ZIP 18656 · Ross Township, PA

Seven governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 18656: 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 Pennsylvania governments, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and the Pennsylvania Department of Education, as named under Sources and more.

Where do my taxes go in 18656?
18656 is served by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Luzerne County, Lake Lehman School District, Ross Township, Northwest Area School District, Fairmount Township and Lake Township. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania spent $122.4 billion (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Luzerne County spent $290 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2023), Lake Lehman School District spent $34.0 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), Ross Township spent $710 thousand (fiscal year ended December 31, 2024), Northwest Area School District spent $21.4 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), Fairmount Township spent $639 thousand (fiscal year ended December 31, 2024) and Lake Township spent $1.1 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2024). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 18656?
Of the governments serving 18656, Luzerne County collected $131 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2023), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania collected $44.1 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Lake Lehman School District collected $15.8 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), Northwest Area School District collected $7.6 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), Fairmount Township collected $127 thousand (fiscal year ended December 31, 2024), Ross Township collected $88 thousand (fiscal year ended December 31, 2024) and Lake Township collected $77 thousand (fiscal year ended December 31, 2024) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 18656.

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: Luzerne County, Ross Township, Fairmount Township and Lake Township

Why not this year? Pennsylvania governments with newer filings show figures from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and the Pennsylvania Department of Education (for 2024 and 2025, each government's newest year on file). 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 18656

Luzerne County$131 million

39% of its $331 million in revenue · fiscal year ended December 31, 2023

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania$44.1 million

<0.1% of its $125.8 billion in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024

Lake Lehman School District$15.8 million

44% of its $35.5 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

Northwest Area School District$7.6 million

32% of its $24.0 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

Fairmount Township$127 thousand

16% of its $787 thousand in revenue · fiscal year ended December 31, 2024

Ross Township$88 thousand

8.5% of its $1.0 million in revenue · fiscal year ended December 31, 2024

Lake Township$77 thousand

12% of its $667 thousand in revenue · fiscal year ended December 31, 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

Luzerne County

$290 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended December 31, 2023.

Where the money comes from

State tax money46%County taxes42%Fines and other4.8%Fees for services (airport)3.9%Federal tax money3.4%Local tax money<0.1%

What stands out

46%

of Luzerne County's money comes from state tax money.A typical U.S. county of 250,000+ people gets 19%.

Full Luzerne County breakdown

County taxes42%

Property tax
39%$131 million
Other taxes
2.6%$8.6 million
What's in other taxesOther licenses and other selective sales taxes
  • Other licenses$4.4 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$4.2 million

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services3.9%

Fees for services
3.9%$12.9 million
What's in fees for servicesAirport and other service charges
  • Airport$7.0 million
  • Other service charges$5.9 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money3.4%

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

From the federal government
3.4%$11.3 million

State tax money46%

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

From the state
46%$152 million

Local tax money<0.1%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
<0.1%$326 thousand

Fines and other4.8%

Interest, rents and other
4.5%$14.8 million
Fines
0.4%$1.2 million
Luzerne County page →

Where the money goes

Social services31%Police, fire, courts and jails27%Housing and community development20%Roads, transit and parking8.9%Running the government and other costs6.5%All other spending6.7%

What stands out

20%

of Luzerne County's spending goes to housing and community development.Most U.S. counties of 250,000+ people spend nothing on this.

Full Luzerne County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Social services
31%$89.9 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$89.9 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
27%$78.0 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPrisons and jails; courts and legal services and 2 more
  • Prisons and jails$37.0 million
  • Courts and legal services$34.2 million
  • Police$5.8 million
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$1.0 million
Housing and community development
20%$58.3 million
Roads, transit and parking
8.9%$26.0 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingAirports and roads and highways
  • Airports$14.0 million
  • Roads and highways$12.0 million
Running the government and other costs
6.5%$18.8 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; finance, tax collection and budgeting and 1 more
  • Other and not broken out$7.5 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$7.4 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$3.8 million
Sent to other local governments
2.8%$8.2 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$8.2 million
Interest on debt
2.3%$6.6 million
Health and hospitals
1.6%$4.7 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$4.7 million
Luzerne County page →

Your towns

Ross Township

$710 thousand budget in fiscal year 2024 (ended December 31, 2024), from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

About 48% of this ZIP is in Ross Township.

