ZIP 28501 · Kinston, NC

Four governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 28501: 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 28501?
28501 is served by the State of North Carolina, Lenoir County, Jones County and the City of Kinston. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of North Carolina spent $89.8 billion (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Lenoir County spent $169 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Jones County spent $40.7 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2022) and City of Kinston spent $93.7 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 28501?
Of the governments serving 28501, City of Kinston collected $12.0 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), Lenoir County collected $9.9 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024) and Jones County collected $7.2 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2022) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 28501.

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: Lenoir County, Jones County and Kinston

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 28501

City of Kinston$12.0 million

12% of its $100 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

Lenoir County$9.9 million

6.0% of its $166 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024

Jones County$7.2 million

22% of its $32.5 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2022

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 Jones County and Lenoir County, so school money is part of its budget.

Lenoir County

$169 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

About 75% of this ZIP is in Lenoir County.

Where the money comes from

State tax money82%County taxes6.2%Fines and other5.1%Fees for services (liquor stores, college tuition)4.3%Local tax money1.8%Federal tax money0.9%

What stands out

82%

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

Full Lenoir County breakdown

County taxes6.2%

Property tax
6.0%$9.9 million
Other taxes
0.3%$492 thousand
What's in other taxesAlcoholic beverage taxes
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$492 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services4.3%

Fees for services
4.3%$7.2 million
What's in fees for servicesLiquor stores; college tuition and 3 more
  • Liquor stores$5.3 million
  • College tuition$1.3 million
  • School lunches$244 thousand
  • University housing and dining$240 thousand
  • Other service charges$102 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money0.9%

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

From the federal government
0.9%$1.5 million

State tax money82%

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

From the state
82%$136 million

Local tax money1.8%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
1.8%$3.1 million

Fines and other5.1%

Interest, rents and other
4.9%$8.2 million
Fines
0.2%$311 thousand
Lenoir County page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges90%Police, fire, courts and jails4.0%Water, sewer, trash and utilities2.7%Parks, recreation and libraries1.5%Sent to other local governments1.4%All other spending0.4%

What stands out

90%

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

Full Lenoir County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
90%$152 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools; colleges and universities and 2 more
  • Elementary and secondary schools$117 million
  • Colleges and universities$33.6 million
  • Scholarships and other education subsidies$1.1 million
  • College housing, dining and bookstores$111 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
4.0%$6.7 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice
  • Police$6.7 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
2.7%$4.6 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesLiquor stores
  • Liquor stores$4.6 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
1.5%$2.5 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesLibraries
  • Libraries$2.5 million
Sent to other local governments
1.4%$2.4 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$2.4 million
Interest on debt
0.4%$593 thousand
Health and hospitals
<0.1%$57 thousand
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$57 thousand
Lenoir County page →

Jones County

$40.7 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2022.

About 26% of this ZIP is in Jones County.

Where the money comes from

State tax money49%County taxes31%Fees for services (water, liquor stores)13%Fines and other6.2%Federal tax money0.5%

What stands out

49%

of Jones County's money comes from state tax money.A typical U.S. county of under 50,000 people gets 23%.

Full Jones County breakdown

County taxes31%

Property tax
22%$7.2 million
Sales tax
8.2%$2.7 million
Other taxes
1.2%$392 thousand
What's in other taxesOccupation and business licenses; alcoholic beverage taxes and 2 more
  • Occupation and business licenses$159 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$106 thousand
  • Other selective sales taxes$104 thousand
  • Other licenses$23 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services13%

Fees for services
13%$4.2 million
What's in fees for servicesWater; liquor stores and 5 more
  • Water$1.8 million
  • Liquor stores$1.0 million
  • Garbage collection$585 thousand
  • Hospital bills$580 thousand
  • Other service charges$171 thousand
  • Other government-run businesses$64 thousand
  • School lunches$51 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%$166 thousand

State tax money49%

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

From the state
49%$15.9 million

Fines and other6.2%

Interest, rents and other
5.9%$1.9 million
Fines
0.3%$83 thousand
Jones County page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges52%Police, fire, courts and jails15%Running the government and other costs6.9%Water, sewer, trash and utilities6.4%Social services6.0%All other spending14%

What stands out

52%

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

Full Jones County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
52%$21.0 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
  • Elementary and secondary schools$21.0 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
15%$6.1 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; prisons and jails and 3 more
  • Police$4.8 million
  • Prisons and jails$787 thousand
  • Fire protection$196 thousand
  • Inspections and regulation$196 thousand
  • Courts and legal services$100 thousand
Running the government and other costs
6.9%$2.8 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$840 thousand
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$697 thousand
  • Government buildings$664 thousand
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$617 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
6.4%$2.6 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply; liquor stores and 1 more
  • Water supply$1.1 million
  • Liquor stores$887 thousand
  • Garbage and solid waste$570 thousand
Social services
6.0%$2.5 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$2.5 million
Health and hospitals
5.7%$2.3 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$2.3 million
Housing and community development
3.6%$1.5 million
Interest on debt
2.8%$1.1 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$825 thousand
  • Interest on water supply debt$309 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
1.1%$450 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$450 thousand
Environment and natural resources
0.5%$202 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$202 thousand
Sent to other local governments
0.4%$175 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$175 thousand
Jones County page →

Your city

City of Kinston

$93.7 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the North Carolina Local Government Commission.

About 20% of this ZIP is in Kinston.

Where the money comes from

Fees for services74%City taxes18%State tax money5.5%Fines and other2.0%County and local tax money<0.1%
Full Kinston breakdown

City taxes18%

Property tax
12%$12.0 million
Sales tax
6.1%$6.1 million
Tourism taxes
0.3%$326 thousand
Other taxes
<0.1%$69 thousand

Fees for services74%

Fees for services
74%$74.2 million

Federal tax money<0.1%

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

From the federal government
<0.1%$10 thousand

State tax money5.5%

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

From the state
5.5%$5.5 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%$53 thousand

Fines and other2.0%

Interest, rents and other
2.0%$2.0 million
Kinston page →

Where the money goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities69%Police, fire, courts and jails13%Parks, recreation and libraries7.9%Running the government and other costs4.2%Housing and community development1.9%All other spending3.3%
Full Kinston breakdown

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
69%$65.0 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
13%$12.4 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
7.9%$7.4 million
Running the government and other costs
4.2%$4.0 million
Housing and community development
1.9%$1.8 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
1.6%$1.5 million
Roads, transit and parking
1.5%$1.4 million
Social services
0.2%$180 thousand
Kinston 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.

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

Jones County. U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments, Finance, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2022. The Census record for this government is from the 2022 survey, the newest on file.

City of Kinston. 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.

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.