ZIP 28021 · Cherryville, NC

Five governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 28021: 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 28021?
28021 is served by the State of North Carolina, Gaston County, the City of Cherryville, Lincoln County and Cleveland County. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of North Carolina spent $89.8 billion (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Gaston County spent $788 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), City of Cherryville spent $16.2 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), Lincoln County spent $302 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024) and Cleveland County spent $253 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 28021?
Of the governments serving 28021, Gaston County collected $215 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Lincoln County collected $112 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Cleveland County collected $31.7 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024) and City of Cherryville collected $3.5 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 28021.

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: Gaston County, Lincoln County, Cleveland County and Cherryville

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 28021

Gaston County$215 million

26% of its $817 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024

Lincoln County$112 million

35% of its $322 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024

Cleveland County$31.7 million

12% of its $257 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024

City of Cherryville$3.5 million

18% of its $19.2 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 counties

Public schools here are run by Cleveland County, Gaston County and Lincoln County, so school money is part of its budget.

Gaston County

$788 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

About 44% of this ZIP is in Gaston County.

Where the money comes from

State tax money43%County taxes36%Fines and other11%Fees for services (garbage collection, college tuition)6.5%Federal tax money2.4%Local tax money1.3%

What stands out

43%

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

Full Gaston County breakdown

County taxes36%

Property tax
26%$215 million
Sales tax
8.7%$70.9 million
Other taxes
0.9%$7.3 million
What's in other taxesReal estate and stock transfer taxes; occupation and business licenses and 3 more
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$2.2 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$2.1 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$1.5 million
  • Other licenses$1.1 million
  • Motor vehicle licenses$375 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services6.5%

Fees for services
6.5%$53.2 million
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges; garbage collection and 11 more
  • Other service charges$19.4 million
  • Garbage collection$13.0 million
  • College tuition$5.5 million
  • Hospital bills$4.0 million
  • Other government-run businesses$3.7 million
  • School lunches$3.4 million
  • University housing and dining$3.0 million
  • Electric power$693 thousand
  • Transit fares$234 thousand
  • Parks and recreation$224 thousand
  • School tuition and transportation$46 thousand
  • Other school charges$38 thousand
  • Parking$10 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money2.4%

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

From the federal government
2.4%$19.4 million

State tax money43%

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

From the state
43%$354 million

Local tax money1.3%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
1.3%$10.3 million

Fines and other11%

Interest, rents and other
10%$83.9 million
Fines
0.3%$2.7 million
Gaston County page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges59%Police, fire, courts and jails13%Social services8.4%Running the government and other costs7.5%Health and hospitals5.7%All other spending6.4%

What stands out

59%

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

Full Gaston County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
59%$466 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools; colleges and universities and 2 more
  • Elementary and secondary schools$405 million
  • Colleges and universities$54.8 million
  • College housing, dining and bookstores$2.9 million
  • Scholarships and other education subsidies$2.6 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
13%$102 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 3 more
  • Police$87.5 million
  • Fire protection$8.4 million
  • Inspections and regulation$3.7 million
  • Courts and legal services$1.8 million
  • Prisons and jails$338 thousand
Social services
8.4%$65.9 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$65.9 million
Running the government and other costs
7.5%$59.4 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 2 more
  • Other and not broken out$16.4 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$16.1 million
  • Government buildings$14.8 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$12.1 million
Health and hospitals
5.7%$44.8 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$44.8 million
Interest on debt
2.0%$16.1 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
1.3%$10.1 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste and electric power
  • Garbage and solid waste$8.9 million
  • Electric power$1.2 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
1.2%$9.4 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesLibraries and parks and recreation
  • Libraries$5.9 million
  • Parks and recreation$3.5 million
Housing and community development
0.9%$7.0 million
Sent to other local governments
0.7%$5.8 million
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$4.7 million
  • Sent to the state government$1.1 million
Roads, transit and parking
0.2%$1.9 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingPublic transit and parking
  • Public transit$1.8 million
  • Parking$47 thousand
Environment and natural resources
<0.1%$63 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$63 thousand
Gaston County page →

Lincoln County

$302 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

About 33% of this ZIP is in Lincoln County.

Where the money comes from

County taxes48%State tax money33%Fees for services (water, liquor stores)13%Fines and other5.1%Federal tax money0.5%Local tax money0.3%
Full Lincoln County breakdown

What stands out

12%

of Lincoln County's money comes from sales tax.A typical U.S. county of 50,000 to 250,000 people gets 4.2%.

