ZIP 21838 · Somerset County, MD

Two governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 21838: 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, as named under Sources and more.

Where do my taxes go in 21838?
21838 is served by the State of Maryland and Somerset County. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of Maryland spent $63.7 billion (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024) and Somerset County spent $205 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 21838?
Of the governments serving 21838, State of Maryland collected $995 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024) and Somerset County collected $20.1 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 21838.

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

Why not this year? Each 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 21838

State of Maryland$995 million

1.7% of its $60.0 billion in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024

Somerset County$20.1 million

11% of its $186 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024

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

Your county

This ZIP is outside any city or town, so Somerset County provides local services like police and parks.

Public schools here are run by Somerset County, so school money is part of its budget.

Somerset County

$205 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

Where the money comes from

Local tax money43%State tax money31%County taxes18%Fees for services (sewer, garbage collection)5.0%Fines and other1.5%Federal tax money1.0%

What stands out

43%

of Somerset County's money comes from county and other local tax money.Most U.S. counties of under 50,000 people get none.

Full Somerset County breakdown

County taxes18%

Property tax
11%$20.1 million
Individual income tax
6.3%$11.8 million
Other taxes
0.8%$1.5 million
What's in other taxesReal estate and stock transfer taxes; other selective sales taxes and 5 more
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$764 thousand
  • Other selective sales taxes$582 thousand
  • Public utility licenses$88 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$63 thousand
  • Amusement taxes$28 thousand
  • Occupation and business licenses$15 thousand
  • Other licenses$2 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services5.0%

Fees for services
5.0%$9.3 million
What's in fees for servicesSewer; other service charges and 6 more
  • Sewer$2.7 million
  • Other service charges$1.9 million
  • Garbage collection$1.6 million
  • Water$945 thousand
  • Parks and recreation$841 thousand
  • Other school charges$688 thousand
  • Road charges$489 thousand
  • School lunches$73 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money1.0%

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

From the federal government
1.0%$1.8 million

State tax money31%

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

From the state
31%$58.4 million

Local tax money43%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
43%$80.5 million

Fines and other1.5%

Interest, rents and other
1.5%$2.8 million
Fines
<0.1%$7 thousand
Somerset County page →

Where the money goes

Running the government and other costs42%Schools and colleges41%Water, sewer, trash and utilities6.7%Police, fire, courts and jails6.5%Parks, recreation and libraries2.0%All other spending2.2%

What stands out

41%

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

Full Somerset County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Running the government and other costs
42%$85.5 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; government buildings and 2 more
  • Other and not broken out$80.9 million
  • Government buildings$1.7 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$1.7 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$1.1 million
Schools and colleges
41%$83.8 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
  • Elementary and secondary schools$83.8 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
6.7%$13.6 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems; garbage and solid waste and 1 more
  • Sewer systems$9.1 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$3.0 million
  • Water supply$1.5 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
6.5%$13.3 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; prisons and jails and 3 more
  • Police$4.3 million
  • Prisons and jails$3.8 million
  • Courts and legal services$2.4 million
  • Fire protection$1.8 million
  • Inspections and regulation$971 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
2.0%$4.2 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$3.5 million
  • Libraries$624 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
0.7%$1.4 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways; airports and 1 more
  • Roads and highways$915 thousand
  • Airports$369 thousand
  • Public transit$148 thousand
Health and hospitals
0.6%$1.3 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health and hospitals
  • Public health$1.3 million
  • Hospitals$35 thousand
Interest on debt
0.4%$920 thousand
Housing and community development
0.3%$525 thousand
Sent to other local governments
0.1%$274 thousand
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$274 thousand
Environment and natural resources
<0.1%$71 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$71 thousand
Somerset County page →

Your state

State of Maryland

$63.7 billion budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

Where the money comes from

State taxes51%Federal tax money34%Fees for services (college tuition, tolls)7.5%Fines and other7.0%Local tax money0.3%
Full Maryland breakdown

What stands out

8.1%

of Maryland's money comes from business income taxes.A typical state government gets 3.8%.

