ZIP 08853 · Branchburg Township, NJ

Eight governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 08853: 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 08853?
08853 is served by the State of New Jersey, Somerset County, Branchburg Township, Branchburg Township School District, Hunterdon County, Readington Township, Hunterdon Central High School District and Readington Township 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), Branchburg Township spent $20.7 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2021), Branchburg Township School District spent $61.6 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), Hunterdon County spent $78.2 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Readington Township spent $25.7 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2023), Hunterdon Central High School District spent $86.6 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025) and Readington Township School District spent $57.2 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 08853?
Of the governments serving 08853, Somerset County collected $221 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2023), Readington Township collected $80.6 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2023), Hunterdon County collected $74.7 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Hunterdon Central High School District collected $60.0 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), Branchburg Township School District collected $48.9 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), Readington Township School District collected $35.3 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), Branchburg Township collected $13.4 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2021) 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 08853.

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, Hunterdon County, Branchburg Township and Readington Township

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 08853

Somerset County$221 million

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

Readington Township$80.6 million

93% of its $86.5 million in revenue · fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 · estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

Hunterdon County$74.7 million

75% of its $100 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024 · estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

Hunterdon Central High School District$60.0 million

65% of its $91.6 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

Branchburg Township School District$48.9 million

77% of its $63.2 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

Readington Township School District$35.3 million

67% of its $52.3 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

Branchburg Township$13.4 million

62% of its $21.7 million in revenue · fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 · 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 counties

Somerset County

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

About 76% of this ZIP is in Somerset County.

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 →

Hunterdon County

$78.2 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024. Estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

About 24% of this ZIP is in Hunterdon County.

Where the money comes from

County taxes77%Fines and other10%Local tax money6.1%Fees for services (parks and recreation, school tuition and transportation)4.3%State tax money2.3%
Full Hunterdon County breakdown

What stands out

75%

of Hunterdon County's money comes from property tax.A typical U.S. county of 50,000 to 250,000 people gets 28%.

County taxes77%

Property tax
75%$74.7 million
Other taxes
2.7%$2.7 million
What's in other taxesReal estate and stock transfer taxes and other licenses
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$1.4 million
  • Other licenses$1.3 million

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services4.3%

Fees for services
4.3%$4.3 million
What's in fees for servicesParks and recreation; other service charges and 3 more
  • Parks and recreation$2.0 million
  • Other service charges$1.6 million
  • School tuition and transportation$345 thousand
  • Garbage collection$216 thousand
  • Other school charges$126 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

State tax money2.3%

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

From the state
2.3%$2.3 million

Local tax money6.1%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
6.1%$6.2 million

Fines and other10%

Interest, rents and other
6.6%$6.6 million
Fines
3.4%$3.4 million
Hunterdon County page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges29%Police, fire, courts and jails21%Running the government and other costs21%Roads, transit and parking17%Parks, recreation and libraries6.0%All other spending6.1%

What stands out

29%

of Hunterdon County's spending goes to schools and colleges.Most U.S. counties of 50,000 to 250,000 people spend nothing on this.

Full Hunterdon County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
29%$23.0 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
  • Elementary and secondary schools$23.0 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
21%$16.3 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; courts and legal services and 4 more
  • Police$6.3 million
  • Courts and legal services$5.9 million
  • Prisons and jails$2.9 million
  • Fire protection$473 thousand
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$347 thousand
  • Inspections and regulation$340 thousand
Running the government and other costs
21%$16.1 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$9.5 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$3.7 million
  • Government buildings$1.9 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$973 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
17%$13.2 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and public transit
  • Roads and highways$12.5 million
  • Public transit$750 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
6.0%$4.7 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$4.7 million
Health and hospitals
2.7%$2.1 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$2.1 million
Sent to other local governments
1.7%$1.3 million
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$1.2 million
  • Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$61 thousand
Social services
1.4%$1.1 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$1.1 million
Interest on debt
0.2%$169 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
0.2%$158 thousand
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste
  • Garbage and solid waste$158 thousand
Environment and natural resources
<0.1%$8 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$8 thousand
Hunterdon County page →

Your towns

Branchburg Township

$20.7 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended December 31, 2021. Estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

About 76% of this ZIP is in Branchburg Township.

Where the money comes from

Township taxes68%Fees for services (sewer)16%State tax money12%Fines and other4.2%

What stands out

16%

of Branchburg 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 Branchburg Township breakdown

Township taxes68%

Property tax
62%$13.4 million
Other taxes
5.9%$1.3 million
What's in other taxesOther licenses; other selective sales taxes and 2 more
  • Other licenses$782 thousand
  • Other selective sales taxes$371 thousand
  • Public utility taxes$83 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$36 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services16%

Fees for services
16%$3.5 million
What's in fees for servicesSewer and other service charges
  • Sewer$3.4 million
  • Other service charges$149 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

State tax money12%

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

From the state
12%$2.6 million

Fines and other4.2%

Fines
2.5%$539 thousand
Interest, rents and other
1.7%$380 thousand
Branchburg Township page →

Where the money goes

Running the government and other costs39%Police, fire, courts and jails24%Water, sewer, trash and utilities20%Roads, transit and parking12%Interest on debt2.7%All other spending2.5%

What stands out

20%

of Branchburg 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 Branchburg Township breakdown

Spending by category100%

Running the government and other costs
39%$8.0 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$6.2 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$1.1 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$600 thousand
  • Government buildings$128 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
24%$5.0 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
  • Police$3.5 million
  • Fire protection$870 thousand
  • Courts and legal services$349 thousand
  • Inspections and regulation$280 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
20%$4.2 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems and garbage and solid waste
  • Sewer systems$4.1 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$161 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
12%$2.4 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$2.4 million
Interest on debt
2.7%$563 thousand
Health and hospitals
1.5%$302 thousand
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$302 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
1.0%$206 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$206 thousand
Branchburg Township page →

Readington Township

$25.7 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended December 31, 2023. Estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

About 24% of this ZIP is in Readington Township.