Where the money comes from

Township taxes56%State tax money21%County and local tax money15%Fines and other6.1%Fees for services1.9%
Full Ross Township breakdown

Township taxes56%

Local income tax
39%$408 thousand
Other taxes
8.6%$89 thousand
Property tax
8.5%$88 thousand

Fees for services1.9%

Fees for services
1.9%$20 thousand

State tax money21%

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

From the state
21%$219 thousand

County and local tax money15%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
15%$154 thousand

Fines and other6.1%

Interest, rents and other
5.8%$60 thousand
Fines
0.3%$3 thousand
Ross Township page →

Where the money goes

Roads, transit and parking58%Running the government and other costs31%Police, fire, courts and jails7.5%Water, sewer, trash and utilities2.1%Parks, recreation and libraries1.6%
Full Ross Township breakdown

Spending by category100%

Roads, transit and parking
58%$412 thousand
Running the government and other costs
31%$219 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
7.5%$54 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
2.1%$15 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
1.6%$11 thousand
Ross Township page →

Fairmount Township

$639 thousand budget in fiscal year 2024 (ended December 31, 2024), from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

About 37% of this ZIP is in Fairmount Township.

Where the money comes from

Township taxes36%Fees for services35%State tax money23%County and local tax money5.1%Fines and other0.9%
Full Fairmount Township breakdown

Township taxes36%

Local income tax
17%$130 thousand
Property tax
16%$127 thousand
Other taxes
3.0%$24 thousand

Fees for services35%

Fees for services
35%$276 thousand

State tax money23%

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

From the state
23%$183 thousand

County and local tax money5.1%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
5.1%$40 thousand

Fines and other0.9%

Interest, rents and other
0.6%$5 thousand
Fines
0.3%$3 thousand
Fairmount Township page →

Where the money goes

Roads, transit and parking47%Running the government and other costs44%Debt payments (principal and interest)4.8%Police, fire, courts and jails4.4%
Full Fairmount Township breakdown

Spending by category100%

Roads, transit and parking
47%$301 thousand
Running the government and other costs
44%$279 thousand
Debt payments (principal and interest)
4.8%$31 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
4.4%$28 thousand
Fairmount Township page →

Lake Township

$1.1 million budget in fiscal year 2024 (ended December 31, 2024), from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

About 15% of this ZIP is in Lake Township.

Where the money comes from

Township taxes59%State tax money34%Fines and other4.5%Fees for services1.8%
Full Lake Township breakdown

Township taxes59%

Local income tax
43%$287 thousand
Property tax
12%$77 thousand
Other taxes
4.9%$32 thousand

Fees for services1.8%

Fees for services
1.8%$12 thousand

State tax money34%

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

From the state
34%$229 thousand

Fines and other4.5%

Interest, rents and other
4.1%$28 thousand
Fines
0.3%$2 thousand
Lake Township page →

Where the money goes

Roads, transit and parking75%Running the government and other costs22%Police, fire, courts and jails2.5%Water, sewer, trash and utilities0.3%Parks, recreation and libraries0.1%
Full Lake Township breakdown

Spending by category100%

Roads, transit and parking
75%$842 thousand
Running the government and other costs
22%$243 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
2.5%$27 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
0.3%$3 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.1%$1 thousand
Lake Township page →

Your schools

Lake Lehman School District

$34.0 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

About 63% of this ZIP is in Lake Lehman School District.

Where the money comes from

School district taxes53%State tax money42%Federal tax money2.5%Fines and other2.2%Fees for services0.2%
Full Lake Lehman School District breakdown

School district taxes53%

Property tax
44%$15.8 million
Local income tax
7.1%$2.5 million
Other taxes
1.3%$453 thousand

Fees for services0.2%

Fees for services
0.2%$85 thousand

Federal tax money2.5%

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

From the federal government
2.5%$877 thousand

State tax money42%

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

From the state
42%$15.0 million

Fines and other2.2%

Interest, rents and other
2.2%$775 thousand
Lake Lehman School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges100%
Full Lake Lehman School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
100%$34.0 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
<0.1%$780
Lake Lehman School District page →

Northwest Area School District

$21.4 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

About 37% of this ZIP is in Northwest Area School District.