State taxes51%

Individual income tax
18%$10.6 billion
Other taxes
12%$7.45 billion
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; motor fuel taxes and 16 more
  • Other selective sales taxes$1.80 billion
  • Motor fuel taxes$1.25 billion
  • Amusement taxes$1.17 billion
  • Insurance premium taxes$887 million
  • Motor vehicle licenses$499 million
  • Tobacco taxes$405 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$336 million
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$280 million
  • Estate and gift taxes$213 million
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$201 million
  • Public utility taxes$151 million
  • Corporation licenses$146 million
  • Driver's licenses$40.9 million
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$34.1 million
  • Hunting and fishing licenses$19.6 million
  • Amusement licenses$6.1 million
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$3.6 million
  • Other licenses$1.8 million

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Sales tax
11%$6.85 billion
Business income tax
8.1%$4.85 billion
Property tax
1.7%$995 million

Fees for services7.5%

Fees for services
7.5%$4.48 billion
What's in fees for servicesCollege tuition; tolls on roads and bridges and 14 more
  • College tuition$1.59 billion
  • Tolls on roads and bridges$847 million
  • University housing and dining$792 million
  • Airport$327 million
  • Other service charges$305 million
  • Sewer$225 million
  • Hospital bills$143 million
  • Transit fares$69.2 million
  • Ports and waterways$65.2 million
  • Parks and recreation$54.0 million
  • Parks, land and natural resources$19.3 million
  • Road charges$17.8 million
  • Housing$16.6 million
  • Other government-run businesses$4.6 million
  • Other education charges$762 thousand
  • Garbage collection$78 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money34%

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

From the federal government
34%$20.4 billion

Local tax money0.3%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From local governments
0.3%$158 million

Fines and other7.0%

Interest, rents and other
6.1%$3.69 billion
Fines
0.8%$508 million
Maryland page →

Where the money goes

Social services34%Sent to local governments19%Schools and colleges16%Roads, transit and parking8.7%Police, fire, courts and jails7.1%All other spending15%

What stands out

19%

of Maryland's spending goes to local governments.A typical state government spends 24%.

Full Maryland breakdown

Spending by category100%

Social services
34%$21.7 billion
What's in social servicesOther public welfare; unemployment and social insurance offices and 2 more
  • Other public welfare$21.6 billion
  • Unemployment and social insurance offices$108 million
  • Welfare institutions$46.8 million
  • Veterans' services$5.4 million
Sent to local governments
19%$12.1 billion
What's in sent to local governmentsSent to local governments: elementary and secondary schools; sent to local governments: colleges and universities and 19 more
  • Sent to local governments: elementary and secondary schools$10.0 billion
  • Sent to local governments: colleges and universities$423 million
  • Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$393 million
  • Sent to local governments: roads and highways$339 million
  • Sent to local governments: general support$260 million
  • Sent to local governments: natural resources, farming and conservation$188 million
  • Sent to local governments: parks and recreation$137 million
  • Sent to local governments: police$110 million
  • Sent to local governments: sewer systems$82.9 million
  • Sent to local governments: housing and community development$64.8 million
  • Sent to local governments: libraries$61.1 million
  • Sent to local governments: courts and legal services$22.1 million
  • Sent to local governments: hospitals$11.9 million
  • Sent to local governments: other public welfare$10.6 million
  • Sent to local governments: other government administration$6.3 million
  • Sent to local governments: public health$6.3 million
  • Sent to local governments: prisons and jails$6.0 million
  • Sent to local governments: ports and harbors$4.2 million
  • Sent to local governments: inspections and regulation$2.1 million
  • Sent to local governments: probation, parole and other corrections$352 thousand
  • Sent to local governments: garbage and solid waste$345 thousand
Schools and colleges
16%$10.3 billion
What's in schools and collegesColleges and universities; elementary and secondary schools and 3 more
  • Colleges and universities$6.64 billion
  • Elementary and secondary schools$1.36 billion
  • College housing, dining and bookstores$925 million
  • Other education$721 million
  • Scholarships and other education subsidies$701 million
Roads, transit and parking
8.7%$5.56 billion
What's in roads, transit and parkingPublic transit; roads and highways and 3 more
  • Public transit$2.42 billion
  • Roads and highways$1.62 billion
  • Toll roads and bridges$955 million
  • Airports$378 million
  • Ports and harbors$200 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
7.1%$4.54 billion
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPrisons and jails; police and 3 more
  • Prisons and jails$1.63 billion
  • Police$1.14 billion
  • Courts and legal services$978 million
  • Inspections and regulation$393 million
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$389 million
Running the government and other costs
5.4%$3.44 billion
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; finance, tax collection and budgeting and 4 more
  • Other and not broken out$1.45 billion
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$1.16 billion
  • Government buildings$496 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$212 million
  • Other government administration$92.8 million
  • Other government-run businesses$27.7 million
Health and hospitals
4.3%$2.71 billion
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health and hospitals
  • Public health$2.17 billion
  • Hospitals$541 million
Interest on debt
1.8%$1.12 billion
Environment and natural resources
1.4%$877 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$877 million
Housing and community development
1.2%$736 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
0.5%$307 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems and garbage and solid waste
  • Sewer systems$270 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$36.4 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.3%$222 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$174 million
  • Libraries$47.4 million
Maryland page →
Sources and moreEach government's source, fiscal year and how a ZIP is matched

State of Maryland. 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 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.