ZIP 29210 · Columbia, SC

Six governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 29210: 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 29210?
29210 is served by the State of South Carolina, Richland County, Richland County School District 1, the City of Columbia, Lexington County and Lexington & Richland County School District 5. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of South Carolina spent $49.2 billion (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Richland County spent $325 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Richland County School District 1 spent $502 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), City of Columbia spent $502 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Lexington County spent $282 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024) and Lexington & Richland County School District 5 spent $299 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 29210?
Of the governments serving 29210, Richland County School District 1 collected $288 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Richland County collected $256 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Lexington County collected $152 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Lexington & Richland County School District 5 collected $109 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), State of South Carolina collected $92.8 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024) and City of Columbia collected $48.7 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 29210.

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: Richland County, Lexington County, Columbia and Richland County School District 1

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 29210

Richland County School District 1$288 million

51% of its $562 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024

Richland County$256 million

49% of its $520 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024 · estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

Lexington County$152 million

55% of its $278 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024

Lexington & Richland County School District 5$109 million

33% of its $331 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024

State of South Carolina$92.8 million

0.2% of its $47.6 billion in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024

City of Columbia$48.7 million

9.8% of its $496 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

Richland County

$325 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024. Estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

About 70% of this ZIP is in Richland County.

Where the money comes from

County taxes75%Fees for services (garbage collection, sewer)18%Fines and other5.6%State tax money1.4%
Full Richland County breakdown

What stands out

21%

of Richland County's money comes from sales tax.A typical U.S. county of 250,000+ people gets 2.7%.

County taxes75%

Property tax
49%$256 million
Sales tax
21%$109 million
Other taxes
5.2%$26.8 million
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; occupation and business licenses and 2 more
  • Other selective sales taxes$11.0 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$9.8 million
  • Other licenses$6.0 million
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$74 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services18%

Fees for services
18%$91.5 million
What's in fees for servicesGarbage collection; other service charges and 7 more
  • Garbage collection$35.5 million
  • Other service charges$30.4 million
  • Sewer$15.4 million
  • Road charges$6.9 million
  • Parks and recreation$2.0 million
  • Water$457 thousand
  • Parks, land and natural resources$395 thousand
  • Airport$342 thousand
  • Parking$117 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

State tax money1.4%

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

From the state
1.4%$7.2 million

Fines and other5.6%

Interest, rents and other
3.9%$20.4 million
Fines
1.7%$8.6 million
Richland County page →

Where the money goes

Police, fire, courts and jails46%Running the government and other costs21%Parks, recreation and libraries15%Water, sewer, trash and utilities10%Interest on debt3.3%All other spending3.4%

What stands out

15%

of Richland County's spending goes to parks, recreation and libraries.A typical U.S. county of 250,000+ people spends 2.6%.

Full Richland County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
46%$151 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 3 more
  • Police$51.9 million
  • Fire protection$45.2 million
  • Prisons and jails$31.7 million
  • Courts and legal services$20.4 million
  • Inspections and regulation$1.5 million
Running the government and other costs
21%$68.6 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)$30.5 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$29.1 million
  • Government buildings$5.6 million
  • Other and not broken out$3.3 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
15%$50.1 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesLibraries and parks and recreation
  • Libraries$31.2 million
  • Parks and recreation$18.8 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
10%$33.8 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste
  • Garbage and solid waste$33.8 million
Interest on debt
3.3%$10.9 million
Roads, transit and parking
1.8%$5.9 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$5.9 million
Social services
1.2%$4.0 million
What's in social servicesWelfare institutions and other public welfare
  • Welfare institutions$3.9 million
  • Other public welfare$59 thousand
Health and hospitals
0.3%$1.1 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$1.1 million
Environment and natural resources
<0.1%$159 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$159 thousand
Housing and community development
<0.1%$96 thousand
Richland County page →

Lexington County

$282 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

About 30% of this ZIP is in Lexington County.

Where the money comes from

County taxes57%Fines and other21%State tax money10%Fees for services (garbage collection, parking)7.4%Federal tax money4.2%Local tax money0.1%
Full Lexington County breakdown

What stands out

55%

of Lexington County's money comes from property tax.A typical U.S. county of 250,000+ people gets 29%.