Where the money comes from

Township taxes96%Fees for services (sewer, parks and recreation)2.6%State tax money0.6%Fines and other0.5%
Full Readington Township breakdown

What stands out

93%

of Readington Township's money comes from property tax.A typical U.S. township or town of 10,000 to 50,000 people gets 53%.

Township taxes96%

Property tax
93%$80.6 million
Other taxes
3.2%$2.8 million
What's in other taxesPublic utility taxes; other licenses and 1 more
  • Public utility taxes$1.6 million
  • Other licenses$1.2 million
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$23 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services2.6%

Fees for services
2.6%$2.2 million
What's in fees for servicesSewer; parks and recreation and 1 more
  • Sewer$1.6 million
  • Parks and recreation$390 thousand
  • Housing$264 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

State tax money0.6%

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

From the state
0.6%$478 thousand

Fines and other0.5%

Interest, rents and other
0.3%$301 thousand
Fines
0.1%$104 thousand
Readington Township page →

Where the money goes

Running the government and other costs31%Police, fire, courts and jails26%Roads, transit and parking14%Water, sewer, trash and utilities13%Social services8.9%All other spending7.1%

What stands out

8.9%

of Readington Township's spending goes to social services.Most U.S. townships and towns of 10,000 to 50,000 people spend nothing on this.

Full Readington Township breakdown

Spending by category100%

Running the government and other costs
31%$7.8 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$6.0 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$706 thousand
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$638 thousand
  • Government buildings$461 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
26%$6.8 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
  • Police$4.3 million
  • Fire protection$1.3 million
  • Courts and legal services$746 thousand
  • Inspections and regulation$398 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
14%$3.6 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$3.6 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
13%$3.3 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems and garbage and solid waste
  • Sewer systems$2.2 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$1.1 million
Social services
8.9%$2.3 million
What's in social servicesWelfare institutions
  • Welfare institutions$2.3 million
Interest on debt
4.3%$1.1 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
1.7%$428 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$229 thousand
  • Libraries$199 thousand
Health and hospitals
1.0%$265 thousand
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$265 thousand
Environment and natural resources
0.1%$36 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$36 thousand
Readington Township page →

Your schools

Branchburg Township School District

$61.6 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the New Jersey Department of Education.

About 76% of this ZIP is in Branchburg Township School District.

Where the money comes from

School district taxes77%State tax money19%Fines and other1.8%Federal tax money0.9%Fees for services0.6%
Full Branchburg Township School District breakdown

School district taxes77%

Property tax
77%$48.9 million

Fees for services0.6%

Fees for services
0.6%$356 thousand

Federal tax money0.9%

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

From the federal government
0.9%$590 thousand

State tax money19%

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

From the state
19%$12.2 million

Fines and other1.8%

Interest, rents and other
1.8%$1.1 million
Branchburg Township School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges74%Sent to other local governments23%Debt payments (principal and interest)3.5%
Full Branchburg Township School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
74%$45.5 million
Sent to other local governments
23%$13.9 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
3.5%$2.2 million
Branchburg Township School District page →

Hunterdon Central High School District

$86.6 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the New Jersey Department of Education.

About 24% of this ZIP is in Hunterdon Central High School District.

Where the money comes from

School district taxes65%State tax money21%Fees for services9.7%Fines and other3.5%Federal tax money0.8%
Full Hunterdon Central High School District breakdown

School district taxes65%

Property tax
65%$60.0 million

Fees for services9.7%

Fees for services
9.7%$8.9 million

Federal tax money0.8%

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

From the federal government
0.8%$729 thousand

State tax money21%

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

From the state
21%$18.8 million

Fines and other3.5%

Interest, rents and other
3.5%$3.2 million
Hunterdon Central High School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges96%Sent to other local governments4.3%Debt payments (principal and interest)0.2%
Full Hunterdon Central High School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
96%$82.7 million
Sent to other local governments
4.3%$3.7 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
0.2%$179 thousand
Hunterdon Central High School District page →

Readington Township School District

$57.2 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the New Jersey Department of Education.

About 24% of this ZIP is in Readington Township School District.

Where the money comes from

School district taxes67%State tax money29%Federal tax money1.5%Fees for services1.2%Fines and other0.6%
Full Readington Township School District breakdown

School district taxes67%

Property tax
67%$35.3 million

Fees for services1.2%

Fees for services
1.2%$610 thousand

Federal tax money1.5%

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

From the federal government
1.5%$806 thousand

State tax money29%

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

From the state
29%$15.3 million

Fines and other0.6%

Interest, rents and other
0.6%$339 thousand
Readington Township School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges95%Debt payments (principal and interest)3.7%Sent to other local governments1.3%
Full Readington Township School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
95%$54.3 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
3.7%$2.1 million
Sent to other local governments
1.3%$770 thousand
Readington Township 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.

Branchburg Township. U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments, Finance, individual unit file, fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. Most of this government's figures were estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau from a sample; the government did not report them itself. The Census record for this government is from the 2022 survey, the newest on file.

Branchburg Township 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.

Hunterdon County. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2024. Most of this government's figures were estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau from a sample; the government did not report them itself.

Readington 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.

Hunterdon Central High 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.

Readington Township 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.