ZIP 18705 · Wilkes Barre, PA

Five governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 18705: 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 18705?
18705 is served by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Luzerne County, Wilkes Barre Area School District, the City of Wilkes Barre and Plains 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), Wilkes Barre Area School District spent $154 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), City of Wilkes Barre spent $66.3 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2024) and Plains Township spent $12.8 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2024). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 18705?
Of the governments serving 18705, Luzerne County collected $131 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2023), Wilkes Barre Area School District collected $55.9 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania collected $44.1 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), City of Wilkes Barre collected $12.6 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2024) and Plains Township collected $1.6 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2024) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 18705.

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, Wilkes Barre, Plains Township and Wilkes Barre Area School District

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 18705

Luzerne County$131 million

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

Wilkes Barre Area School District$55.9 million

30% of its $185 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania$44.1 million

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

City of Wilkes Barre$12.6 million

19% of its $66.6 million in revenue · fiscal year ended December 31, 2024

Plains Township$1.6 million

13% of its $11.7 million 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 cities and towns

City of Wilkes Barre

$66.3 million budget in fiscal year 2024 (ended December 31, 2024), from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

About 38% of this ZIP is in Wilkes Barre.

Where the money comes from

City taxes59%Fees for services19%State tax money12%Federal tax money8.9%Fines and other1.7%
Full Wilkes Barre breakdown

City taxes59%

Local income tax
31%$20.8 million
Property tax
19%$12.6 million
Other taxes
8.6%$5.7 million

Fees for services19%

Fees for services
19%$12.6 million

Federal tax money8.9%

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

From the federal government
8.9%$5.9 million

State tax money12%

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

From the state
12%$7.9 million

Fines and other1.7%

Fines
1.1%$727 thousand
Interest, rents and other
0.6%$390 thousand
Wilkes Barre page →

Where the money goes

Police, fire, courts and jails40%Running the government and other costs24%Debt payments (principal and interest)12%Water, sewer, trash and utilities8.4%Roads, transit and parking7.5%All other spending8.7%
Full Wilkes Barre breakdown

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
40%$26.5 million
Running the government and other costs
24%$15.6 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
12%$7.8 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
8.4%$5.6 million
Roads, transit and parking
7.5%$5.0 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
4.2%$2.8 million
Health and hospitals
3.0%$2.0 million
Housing and community development
1.5%$1.0 million
Wilkes Barre page →

Plains Township

$12.8 million budget in fiscal year 2024 (ended December 31, 2024), from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

About 24% of this ZIP is in Plains Township.

Where the money comes from

Township taxes47%State tax money44%Fees for services4.6%Federal tax money2.3%Fines and other1.8%
Full Plains Township breakdown

Township taxes47%

Other taxes
21%$2.4 million
Property tax
13%$1.6 million
Local income tax
13%$1.6 million

Fees for services4.6%

Fees for services
4.6%$535 thousand

Federal tax money2.3%

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

From the federal government
2.3%$274 thousand

State tax money44%

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

From the state
44%$5.2 million

Fines and other1.8%

Interest, rents and other
1.5%$175 thousand
Fines
0.3%$34 thousand
Plains Township page →

Where the money goes

Police, fire, courts and jails42%Running the government and other costs31%Roads, transit and parking14%Debt payments (principal and interest)6.2%Water, sewer, trash and utilities4.5%Parks, recreation and libraries1.4%
Full Plains Township breakdown

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
42%$5.4 million
Running the government and other costs
31%$4.0 million
Roads, transit and parking
14%$1.8 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
6.2%$795 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
4.5%$573 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
1.4%$175 thousand
Plains Township page →

Your schools

Wilkes Barre Area School District

$154 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Where the money comes from

State tax money50%School district taxes36%Federal tax money12%Fines and other1.8%Fees for services0.1%
Full Wilkes Barre Area School District breakdown

School district taxes36%

Property tax
30%$55.9 million
Local income tax
3.8%$7.1 million
Other taxes
2.4%$4.5 million

Fees for services0.1%

Fees for services
0.1%$242 thousand

Federal tax money12%

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

From the federal government
12%$22.0 million

State tax money50%

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

From the state
50%$92.2 million

Fines and other1.8%

Interest, rents and other
1.8%$3.3 million
Wilkes Barre Area School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges99%Debt payments (principal and interest)0.6%
Full Wilkes Barre Area School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
99%$153 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
0.6%$941 thousand
Wilkes Barre 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.

Wilkes Barre 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.

City of Wilkes Barre. 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.

Plains 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.