ZIP 28657 · Avery County, NC

Three governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 28657: 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, as named under Sources and more.

Where do my taxes go in 28657?
28657 is served by the State of North Carolina, Avery County and Burke County. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of North Carolina spent $89.8 billion (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Avery County spent $69.0 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024) and Burke County spent $291 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 28657?
Of the governments serving 28657, Burke County collected $66.6 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024) and Avery County collected $24.8 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 28657.

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: Avery County and Burke County

Why not this year? Each 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 28657

Burke County$66.6 million

23% of its $289 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024

Avery County$24.8 million

36% of its $68.6 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024

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

This ZIP is outside any city or town, so Avery County and Burke County provides local services like police and parks.

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

Avery County

$69.0 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

About 84% of this ZIP is in Avery County.

Where the money comes from

County taxes52%State tax money35%Fines and other6.0%Fees for services (hospital bills, garbage collection)5.2%Local tax money1.4%Federal tax money0.6%
Full Avery County breakdown

What stands out

14%

of Avery County's money comes from sales tax.A typical U.S. county of under 50,000 people gets 1.6%.

County taxes52%

Property tax
36%$24.8 million
Sales tax
14%$9.6 million
Other taxes
1.6%$1.1 million
What's in other taxesReal estate and stock transfer taxes; other licenses and 1 more
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$975 thousand
  • Other licenses$58 thousand
  • Occupation and business licenses$37 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services5.2%

Fees for services
5.2%$3.6 million
What's in fees for servicesHospital bills; other service charges and 7 more
  • Hospital bills$1.2 million
  • Other service charges$915 thousand
  • Garbage collection$553 thousand
  • Transit fares$310 thousand
  • Other government-run businesses$216 thousand
  • School tuition and transportation$104 thousand
  • Airport$94 thousand
  • Parks and recreation$94 thousand
  • School lunches$76 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money0.6%

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

From the federal government
0.6%$404 thousand

State tax money35%

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

From the state
35%$24.0 million

Local tax money1.4%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
1.4%$978 thousand

Fines and other6.0%

Interest, rents and other
5.9%$4.0 million
Fines
0.1%$90 thousand
Avery County page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges44%Police, fire, courts and jails20%Social services11%Running the government and other costs7.1%Health and hospitals6.0%All other spending12%

What stands out

44%

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

Full Avery County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
44%$30.5 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
  • Elementary and secondary schools$30.5 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
20%$13.6 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 3 more
  • Police$7.1 million
  • Fire protection$3.8 million
  • Prisons and jails$2.2 million
  • Inspections and regulation$383 thousand
  • Courts and legal services$138 thousand
Social services
11%$7.3 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$7.3 million
Running the government and other costs
7.1%$4.9 million
What's in running the government and other costsFinance, tax collection and budgeting; government buildings and 2 more
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$1.5 million
  • Government buildings$1.5 million
  • Other and not broken out$1.1 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$854 thousand
Health and hospitals
6.0%$4.1 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$4.1 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
4.2%$2.9 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste
  • Garbage and solid waste$2.9 million
Roads, transit and parking
3.5%$2.4 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingAirports and public transit
  • Airports$1.3 million
  • Public transit$1.1 million
Housing and community development
1.4%$986 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
1.2%$823 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$684 thousand
  • Libraries$139 thousand
Interest on debt
0.8%$567 thousand
Sent to other local governments
0.6%$431 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$431 thousand
Environment and natural resources
0.5%$364 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$364 thousand
Avery County page →

Burke County

$291 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

About 15% of this ZIP is in Burke County.

Where the money comes from

State tax money50%County taxes32%Fines and other8.8%Fees for services (garbage collection, hospital bills)5.9%Federal tax money2.2%Local tax money1.0%

What stands out

50%

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

Full Burke County breakdown

County taxes32%

Property tax
23%$66.6 million
Sales tax
8.0%$23.1 million
Other taxes
0.8%$2.3 million
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; occupation and business licenses and 3 more
  • Other selective sales taxes$931 thousand
  • Occupation and business licenses$613 thousand
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$453 thousand
  • Other licenses$291 thousand
  • Motor vehicle licenses$56 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services5.9%

Fees for services
5.9%$17.1 million
What's in fees for servicesGarbage collection; hospital bills and 11 more
  • Garbage collection$6.2 million
  • Hospital bills$5.2 million
  • Water$1.5 million
  • College tuition$1.2 million
  • Other service charges$643 thousand
  • Sewer$569 thousand
  • Other government-run businesses$515 thousand
  • University housing and dining$444 thousand
  • School lunches$441 thousand
  • School tuition and transportation$285 thousand
  • Parks and recreation$77 thousand
  • Other school charges$58 thousand
  • Parks, land and natural resources$17 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%$6.4 million

State tax money50%

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

From the state
50%$145 million

Local tax money1.0%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
1.0%$2.9 million

Fines and other8.8%

Interest, rents and other
8.6%$25.0 million
Fines
0.2%$508 thousand
Burke County page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges60%Police, fire, courts and jails15%Running the government and other costs8.2%Social services7.9%Water, sewer, trash and utilities3.4%All other spending5.7%

What stands out

60%

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

Full Burke County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
60%$174 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools; colleges and universities and 2 more
  • Elementary and secondary schools$152 million
  • Colleges and universities$21.1 million
  • College housing, dining and bookstores$941 thousand
  • Scholarships and other education subsidies$692 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
15%$43.5 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 3 more
  • Police$26.6 million
  • Fire protection$10.9 million
  • Prisons and jails$5.1 million
  • Inspections and regulation$635 thousand
  • Courts and legal services$273 thousand
Running the government and other costs
8.2%$24.0 million
What's in running the government and other costsCentral staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology); finance, tax collection and budgeting and 2 more
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$11.4 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$6.1 million
  • Government buildings$3.4 million
  • Other and not broken out$3.0 million
Social services
7.9%$23.1 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$23.1 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
3.4%$10.0 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste; water supply and 1 more
  • Garbage and solid waste$8.0 million
  • Water supply$2.0 million
  • Sewer systems$1 thousand
Health and hospitals
2.0%$5.8 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$5.8 million
Housing and community development
1.2%$3.6 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
1.1%$3.2 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesLibraries and parks and recreation
  • Libraries$2.1 million
  • Parks and recreation$1.1 million
Interest on debt
0.7%$2.1 million
Sent to other local governments
0.4%$1.1 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$1.1 million
Environment and natural resources
0.2%$649 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$649 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
<0.1%$107 thousand
What's in roads, transit and parkingPublic transit
  • Public transit$107 thousand
Burke County 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.

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

Burke County. 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.