ZIP 27606 · Raleigh, NC

Three 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

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 →

Your county

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

Wake County

$5.12 billion budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

Where the money comes from

County taxes46%State tax money39%Fees for services (liquor stores, garbage collection)8.9%Fines and other3.0%Local tax money2.2%Federal tax money1.5%

What stands out

39%

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

Full Wake County breakdown

County taxes46%

Property tax
36%$1.41 billion
Sales tax
6.9%$273 million
Other taxes
3.3%$132 million
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; alcoholic beverage taxes and 4 more
  • Other selective sales taxes$102 million
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$14.5 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$7.4 million
  • Motor vehicle licenses$4.8 million
  • Other licenses$3.2 million
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$338 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services8.9%

Fees for services
8.9%$352 million
What's in fees for servicesLiquor stores; other service charges and 10 more
  • Liquor stores$172 million
  • Other service charges$66.3 million
  • Garbage collection$35.2 million
  • College tuition$33.1 million
  • School lunches$20.7 million
  • School tuition and transportation$14.8 million
  • Other government-run businesses$6.8 million
  • University housing and dining$1.5 million
  • Parking$1.1 million
  • Transit fares$271 thousand
  • Parks and recreation$78 thousand
  • Sewer$7 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money1.5%

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

From the federal government
1.5%$60.9 million

State tax money39%

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

From the state
39%$1.53 billion

Local tax money2.2%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
2.2%$88.8 million

Fines and other3.0%

Interest, rents and other
2.8%$113 million
Fines
0.2%$7.1 million
Wake County page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges52%Sent to other local governments22%Running the government and other costs4.3%Police, fire, courts and jails4.0%Interest on debt3.7%All other spending14%

What stands out

52%

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

Full Wake County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
52%$2.64 billion
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools; colleges and universities and 2 more
  • Elementary and secondary schools$2.36 billion
  • Colleges and universities$268 million
  • Scholarships and other education subsidies$7.4 million
  • College housing, dining and bookstores$192 thousand
Sent to other local governments
22%$1.15 billion
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to local governments: other and not broken out and sent to the state government
  • Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$1.14 billion
  • Sent to the state government$7.1 million
Running the government and other costs
4.3%$219 million
What's in running the government and other costsGovernment buildings; other and not broken out and 2 more
  • Government buildings$94.1 million
  • Other and not broken out$57.0 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$47.3 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$20.4 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
4.0%$203 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; prisons and jails and 3 more
  • Police$105 million
  • Prisons and jails$49.7 million
  • Fire protection$34.6 million
  • Inspections and regulation$8.5 million
  • Courts and legal services$5.3 million
Interest on debt
3.7%$189 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
3.6%$183 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesLiquor stores; garbage and solid waste and 1 more
  • Liquor stores$145 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$38.0 million
  • Sewer systems$60 thousand
Health and hospitals
3.6%$183 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$183 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
2.8%$141 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$109 million
  • Libraries$32.3 million
Social services
2.6%$135 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$135 million
Housing and community development
1.0%$52.1 million
Environment and natural resources
0.3%$17.2 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$17.2 million
Roads, transit and parking
0.2%$10.5 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingPublic transit and parking
  • Public transit$10.2 million
  • Parking$287 thousand
Wake County page →

Your city

City of Raleigh

$1.29 billion budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

About 40% of this ZIP is in Raleigh.

Where the money comes from

City taxes41%Fees for services (sewer, water)35%Federal tax money6.6%Fines and other6.5%County and local tax money5.8%State tax money4.7%

What stands out

5.8%

of Raleigh's money comes from county and other local tax money.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people gets 0.9%.

Full Raleigh breakdown

City taxes41%

Property tax
27%$360 million
Sales tax
12%$154 million
Other taxes
2.1%$27.8 million
What's in other taxesOccupation and business licenses; motor vehicle licenses and 2 more
  • Occupation and business licenses$15.3 million
  • Motor vehicle licenses$11.5 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$680 thousand
  • Other licenses$282 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services35%

Fees for services
35%$466 million
What's in fees for servicesSewer; water and 6 more
  • Sewer$214 million
  • Water$133 million
  • Garbage collection$42.4 million
  • Parks and recreation$25.7 million
  • Other government-run businesses$20.0 million
  • Other service charges$15.7 million
  • Parking$14.0 million
  • Transit fares$1.6 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money6.6%

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

From the federal government
6.6%$86.8 million

State tax money4.7%

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

From the state
4.7%$62.2 million

County and local tax money5.8%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
5.8%$76.5 million

Fines and other6.5%

Interest, rents and other
6.5%$85.7 million
Raleigh page →

Where the money goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities37%Police, fire, courts and jails19%Roads, transit and parking12%Parks, recreation and libraries11%Running the government and other costs10%All other spending11%

What stands out

37%

of Raleigh's spending goes to water, sewer, trash and other utilities.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people spends 20%.

Full Raleigh breakdown

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
37%$483 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems; water supply and 1 more
  • Sewer systems$260 million
  • Water supply$177 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$45.1 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
19%$243 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
  • Police$143 million
  • Fire protection$80.2 million
  • Inspections and regulation$14.0 million
  • Courts and legal services$5.6 million
Roads, transit and parking
12%$160 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingPublic transit; roads and highways and 1 more
  • Public transit$88.9 million
  • Roads and highways$62.2 million
  • Parking$9.1 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
11%$136 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$136 million
Running the government and other costs
10%$131 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; government buildings and 3 more
  • Other and not broken out$68.2 million
  • Government buildings$34.8 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$14.8 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$12.6 million
  • Other government-run businesses$401 thousand
Housing and community development
4.7%$60.8 million
Interest on debt
4.6%$59.6 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$45.6 million
  • Interest on water supply debt$14.0 million
Environment and natural resources
1.3%$16.2 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$16.2 million
Sent to other local governments
<0.1%$135 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$135 thousand
Raleigh 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.

Wake 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 Raleigh. 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.