ZIP 27292 · Lexington, NC

Three governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 27292: 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 North Carolina governments, the North Carolina Local Government Commission, as named under Sources and more.

Where do my taxes go in 27292?
27292 is served by the State of North Carolina, Davidson County and the City of Lexington. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of North Carolina spent $89.8 billion (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Davidson County spent $523 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024) and City of Lexington spent $103 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 27292?
Of the governments serving 27292, Davidson County collected $117 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024) and City of Lexington collected $12.5 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 27292.

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: Davidson County and Lexington

Why not this year? North Carolina governments with newer filings show figures from the North Carolina Local Government Commission (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 27292

Davidson County$117 million

24% of its $481 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024

City of Lexington$12.5 million

9.9% of its $126 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

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

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

Davidson County

$523 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

About 99% of this ZIP is in Davidson County.

Where the money comes from

State tax money50%County taxes36%Fees for services (garbage collection, liquor stores)6.0%Fines and other5.2%Federal tax money1.3%Local tax money1.3%

What stands out

50%

of Davidson County's money comes from state tax money.A typical U.S. county of 50,000 to 250,000 people gets 22%.

Full Davidson County breakdown

County taxes36%

Property tax
24%$117 million
Sales tax
11%$53.2 million
Other taxes
1.0%$4.6 million
What's in other taxesOccupation and business licenses; real estate and stock transfer taxes and 2 more
  • Occupation and business licenses$2.5 million
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$1.3 million
  • Other licenses$446 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$398 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services6.0%

Fees for services
6.0%$28.7 million
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges; garbage collection and 10 more
  • Other service charges$8.8 million
  • Garbage collection$5.1 million
  • Liquor stores$5.0 million
  • School lunches$2.5 million
  • College tuition$2.2 million
  • Other government-run businesses$1.7 million
  • Sewer$1.2 million
  • University housing and dining$911 thousand
  • Airport$528 thousand
  • School tuition and transportation$484 thousand
  • Parks and recreation$193 thousand
  • Other school charges$71 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money1.3%

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

From the federal government
1.3%$6.3 million

State tax money50%

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

From the state
50%$240 million

Local tax money1.3%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
1.3%$6.0 million

Fines and other5.2%

Interest, rents and other
4.9%$23.6 million
Fines
0.2%$1.2 million
Davidson County page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges62%Police, fire, courts and jails10%Sent to other local governments9.1%Social services4.8%Health and hospitals4.2%All other spending9.7%

What stands out

62%

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

Full Davidson County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
62%$326 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools; colleges and universities and 2 more
  • Elementary and secondary schools$282 million
  • Colleges and universities$41.4 million
  • Scholarships and other education subsidies$1.6 million
  • College housing, dining and bookstores$917 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
10%$52.2 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 3 more
  • Police$27.2 million
  • Fire protection$14.4 million
  • Prisons and jails$7.9 million
  • Inspections and regulation$1.5 million
  • Courts and legal services$1.2 million
Sent to other local governments
9.1%$47.7 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$47.7 million
Social services
4.8%$24.9 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$24.9 million
Health and hospitals
4.2%$21.9 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$21.9 million
Running the government and other costs
3.2%$16.7 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$9.1 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$4.7 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$2.9 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
2.2%$11.7 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste; liquor stores and 1 more
  • Garbage and solid waste$4.8 million
  • Liquor stores$4.1 million
  • Sewer systems$2.9 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
1.4%$7.5 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesLibraries and parks and recreation
  • Libraries$4.2 million
  • Parks and recreation$3.4 million
Interest on debt
1.0%$5.2 million
Housing and community development
1.0%$5.2 million
Roads, transit and parking
0.4%$2.1 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingPublic transit and airports
  • Public transit$1.5 million
  • Airports$657 thousand
Environment and natural resources
0.4%$2.0 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$2.0 million
Davidson County page →

Your city

City of Lexington

$103 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the North Carolina Local Government Commission.