County taxes57%

Property tax
55%$152 million
Other taxes
2.5%$6.9 million
What's in other taxesOther licenses; alcoholic beverage licenses and 1 more
  • Other licenses$5.3 million
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$1.1 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$474 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services7.4%

Fees for services
7.4%$20.6 million
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges; garbage collection and 3 more
  • Other service charges$14.2 million
  • Garbage collection$6.3 million
  • Parking$14 thousand
  • Airport$8 thousand
  • Parks and recreation$5 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money4.2%

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

From the federal government
4.2%$11.7 million

State tax money10%

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

From the state
10%$28.1 million

Local tax money0.1%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
0.1%$330 thousand

Fines and other21%

Interest, rents and other
18%$50.2 million
Fines
2.7%$7.6 million
Lexington County page →

Where the money goes

Police, fire, courts and jails43%Running the government and other costs23%Roads, transit and parking10%Health and hospitals9.2%Water, sewer, trash and utilities6.0%All other spending8.3%

What stands out

43%

of Lexington County's spending goes to police, fire, courts and jails.A typical U.S. county of 250,000+ people spends 24%.

Full Lexington County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
43%$121 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
  • Police$50.8 million
  • Fire protection$34.5 million
  • Prisons and jails$17.9 million
  • Courts and legal services$17.5 million
Running the government and other costs
23%$65.7 million
What's in running the government and other costsFinance, tax collection and budgeting; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 2 more
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$46.9 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$8.6 million
  • Other and not broken out$7.2 million
  • Government buildings$3.0 million
Roads, transit and parking
10%$29.4 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and airports
  • Roads and highways$28.6 million
  • Airports$797 thousand
Health and hospitals
9.2%$25.9 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$25.9 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
6.0%$16.8 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste
  • Garbage and solid waste$16.8 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
4.0%$11.3 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesLibraries and parks and recreation
  • Libraries$11.0 million
  • Parks and recreation$332 thousand
Housing and community development
3.4%$9.6 million
Environment and natural resources
0.5%$1.4 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$1.4 million
Sent to other local governments
0.2%$616 thousand
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to the state government
  • Sent to the state government$616 thousand
Interest on debt
0.2%$542 thousand
Lexington County page →

Your city

City of Columbia

$502 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

About 36% of this ZIP is in Columbia.

Where the money comes from

Fees for services (water, sewer)45%City taxes25%Fines and other11%State tax money10%County and local tax money5.7%Federal tax money3.2%

What stands out

5.7%

of Columbia's money comes from county and other local tax money.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people gets 0.9%.

Full Columbia breakdown

City taxes25%

Other taxes
15%$73.7 million
What's in other taxesOther licenses; other selective sales taxes and 3 more
  • Other licenses$33.9 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$25.0 million
  • Public utility taxes$13.9 million
  • Public utility licenses$527 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$388 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Property tax
9.8%$48.7 million

Fees for services45%

Fees for services
45%$222 million
What's in fees for servicesWater; sewer and 4 more
  • Water$121 million
  • Sewer$88.9 million
  • Parking$7.7 million
  • Other service charges$2.1 million
  • Parks and recreation$1.4 million
  • Garbage collection$450 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money3.2%

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

From the federal government
3.2%$16.1 million

State tax money10%

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

From the state
10%$50.6 million

County and local tax money5.7%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
5.7%$28.2 million

Fines and other11%

Interest, rents and other
10%$50.1 million
Fines
1.4%$6.8 million
Columbia page →

Where the money goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities46%Police, fire, courts and jails23%Running the government and other costs12%Interest on debt6.7%Parks, recreation and libraries4.9%All other spending7.0%

What stands out

46%

of Columbia's spending goes to water, sewer, trash and other utilities.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people spends 20%.

Full Columbia breakdown

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
46%$230 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems; water supply and 2 more
  • Sewer systems$134 million
  • Water supply$82.1 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$13.0 million
  • Electric power$398 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
23%$118 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsFire protection; police and 2 more
  • Fire protection$56.8 million
  • Police$53.4 million
  • Courts and legal services$5.1 million
  • Inspections and regulation$2.3 million
Running the government and other costs
12%$61.6 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$31.6 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$15.6 million
  • Government buildings$7.5 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$6.8 million
Interest on debt
6.7%$33.9 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on water supply debt and interest on general debt
  • Interest on water supply debt$26.9 million
  • Interest on general debt$7.0 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
4.9%$24.6 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$24.6 million
Roads, transit and parking
3.3%$16.7 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and parking
  • Roads and highways$10.2 million
  • Parking$6.4 million
Housing and community development
1.7%$8.4 million
Environment and natural resources
0.7%$3.5 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$3.5 million
Social services
0.5%$2.5 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$2.5 million
Health and hospitals
0.5%$2.5 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$2.5 million
Sent to other local governments
0.3%$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
Columbia page →

Your schools

Richland County School District 1

$502 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

About 70% of this ZIP is in Richland County School District 1.

