such as food service, and leave out transfers between funds. Tuition paid to other districts and payments to charter schools are shown as passed on. The "Debt payments" line includes principal as well as interest, so spending can be higher than the Census figure for the same district.

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.