About 11% of this ZIP is in Lexington.

Where the money comes from

Fees for services67%City taxes17%Fines and other12%State tax money2.9%Federal tax money0.9%
Full Lexington breakdown

City taxes17%

Property tax
9.9%$12.5 million
Sales tax
6.1%$7.6 million
Tourism taxes
0.5%$629 thousand
Other taxes
0.4%$473 thousand

Fees for services67%

Fees for services
67%$85.2 million

Federal tax money0.9%

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

From the federal government
0.9%$1.2 million

State tax money2.9%

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

From the state
2.9%$3.7 million

County and local tax money<0.1%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
<0.1%$2 thousand

Fines and other12%

Interest, rents and other
12%$15.0 million
Lexington page →

Where the money goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities63%Police, fire, courts and jails16%Running the government and other costs9.1%Parks, recreation and libraries3.5%Roads, transit and parking3.2%All other spending4.7%
Full Lexington breakdown

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
63%$65.1 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
16%$16.3 million
Running the government and other costs
9.1%$9.4 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
3.5%$3.6 million
Roads, transit and parking
3.2%$3.3 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
2.4%$2.5 million
Housing and community development
1.5%$1.6 million
Sent to other local governments
0.7%$749 thousand
Lexington page →

Your state

State of North Carolina

$89.8 billion budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

Where the money comes from

State taxes45%Federal tax money36%Fees for services (hospital bills, university housing and dining)10%Fines and other7.3%Local tax money1.4%
Full North Carolina breakdown

What stands out

19%

of North Carolina's money comes from a personal income tax.A typical state government gets 14%.

State taxes45%

Individual income tax
19%$16.7 billion
Sales tax
14%$12.2 billion
Other taxes
10%$8.75 billion
What's in other taxesMotor fuel taxes; other selective sales taxes and 15 more
  • Motor fuel taxes$2.49 billion
  • Other selective sales taxes$1.32 billion
  • Insurance premium taxes$1.23 billion
  • Motor vehicle licenses$1.02 billion
  • Corporation licenses$882 million
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$599 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$422 million
  • Tobacco taxes$262 million
  • Driver's licenses$139 million
  • Public utility taxes$128 million
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$111 million
  • Other licenses$52.1 million
  • Hunting and fishing licenses$41.6 million
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$30.5 million
  • Public utility licenses$23.6 million
  • Severance taxes$2.0 million
  • Amusement licenses$184 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Business income tax
1.8%$1.56 billion

Fees for services10%

Fees for services
10%$8.93 billion
What's in fees for servicesHospital bills; university housing and dining and 16 more
  • Hospital bills$2.92 billion
  • University housing and dining$2.26 billion
  • College tuition$2.15 billion
  • Other service charges$1.01 billion
  • Road charges$216 million
  • Tolls on roads and bridges$104 million
  • Housing$73.7 million
  • Ports and waterways$64.4 million
  • Parks, land and natural resources$61.4 million
  • Parks and recreation$39.5 million
  • Transit fares$22.1 million
  • Airport$3.9 million
  • Other education charges$3.8 million
  • Water$1.7 million
  • Parking$1.7 million
  • Other school charges$1.3 million
  • Garbage collection$284 thousand
  • Sewer$169 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money36%

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

From the federal government
36%$31.4 billion

Local tax money1.4%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From local governments
1.4%$1.26 billion

Fines and other7.3%

Interest, rents and other
6.5%$5.65 billion
Fines
0.8%$702 million
North Carolina page →

Where the money goes

Social services35%Sent to local governments23%Schools and colleges16%Roads, transit and parking7.9%Police, fire, courts and jails5.2%All other spending13%

What stands out

35%

of North Carolina's spending goes to social services.A typical state government spends 31%.

