ZIP 28697 · Wilkesboro, NC

Three governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 28697: 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 28697?
28697 is served by the State of North Carolina, Wilkes County and the Town of Wilkesboro. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of North Carolina spent $89.8 billion (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Wilkes County spent $262 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024) and Town of Wilkesboro spent $17.9 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 28697?
Of the governments serving 28697, Wilkes County collected $47.1 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024) and Town of Wilkesboro collected $3.6 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 28697.

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: Wilkes County and Wilkesboro

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 28697

Wilkes County$47.1 million

19% of its $248 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024

Town of Wilkesboro$3.6 million

19% of its $19.3 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 Wilkes County, so school money is part of its budget.

Wilkes County

$262 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

Where the money comes from

State tax money56%County taxes30%Fines and other6.4%Fees for services (garbage collection, hospital bills)5.2%Local tax money2.1%Federal tax money0.8%

What stands out

56%

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

Full Wilkes County breakdown

County taxes30%

Property tax
19%$47.1 million
Sales tax
10%$25.3 million
Other taxes
0.3%$746 thousand
What's in other taxesOccupation and business licenses and other selective sales taxes
  • Occupation and business licenses$419 thousand
  • Other selective sales taxes$327 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services5.2%

Fees for services
5.2%$12.9 million
What's in fees for servicesGarbage collection; hospital bills and 9 more
  • Garbage collection$4.3 million
  • Hospital bills$3.5 million
  • Airport$1.7 million
  • College tuition$1.3 million
  • University housing and dining$1.0 million
  • School lunches$547 thousand
  • Other government-run businesses$206 thousand
  • Other service charges$189 thousand
  • Parks and recreation$89 thousand
  • Other school charges$61 thousand
  • School tuition and transportation$37 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money0.8%

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

From the federal government
0.8%$2.1 million

State tax money56%

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

From the state
56%$139 million

Local tax money2.1%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
2.1%$5.1 million

Fines and other6.4%

Interest, rents and other
6.1%$15.2 million
Fines
0.2%$617 thousand
Wilkes County page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges65%Police, fire, courts and jails8.8%Running the government and other costs6.5%Social services6.3%Health and hospitals5.2%All other spending8.4%

What stands out

65%

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

Full Wilkes County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
65%$170 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools; colleges and universities and 2 more
  • Elementary and secondary schools$137 million
  • Colleges and universities$29.7 million
  • College housing, dining and bookstores$2.0 million
  • Scholarships and other education subsidies$1.5 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
8.8%$23.1 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; prisons and jails and 3 more
  • Police$10.4 million
  • Prisons and jails$5.7 million
  • Fire protection$5.1 million
  • Courts and legal services$1.2 million
  • Inspections and regulation$666 thousand
Running the government and other costs
6.5%$17.0 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$6.3 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$5.1 million
  • Government buildings$3.3 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$2.3 million
Social services
6.3%$16.5 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$16.5 million
Health and hospitals
5.2%$13.6 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$13.6 million
Housing and community development
1.9%$5.0 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
1.9%$5.0 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesLibraries and parks and recreation
  • Libraries$3.7 million
  • Parks and recreation$1.3 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
1.8%$4.8 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste
  • Garbage and solid waste$4.8 million
Roads, transit and parking
1.5%$4.0 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingAirports and public transit
  • Airports$2.1 million
  • Public transit$1.8 million
Interest on debt
0.7%$1.7 million
Environment and natural resources
0.3%$873 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$873 thousand
Sent to other local governments
0.2%$603 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$603 thousand
Wilkes County page →

Your town

Town of Wilkesboro

$17.9 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the North Carolina Local Government Commission.

About 10% of this ZIP is in Wilkesboro.

Where the money comes from

Fees for services54%Town taxes28%Fines and other9.6%State tax money7.1%County and local tax money1.5%Federal tax money0.5%
Full Wilkesboro breakdown

Town taxes28%

Property tax
19%$3.6 million
Sales tax
9.1%$1.8 million
Other taxes
<0.1%$4 thousand

Fees for services54%

Fees for services
54%$10.3 million

Federal tax money0.5%

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

From the federal government
0.5%$100 thousand

State tax money7.1%

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

From the state
7.1%$1.4 million

County and local tax money1.5%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
1.5%$291 thousand

Fines and other9.6%

Interest, rents and other
9.6%$1.8 million
Wilkesboro page →

Where the money goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities50%Police, fire, courts and jails20%Running the government and other costs18%Debt payments (principal and interest)6.8%Housing and community development2.8%Parks, recreation and libraries2.3%
Full Wilkesboro breakdown

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
50%$9.0 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
20%$3.6 million
Running the government and other costs
18%$3.2 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
6.8%$1.2 million
Housing and community development
2.8%$511 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
2.3%$416 thousand
Wilkesboro 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.

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

Town of Wilkesboro. 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.