Where the money comes from

School district taxes51%State tax money42%Fines and other3.8%County and local tax money2.6%Fees for services (school tuition and transportation, school lunches)0.6%
Full Richland County School District 1 breakdown

What stands out

51%

of Richland County School District 1's money comes from property tax.A typical school district with 5,000 to 25,000 students gets 29%.

School district taxes51%

Property tax
51%$288 million

Fees for services0.6%

Fees for services
0.6%$3.1 million
What's in fees for servicesOther school charges; school tuition and transportation and 1 more
  • Other school charges$2.9 million
  • School tuition and transportation$167 thousand
  • School lunches$39 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

State tax money42%

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

From the state
42%$235 million

County and local tax money2.6%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
2.6%$14.6 million

Fines and other3.8%

Interest, rents and other
3.8%$21.5 million
Richland County School District 1 page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges98%Interest on debt1.9%
Full Richland County School District 1 breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
98%$493 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
  • Elementary and secondary schools$493 million
Interest on debt
1.9%$9.7 million
Sent to other local governments
<0.1%$44 thousand
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to the state government and sent to school districts
  • Sent to the state government$25 thousand
  • Sent to school districts$19 thousand
Richland County School District 1 page →

Lexington & Richland County School District 5

$299 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

About 30% of this ZIP is in Lexington & Richland County School District 5.

Where the money comes from

State tax money55%School district taxes39%Fines and other3.3%Fees for services (school lunches, school tuition and transportation)2.0%County and local tax money0.5%
Full Lexington & Richland County School District 5 breakdown

What stands out

6%

of Lexington & Richland County School District 5's money comes from sales tax.Most school districts with 5,000 to 25,000 students get none.

School district taxes39%

Property tax
33%$109 million
Sales tax
6.0%$20.0 million

Fees for services2.0%

Fees for services
2.0%$6.5 million
What's in fees for servicesOther school charges; school lunches and 1 more
  • Other school charges$4.8 million
  • School lunches$1.7 million
  • School tuition and transportation$2 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

State tax money55%

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

From the state
55%$182 million

County and local tax money0.5%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
0.5%$1.8 million

Fines and other3.3%

Interest, rents and other
3.3%$11.0 million
Lexington & Richland County School District 5 page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges98%Interest on debt2.2%Sent to other local governments<0.1%
Full Lexington & Richland County School District 5 breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
98%$292 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
  • Elementary and secondary schools$292 million
Interest on debt
2.2%$6.7 million
Sent to other local governments
<0.1%$154 thousand
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to the state government and sent to school districts
  • Sent to the state government$111 thousand
  • Sent to school districts$43 thousand
Lexington & Richland County School District 5 page →

Your state

State of South Carolina

$49.2 billion budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

Where the money comes from

State taxes38%Federal tax money32%Fees for services (hospital bills, college tuition)23%Fines and other7.0%Local tax money0.6%

What stands out

23%

of South Carolina's money comes from fees for services such as water, sewer and parking.A typical state government gets 10%.

Full South Carolina breakdown

State taxes38%

Sales tax
14%$6.44 billion
Individual income tax
13%$6.15 billion
Other taxes
8.4%$4.00 billion
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; motor fuel taxes and 15 more
  • Other selective sales taxes$1.25 billion
  • Motor fuel taxes$1.03 billion
  • Insurance premium taxes$361 million
  • Motor vehicle licenses$322 million
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$223 million
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$189 million
  • Corporation licenses$188 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$143 million
  • Tobacco taxes$111 million
  • Amusement taxes$60.0 million
  • Public utility taxes$28.6 million
  • Hunting and fishing licenses$25.7 million
  • Driver's licenses$20.7 million
  • Other licenses$15.8 million
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$15.3 million
  • Public utility licenses$14.4 million
  • Amusement licenses$6.0 million

