ZIP 19035 · Lower Merion Township, PA

Four governments run on your community's money

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

Yearly budgets from each government's latest fiscal year on record. Tap one to jump to it.

Your state

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 →

Your county

Montgomery County

$990 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended December 31, 2023.

Where the money comes from

State tax money55%County taxes28%Fees for services (housing)7.1%Federal tax money5.2%Fines and other4.6%

What stands out

55%

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

Full Montgomery County breakdown

County taxes28%

Property tax
28%$273 million
Other taxes
1.0%$9.7 million
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes
  • Other selective sales taxes$9.7 million

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services7.1%

Fees for services
7.1%$70.6 million
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges and housing
  • Other service charges$70.1 million
  • Housing$550 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money5.2%

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

From the federal government
5.2%$51.1 million

State tax money55%

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

From the state
55%$541 million

Fines and other4.6%

Interest, rents and other
4.6%$45.6 million
Fines
<0.1%$98 thousand
Montgomery County page →

Where the money goes

Social services47%Police, fire, courts and jails20%Running the government and other costs17%Health and hospitals5.4%Housing and community development4.7%All other spending6.4%

What stands out

47%

of Montgomery County's spending goes to social services.A typical U.S. county of 250,000+ people spends 4.3%.

Full Montgomery County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Social services
47%$461 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$461 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
20%$196 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsCourts and legal services; prisons and jails and 1 more
  • Courts and legal services$95.6 million
  • Prisons and jails$74.4 million
  • Police$26.4 million
Running the government and other costs
17%$170 million
What's in running the government and other costsCentral staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and other and not broken out
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$105 million
  • Other and not broken out$65.1 million
Health and hospitals
5.4%$53.5 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$53.5 million
Housing and community development
4.7%$46.2 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
3.0%$29.4 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$29.4 million
Interest on debt
2.2%$21.4 million
Roads, transit and parking
1.2%$12.1 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$12.1 million
Montgomery County page →

Your town

Lower Merion Township

$118 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended December 31, 2023.

Where the money comes from

Township taxes60%Fees for services (sewer, garbage collection)19%Fines and other14%State tax money5.3%Federal tax money1.1%County and local tax money0.3%
Full Lower Merion Township breakdown

What stands out

31%

of Lower Merion Township's money comes from taxes other than property, sales and income taxes.A typical U.S. township or town of 50,000+ people gets 1.3%.

Township taxes60%

Other taxes
31%$34.7 million
What's in other taxesOccupation and business licenses; real estate and stock transfer taxes and 1 more
  • Occupation and business licenses$28.4 million
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$5.0 million
  • Public utility licenses$1.3 million

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Property tax
29%$32.2 million

Fees for services19%

Fees for services
19%$21.3 million
What's in fees for servicesSewer; garbage collection and 4 more
  • Sewer$8.6 million
  • Garbage collection$7.6 million
  • Other service charges$2.3 million
  • Parking$1.1 million
  • Parks and recreation$823 thousand
  • Road charges$798 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money1.1%

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

From the federal government
1.1%$1.3 million

State tax money5.3%

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

From the state
5.3%$5.9 million

County and local tax money0.3%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
0.3%$381 thousand

Fines and other14%

Interest, rents and other
13%$14.1 million
Fines
0.8%$897 thousand
Lower Merion Township page →

Where the money goes

Police, fire, courts and jails32%Water, sewer, trash and utilities19%Roads, transit and parking17%Running the government and other costs15%Parks, recreation and libraries13%All other spending4.3%

What stands out

19%

of Lower Merion Township's spending goes to water, sewer, trash and other utilities.Most U.S. townships and towns of 50,000+ people spend nothing on this.

Full Lower Merion Township breakdown

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
32%$37.9 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 1 more
  • Police$32.2 million
  • Fire protection$5.3 million
  • Courts and legal services$394 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
19%$22.9 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems; garbage and solid waste and 1 more
  • Sewer systems$10.9 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$10.6 million
  • Electric power$1.4 million
Roads, transit and parking
17%$19.6 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and parking
  • Roads and highways$18.0 million
  • Parking$1.6 million
Running the government and other costs
15%$17.6 million
What's in running the government and other costsGovernment buildings; other and not broken out and 2 more
  • Government buildings$5.7 million
  • Other and not broken out$4.8 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$4.2 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$2.9 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
13%$15.1 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$9.8 million
  • Libraries$5.3 million
Interest on debt
2.6%$3.1 million
Housing and community development
1.5%$1.7 million
Environment and natural resources
0.2%$247 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$247 thousand
Lower Merion Township page →

Your schools

Lower Merion School District

$308 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

Where the money comes from

School district taxes79%State tax money16%Fines and other3.1%Fees for services (school lunches, school tuition and transportation)1.1%County and local tax money0.6%Federal tax money<0.1%
Full Lower Merion School District breakdown

What stands out

77%

of Lower Merion School District's money comes from property tax.A typical school district with 5,000 to 25,000 students gets 29%.

School district taxes79%

Property tax
77%$250 million
Other taxes
1.8%$5.8 million
What's in other taxesOther taxes not classified elsewhere and public utility taxes
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$5.5 million
  • Public utility taxes$224 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services1.1%

Fees for services
1.1%$3.5 million
What's in fees for servicesSchool lunches; other school charges and 1 more
  • School lunches$3.0 million
  • Other school charges$414 thousand
  • School tuition and transportation$132 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money<0.1%

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

From the federal government
<0.1%$200 thousand

State tax money16%

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

From the state
16%$51.9 million

County and local tax money0.6%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
0.6%$1.9 million

Fines and other3.1%

Interest, rents and other
3.1%$10.0 million
Lower Merion School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges96%Interest on debt2.4%Sent to other local governments1.4%
Full Lower Merion School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
96%$296 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
  • Elementary and secondary schools$296 million
Interest on debt
2.4%$7.5 million
Sent to other local governments
1.4%$4.4 million
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to school districts
  • Sent to school districts$4.4 million
Lower Merion School District 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.

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

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

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

How a ZIP is matched. A ZIP code is not a government boundary, so we match it to the cities, counties and school districts that overlap it, using Census Bureau geography. Where a ZIP crosses several, each one is shown with its share of the ZIP. Each government's money covers its own operations only; the others listed here are separate.

Latest recorded year. The year differs by government: each block shows the newest fiscal year on file. A Census survey year covers fiscal years ending July 1 of the year before through June 30 of that year.