Where the money comes from

State tax money56%School district taxes37%Federal tax money3.9%Fees for services1.3%Fines and other1.3%
Full Northwest Area School District breakdown

School district taxes37%

Property tax
32%$7.6 million
Local income tax
5.0%$1.2 million
Other taxes
0.6%$155 thousand

Fees for services1.3%

Fees for services
1.3%$316 thousand

Federal tax money3.9%

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

From the federal government
3.9%$924 thousand

State tax money56%

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

From the state
56%$13.5 million

Fines and other1.3%

Interest, rents and other
1.3%$308 thousand
Northwest Area School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges100%
Full Northwest Area School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
100%$21.4 million
Northwest Area School District page →

Your state

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

$122.4 billion budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

Where the money comes from

State taxes44%Federal tax money35%Fees for services (hospital bills, college tuition)14%Fines and other6.7%

What stands out

14%

of Pennsylvania's money comes from fees for services such as water, sewer and parking.A typical state government gets 10%.

Full Pennsylvania breakdown

State taxes44%

Other taxes
14%$17.3 billion
What's in other taxesMotor fuel taxes; other selective sales taxes and 17 more
  • Motor fuel taxes$3.38 billion
  • Other selective sales taxes$2.32 billion
  • Amusement taxes$2.28 billion
  • Estate and gift taxes$1.58 billion
  • Motor vehicle licenses$1.48 billion
  • Public utility taxes$1.40 billion
  • Occupation and business licenses$1.32 billion
  • Insurance premium taxes$1.02 billion
  • Tobacco taxes$960 million
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$697 million
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$473 million
  • Driver's licenses$93.9 million
  • Hunting and fishing licenses$91.7 million
  • Public utility licenses$86.2 million
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$66.8 million
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$35.3 million
  • Amusement licenses$33.5 million
  • Other licenses$21.2 million
  • Corporation licenses$3.2 million

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Individual income tax
14%$17.1 billion
Sales tax
12%$15.6 billion
Business income tax
3.9%$4.96 billion
Property tax
<0.1%$44.1 million

Fees for services14%

Fees for services
14%$17.8 billion
What's in fees for servicesHospital bills; college tuition and 11 more
  • Hospital bills$7.08 billion
  • College tuition$4.21 billion
  • Liquor stores$2.55 billion
  • Tolls on roads and bridges$1.61 billion
  • University housing and dining$1.15 billion
  • Other service charges$592 million
  • Other education charges$205 million
  • Housing$144 million
  • Parks, land and natural resources$94.8 million
  • Parks and recreation$78.7 million
  • Road charges$59.9 million
  • Sewer$3.4 million
  • Airport$44 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money35%

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

From the federal government
35%$44.5 billion

Local tax money<0.1%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From local governments
<0.1%$58.5 million

Fines and other6.7%

Interest, rents and other
6.5%$8.23 billion
Fines
0.2%$217 million
Pennsylvania page →

Where the money goes

Social services32%Sent to local governments25%Schools and colleges12%Health and hospitals9.2%Roads, transit and parking8.1%All other spending14%

What stands out

9.2%

of Pennsylvania's spending goes to health services and hospitals.A typical state government spends 5.7%.