Full North Carolina breakdown

Spending by category100%

Social services
35%$31.2 billion
What's in social servicesOther public welfare; unemployment and social insurance offices and 2 more
  • Other public welfare$30.9 billion
  • Unemployment and social insurance offices$165 million
  • Welfare institutions$55.5 million
  • Veterans' services$17.8 million
Sent to local governments
23%$20.7 billion
What's in sent to local governmentsSent to local governments: elementary and secondary schools; sent to local governments: colleges and universities and 17 more
  • Sent to local governments: elementary and secondary schools$14.0 billion
  • Sent to local governments: colleges and universities$1.77 billion
  • Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$1.31 billion
  • Sent to local governments: general support$1.06 billion
  • Sent to local governments: public health$893 million
  • Sent to local governments: airports$523 million
  • Sent to local governments: roads and highways$312 million
  • Sent to local governments: other public welfare$248 million
  • Sent to local governments: other government administration$159 million
  • Sent to local governments: sewer systems$92.7 million
  • Sent to local governments: parks and recreation$76.5 million
  • Sent to local governments: police$51.2 million
  • Sent to local governments: finance, tax collection and budgeting$50.8 million
  • Sent to local governments: natural resources, farming and conservation$50.7 million
  • Sent to local governments: housing and community development$33.4 million
  • Sent to local governments: libraries$21.2 million
  • Sent to local governments: courts and legal services$18.1 million
  • Sent to local governments: prisons and jails$1.3 million
  • Sent to local governments: garbage and solid waste$466 thousand
Schools and colleges
16%$14.8 billion
What's in schools and collegesColleges and universities; college housing, dining and bookstores and 3 more
  • Colleges and universities$8.31 billion
  • College housing, dining and bookstores$3.02 billion
  • Scholarships and other education subsidies$2.02 billion
  • Elementary and secondary schools$761 million
  • Other education$664 million
Roads, transit and parking
7.9%$7.12 billion
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways; toll roads and bridges and 4 more
  • Roads and highways$6.48 billion
  • Toll roads and bridges$342 million
  • Ports and harbors$181 million
  • Public transit$104 million
  • Airports$14.9 million
  • Parking$1.7 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
5.2%$4.65 billion
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPrisons and jails; courts and legal services and 3 more
  • Prisons and jails$2.15 billion
  • Courts and legal services$1.34 billion
  • Police$623 million
  • Inspections and regulation$284 million
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$255 million
Health and hospitals
4.9%$4.43 billion
What's in health and hospitalsHospitals and public health
  • Hospitals$3.40 billion
  • Public health$1.04 billion
Running the government and other costs
4.8%$4.30 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$1.99 billion
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$1.65 billion
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$411 million
  • Other government administration$194 million
  • Government buildings$48.2 million
Environment and natural resources
1.0%$863 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$863 million
Interest on debt
0.9%$765 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.6%$557 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$547 million
  • Libraries$10.4 million
Housing and community development
0.6%$516 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
<0.1%$16.9 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste; water supply and 1 more
  • Garbage and solid waste$14.6 million
  • Water supply$1.6 million
  • Sewer systems$700 thousand
North Carolina page →
Sources and moreEach government's source, fiscal year and how a ZIP is matched

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

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

City of Lexington. North Carolina Department of State Treasurer, Local Government Commission, Annual Financial Information Report (AFIR), 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. Revenue and spending are the figures that a North Carolina government reported to the North Carolina Local Government Commission in its Annual Financial Information Report, which restates the government's audited financial statements into one schedule, grouped into the same categories as the Census figures. The report covers the general, special revenue, capital projects and debt service funds and the enterprise (utility) funds. Borrowing, transfers between a government's own funds and depreciation are not counted. Fiscal years end June 30.

Debt payments. The report lists principal and interest on both general and utility debt, so the "Debt payments" line includes principal as well as interest. The Census figures leave principal out, so spending can be higher than the Census figure for the same government.

Separate entities. Some city utilities and authorities are separate entities and are not in these figures.

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.