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Business income tax
2.8%$1.35 billion
Property tax
0.2%$92.8 million

Fees for services23%

Fees for services
23%$10.9 billion
What's in fees for servicesHospital bills; college tuition and 13 more
  • Hospital bills$4.79 billion
  • College tuition$2.17 billion
  • Electric power$1.88 billion
  • Other service charges$773 million
  • University housing and dining$680 million
  • Ports and waterways$404 million
  • Road charges$72.1 million
  • Parks and recreation$65.5 million
  • Housing$41.7 million
  • Parks, land and natural resources$35.0 million
  • Other education charges$28.8 million
  • Water$8.8 million
  • Airport$457 thousand
  • Other government-run businesses$367 thousand
  • Tolls on roads and bridges$3 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money32%

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

From the federal government
32%$15.0 billion

Local tax money0.6%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From local governments
0.6%$279 million

Fines and other7.0%

Interest, rents and other
6.8%$3.21 billion
Fines
0.2%$107 million
South Carolina page →

Where the money goes

Social services26%Sent to local governments22%Schools and colleges17%Health and hospitals13%Roads, transit and parking6.8%All other spending16%

What stands out

13%

of South Carolina's spending goes to health services and hospitals.A typical state government spends 5.7%.

Full South Carolina breakdown

Spending by category100%

Social services
26%$13.0 billion
What's in social servicesOther public welfare; unemployment and social insurance offices and 1 more
  • Other public welfare$12.8 billion
  • Unemployment and social insurance offices$80.5 million
  • Veterans' services$30.1 million
Sent to local governments
22%$10.7 billion
What's in sent to local governmentsSent to school districts; sent to local governments: general support and 15 more
  • Sent to school districts$8.60 billion
  • Sent to local governments: general support$907 million
  • Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$801 million
  • Sent to local governments: roads and highways$150 million
  • Sent to local governments: courts and legal services$83.7 million
  • Sent to local governments: public health$51.2 million
  • Sent to local governments: sewer systems$50.8 million
  • Sent to local governments: libraries$17.6 million
  • Sent to local governments: police$17.5 million
  • Sent to local governments: inspections and regulation$16.7 million
  • Sent to local governments: parks and recreation$5.7 million
  • Sent to local governments: airports$5.3 million
  • Sent to local governments: other government administration$3.7 million
  • Sent to local governments: natural resources, farming and conservation$3.4 million
  • Sent to local governments: other public welfare$2.5 million
  • Sent to local governments: housing and community development$732 thousand
  • Sent to local governments: other education$504 thousand
Schools and colleges
17%$8.34 billion
What's in schools and collegesColleges and universities; scholarships and other education subsidies and 2 more
  • Colleges and universities$4.89 billion
  • Scholarships and other education subsidies$1.49 billion
  • College housing, dining and bookstores$1.15 billion
  • Other education$812 million
Health and hospitals
13%$6.16 billion
What's in health and hospitalsHospitals and public health
  • Hospitals$4.95 billion
  • Public health$1.21 billion
Roads, transit and parking
6.8%$3.33 billion
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways; ports and harbors and 2 more
  • Roads and highways$2.68 billion
  • Ports and harbors$633 million
  • Airports$11.9 million
  • Toll roads and bridges$28 thousand
Running the government and other costs
5.0%$2.48 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$1.71 billion
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$480 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$269 million
  • Other government administration$24.1 million
  • Other government-run businesses$102 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
3.6%$1.76 billion
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesElectric power and water supply
  • Electric power$1.76 billion
  • Water supply$7.3 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
3.2%$1.55 billion
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPrisons and jails; police and 3 more
  • Prisons and jails$767 million
  • Police$347 million
  • Courts and legal services$207 million
  • Inspections and regulation$144 million
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$86.5 million
Interest on debt
1.2%$605 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on electric power debt and interest on general debt
  • Interest on electric power debt$325 million
  • Interest on general debt$280 million
Environment and natural resources
1.1%$553 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$553 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.9%$446 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$425 million
  • Libraries$21.5 million
Housing and community development
0.5%$256 million
South Carolina page →
Sources and moreEach government's source, fiscal year and how a ZIP is matched

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

Richland County. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2024. Most of this government's figures were estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau from a sample; the government did not report them itself.

Richland County School District 1. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2024.

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

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

Lexington & Richland County School District 5. 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.