Full Pennsylvania breakdown

Spending by category100%

Social services
32%$39.5 billion
What's in social servicesOther public welfare; welfare institutions and 2 more
  • Other public welfare$39.1 billion
  • Welfare institutions$263 million
  • Unemployment and social insurance offices$131 million
  • Veterans' services$9.3 million
Sent to local governments
25%$30.2 billion
What's in sent to local governmentsSent to school districts; sent to local governments: other and not broken out and 21 more
  • Sent to school districts$19.6 billion
  • Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$2.69 billion
  • Sent to local governments: other public welfare$1.97 billion
  • Sent to local governments: public health$1.38 billion
  • Sent to local governments: hospitals$1.21 billion
  • Sent to local governments: roads and highways$1.10 billion
  • Sent to local governments: other education$764 million
  • Sent to local governments: housing and community development$291 million
  • Sent to local governments: general support$265 million
  • Sent to school districts (colleges)$262 million
  • Sent to local governments: police$157 million
  • Sent to local governments: natural resources, farming and conservation$138 million
  • Sent to the federal government$111 million
  • Sent to local governments: libraries$74.7 million
  • Sent to local governments: parks and recreation$55.7 million
  • Sent to local governments: courts and legal services$47.5 million
  • Sent to local governments: inspections and regulation$36.8 million
  • Sent to local governments: garbage and solid waste$34.2 million
  • Sent to local governments: probation, parole and other corrections$18.9 million
  • Sent to local governments: prisons and jails$14.1 million
  • Sent to local governments: airports$13.6 million
  • Sent to local governments: other government administration$11.0 million
  • Sent to local governments: sewer systems$5.9 million
Schools and colleges
12%$14.2 billion
What's in schools and collegesColleges and universities; scholarships and other education subsidies and 2 more
  • Colleges and universities$10.5 billion
  • Scholarships and other education subsidies$1.46 billion
  • Other education$1.14 billion
  • College housing, dining and bookstores$1.08 billion
Health and hospitals
9.2%$11.2 billion
What's in health and hospitalsHospitals and public health
  • Hospitals$7.36 billion
  • Public health$3.86 billion
Roads, transit and parking
8.1%$9.89 billion
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways; toll roads and bridges and 3 more
  • Roads and highways$8.16 billion
  • Toll roads and bridges$1.71 billion
  • Airports$7.0 million
  • Public transit$5.4 million
  • Ports and harbors$3.6 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
4.7%$5.77 billion
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPrisons and jails; police and 3 more
  • Prisons and jails$2.74 billion
  • Police$1.72 billion
  • Courts and legal services$793 million
  • Inspections and regulation$328 million
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$190 million
Running the government and other costs
4.6%$5.57 billion
What's in running the government and other costsFinance, tax collection and budgeting; other and not broken out and 3 more
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$2.49 billion
  • Other and not broken out$1.47 billion
  • Government buildings$848 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$711 million
  • Other government administration$51.7 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
1.9%$2.38 billion
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesLiquor stores; garbage and solid waste and 1 more
  • Liquor stores$2.31 billion
  • Garbage and solid waste$54.2 million
  • Sewer systems$22.1 million
Interest on debt
1.5%$1.79 billion
Environment and natural resources
0.7%$868 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$868 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.6%$722 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$705 million
  • Libraries$16.8 million
Housing and community development
0.2%$235 million
Pennsylvania page →
Sources and moreEach government's source, fiscal year and how a ZIP is matched

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

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

Lake Lehman School District. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Annual Financial Report (AFR) data, 2024-25 school year, 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.

Ross Township. Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, Municipal Statistics (MunStats), annual financial report, calendar year 2024, fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. The earlier Census figures are from U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments, Finance, individual unit file, fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.

Northwest Area School District. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Annual Financial Report (AFR) data, 2024-25 school year, 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.

Fairmount Township. Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, Municipal Statistics (MunStats), annual financial report, calendar year 2024, fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. The earlier Census figures are from U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments, Finance, individual unit file, fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.

Lake Township. Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, Municipal Statistics (MunStats), annual financial report, calendar year 2024, fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. The earlier Census figures are from U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments, Finance, individual unit file, fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.

How these figures are counted. Pennsylvania boroughs, cities, townships and counties file annual financial reports with the Department of Community and Economic Development; the figures are the calendar-year filing, as filed (small municipalities file on a cash or modified-accrual basis). School district figures are the 2024-25 Annual Financial Report as filed with the Pennsylvania Department of Education (year ended June 30, 2025). Everything is grouped into the same categories as the Census figures. Borrowing, transfers between a government's own funds, internal service funds and refunding are not counted. The "Debt payments" line includes principal as well as interest, so spending can be higher than the Census figure for the same government.

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.