ZIP 27708 · Durham, NC

Three governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 27708: 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 27708?
27708 is served by the State of North Carolina, Durham County and the City of Durham. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of North Carolina spent $89.8 billion (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Durham County spent $1.23 billion (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024) and City of Durham spent $770 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 27708?
Of the governments serving 27708, Durham County collected $369 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024) and City of Durham collected $261 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 27708.

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: Durham County and Durham

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 27708

Durham County$369 million

28% of its $1.30 billion in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024

City of Durham$261 million

36% of its $717 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 Durham County, so school money is part of its budget.

Durham County

$1.23 billion budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

Where the money comes from

State tax money41%County taxes39%Fees for services (liquor stores, sewer)9.8%Fines and other4.8%Local tax money2.7%Federal tax money2.2%

What stands out

41%

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

Full Durham County breakdown

County taxes39%

Property tax
28%$369 million
Sales tax
10%$130 million
Other taxes
0.9%$12.3 million
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; motor vehicle licenses and 3 more
  • Other selective sales taxes$4.6 million
  • Motor vehicle licenses$3.6 million
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$3.0 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$737 thousand
  • Other licenses$301 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services9.8%

Fees for services
9.8%$128 million
What's in fees for servicesLiquor stores; sewer and 10 more
  • Liquor stores$47.9 million
  • Sewer$22.4 million
  • Other service charges$11.1 million
  • Other government-run businesses$10.4 million
  • Garbage collection$8.7 million
  • School tuition and transportation$7.9 million
  • College tuition$6.5 million
  • Parks and recreation$6.3 million
  • Parking$5.8 million
  • School lunches$535 thousand
  • University housing and dining$373 thousand
  • Other school charges$8 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money2.2%

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

From the federal government
2.2%$28.1 million

State tax money41%

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

From the state
41%$535 million

Local tax money2.7%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
2.7%$34.8 million

Fines and other4.8%

Interest, rents and other
4.8%$62.8 million
Fines
<0.1%$164 thousand
Durham County page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges54%Water, sewer, trash and utilities12%Running the government and other costs7.2%Health and hospitals5.6%Social services5.3%All other spending16%

What stands out

54%

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

Full Durham County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
54%$661 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools; colleges and universities and 2 more
  • Elementary and secondary schools$603 million
  • Colleges and universities$54.6 million
  • Scholarships and other education subsidies$2.5 million
  • College housing, dining and bookstores$1.3 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
12%$151 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems; water supply and 2 more
  • Sewer systems$60.9 million
  • Water supply$43.7 million
  • Liquor stores$41.4 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$5.1 million
Running the government and other costs
7.2%$88.5 million
What's in running the government and other costsCentral staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology); other and not broken out and 2 more
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$27.2 million
  • Other and not broken out$26.4 million
  • Government buildings$19.2 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$15.7 million
Health and hospitals
5.6%$69.4 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$69.4 million
Social services
5.3%$66.0 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$66.0 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
5.3%$65.5 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; prisons and jails and 2 more
  • Police$34.5 million
  • Prisons and jails$27.2 million
  • Courts and legal services$2.8 million
  • Fire protection$977 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
4.1%$50.5 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$35.3 million
  • Libraries$15.1 million
Roads, transit and parking
2.8%$34.9 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways; public transit and 2 more
  • Roads and highways$21.8 million
  • Public transit$9.4 million
  • Parking$3.8 million
  • Airports$13 thousand
Interest on debt
2.8%$34.7 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$29.0 million
  • Interest on water supply debt$5.6 million
Sent to other local governments
0.7%$8.3 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$8.3 million
Housing and community development
0.3%$4.3 million
Environment and natural resources
<0.1%$219 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$219 thousand
Durham County page →

Your city

City of Durham

$770 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the North Carolina Local Government Commission.

Where the money comes from

City taxes46%Fees for services30%Fines and other8.9%State tax money7.9%County and local tax money4.7%Federal tax money2.5%
Full Durham breakdown

City taxes46%

Property tax
36%$261 million
Sales tax
8.5%$61.0 million
Tourism taxes
0.7%$5.2 million
Other taxes
0.7%$4.8 million

Fees for services30%

Fees for services
30%$213 million

Federal tax money2.5%

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

From the federal government
2.5%$17.6 million

State tax money7.9%

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

From the state
7.9%$56.8 million

County and local tax money4.7%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
4.7%$33.5 million

Fines and other8.9%

Interest, rents and other
8.9%$63.9 million
Durham page →

Where the money goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities25%Police, fire, courts and jails22%Running the government and other costs16%Roads, transit and parking14%Debt payments (principal and interest)11%All other spending11%
Full Durham breakdown

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
25%$193 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
22%$171 million
Running the government and other costs
16%$122 million
Roads, transit and parking
14%$110 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
11%$85.6 million
Housing and community development
6.7%$51.5 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
4.7%$36.6 million
Environment and natural resources
<0.1%$207 thousand
Durham 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.

Durham 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 Durham. 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.