County taxes48%

Property tax
35%$112 million
Sales tax
12%$37.5 million
Other taxes
1.6%$5.1 million
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; occupation and business licenses and 3 more
  • Other selective sales taxes$2.5 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$2.1 million
  • Other licenses$282 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$204 thousand
  • Motor vehicle licenses$65 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services13%

Fees for services
13%$43.0 million
What's in fees for servicesWater; liquor stores and 11 more
  • Water$11.9 million
  • Liquor stores$7.7 million
  • Sewer$6.6 million
  • Garbage collection$6.3 million
  • Hospital bills$4.9 million
  • School lunches$1.5 million
  • Other service charges$1.4 million
  • Other government-run businesses$1.1 million
  • Transit fares$981 thousand
  • Parks, land and natural resources$355 thousand
  • Parks and recreation$273 thousand
  • School tuition and transportation$44 thousand
  • Other school charges$41 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money0.5%

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

From the federal government
0.5%$1.6 million

State tax money33%

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

From the state
33%$105 million

Local tax money0.3%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
0.3%$882 thousand

Fines and other5.1%

Interest, rents and other
5.0%$16.2 million
Fines
<0.1%$226 thousand
Lincoln County page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges46%Police, fire, courts and jails18%Water, sewer, trash and utilities8.9%Running the government and other costs7.7%Health and hospitals6.6%All other spending13%

What stands out

46%

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

Full Lincoln County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
46%$140 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
  • Elementary and secondary schools$140 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
18%$54.1 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 3 more
  • Police$26.8 million
  • Fire protection$18.6 million
  • Prisons and jails$5.7 million
  • Inspections and regulation$2.2 million
  • Courts and legal services$718 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
8.9%$26.9 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply; garbage and solid waste and 2 more
  • Water supply$8.2 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$6.5 million
  • Sewer systems$6.2 million
  • Liquor stores$6.0 million
Running the government and other costs
7.7%$23.2 million
What's in running the government and other costsGovernment buildings; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 2 more
  • Government buildings$8.7 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$5.4 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$4.9 million
  • Other and not broken out$4.2 million
Health and hospitals
6.6%$19.9 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$19.9 million
Social services
5.2%$15.6 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$15.6 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
2.5%$7.5 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesLibraries and parks and recreation
  • Libraries$4.2 million
  • Parks and recreation$3.3 million
Roads, transit and parking
1.6%$4.8 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingPublic transit and airports
  • Public transit$3.6 million
  • Airports$1.2 million
Interest on debt
1.6%$4.7 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$3.9 million
  • Interest on water supply debt$791 thousand
Housing and community development
1.0%$2.9 million
Environment and natural resources
0.6%$1.7 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$1.7 million
Sent to other local governments
0.2%$626 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$626 thousand
Lincoln County page →

Cleveland County

$253 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

About 24% of this ZIP is in Cleveland County.

Where the money comes from

State tax money79%County taxes12%Fines and other2.5%Local tax money2.2%Federal tax money2.1%Fees for services (college tuition, school lunches)1.5%

What stands out

79%

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

Full Cleveland County breakdown

County taxes12%

Property tax
12%$31.7 million

Fees for services1.5%

Fees for services
1.5%$4.0 million
What's in fees for servicesCollege tuition; school lunches and 3 more
  • College tuition$2.8 million
  • School lunches$643 thousand
  • University housing and dining$350 thousand
  • School tuition and transportation$129 thousand
  • Other school charges$19 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money2.1%

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

From the federal government
2.1%$5.3 million

State tax money79%

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

From the state
79%$204 million

Local tax money2.2%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
2.2%$5.6 million

Fines and other2.5%

Interest, rents and other
2.2%$5.7 million
Fines
0.3%$675 thousand
Cleveland County page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges99%Sent to other local governments0.6%Police, fire, courts and jails0.2%Interest on debt<0.1%

What stands out

99%

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

Full Cleveland County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
99%$250 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools; colleges and universities and 2 more
  • Elementary and secondary schools$218 million
  • Colleges and universities$31.4 million
  • Scholarships and other education subsidies$658 thousand
  • College housing, dining and bookstores$43 thousand
Sent to other local governments
0.6%$1.4 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$1.4 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
0.2%$608 thousand
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice
  • Police$608 thousand
Interest on debt
<0.1%$170 thousand
Cleveland County page →

Your city

City of Cherryville

$16.2 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the North Carolina Local Government Commission.

About 44% of this ZIP is in Cherryville.

Where the money comes from

Fees for services59%City taxes26%Fines and other11%Federal tax money2.7%State tax money1.5%
Full Cherryville breakdown

City taxes26%

Property tax
18%$3.5 million
Sales tax
7.0%$1.3 million
Other taxes
0.4%$83 thousand

Fees for services59%

Fees for services
59%$11.3 million

Federal tax money2.7%

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

From the federal government
2.7%$508 thousand

State tax money1.5%

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

From the state
1.5%$282 thousand

Fines and other11%

Interest, rents and other
11%$2.1 million
Cherryville page →

Where the money goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities57%Police, fire, courts and jails21%Running the government and other costs7.9%Housing and community development5.8%Roads, transit and parking4.2%All other spending4.2%
Full Cherryville breakdown

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
57%$9.2 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
21%$3.4 million
Running the government and other costs
7.9%$1.3 million
Housing and community development
5.8%$946 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
4.2%$688 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
3.5%$560 thousand
Environment and natural resources
0.8%$126 thousand
Cherryville 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.

Gaston 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 Cherryville. 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, 2022 Census of Governments, Finance, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2022.

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

Cleveland County. 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.