ZIP 29412 · Charleston, SC

Six governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 29412: 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 29412?
29412 is served by the State of South Carolina, Charleston County, Charleston County School District, the City of Charleston, the City of Folly Beach and the Town of James Island. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of South Carolina spent $49.2 billion (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Charleston County spent $482 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Charleston County School District spent $1.20 billion (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), City of Charleston spent $575 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2023), City of Folly Beach spent $11.2 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2022) and Town of James Island spent $3.3 million (fiscal year ended October 31, 2021). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 29412?
Of the governments serving 29412, Charleston County School District collected $591 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Charleston County collected $203 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), City of Charleston collected $110 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2023), State of South Carolina collected $92.8 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024) and City of Folly Beach collected $2.5 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2022) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 29412.

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: Charleston County, Charleston, Folly Beach and James Island

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 29412

Charleston County School District$591 million

44% of its $1.33 billion in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024

Charleston County$203 million

24% of its $855 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024

City of Charleston$110 million

16% of its $671 million in revenue · fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 · estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

State of South Carolina$92.8 million

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

City of Folly Beach$2.5 million

22% of its $11.4 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 county

Charleston County

$482 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

Where the money comes from

County taxes58%Fees for services (garbage collection, parks and recreation)24%Fines and other9.1%State tax money7.4%Federal tax money1.6%
Full Charleston County breakdown

What stands out

32%

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

County taxes58%

Sales tax
32%$272 million
Property tax
24%$203 million
Other taxes
2.1%$18.3 million
What's in other taxesOccupation and business licenses; other licenses and 3 more
  • Occupation and business licenses$5.4 million
  • Other licenses$5.4 million
  • Public utility licenses$3.1 million
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$2.8 million
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$1.5 million

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services24%

Fees for services
24%$207 million
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges; garbage collection and 3 more
  • Other service charges$120 million
  • Garbage collection$55.9 million
  • Parks and recreation$25.3 million
  • Parking$3.7 million
  • Hospital bills$1.8 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money1.6%

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

From the federal government
1.6%$13.3 million

State tax money7.4%

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

From the state
7.4%$63.5 million

Fines and other9.1%

Interest, rents and other
8.8%$75.6 million
Fines
0.2%$1.9 million
Charleston County page →

Where the money goes

Police, fire, courts and jails27%Running the government and other costs25%Parks, recreation and libraries24%Roads, transit and parking10%Water, sewer, trash and utilities8.4%All other spending5.6%

What stands out

24%

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

Full Charleston County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
27%$129 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; courts and legal services and 2 more
  • Police$97.0 million
  • Courts and legal services$27.2 million
  • Inspections and regulation$3.1 million
  • Fire protection$1.4 million
Running the government and other costs
25%$122 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; finance, tax collection and budgeting and 2 more
  • Other and not broken out$55.8 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$29.9 million
  • Government buildings$22.1 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$14.4 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
24%$114 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$78.5 million
  • Libraries$35.8 million
Roads, transit and parking
10%$49.4 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and parking
  • Roads and highways$46.3 million
  • Parking$3.1 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
8.4%$40.5 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste
  • Garbage and solid waste$40.5 million
Health and hospitals
5.3%$25.7 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$25.7 million
Social services
0.2%$1.1 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$1.1 million
Interest on debt
<0.1%$414 thousand
Charleston County page →

Your cities and towns

City of Charleston

$575 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended December 31, 2023. Estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

About 53% of this ZIP is in Charleston.

Where the money comes from

City taxes47%Fees for services (water, parking)35%Fines and other16%State tax money1.0%Federal tax money0.5%
Full Charleston breakdown

What stands out

26%

of Charleston's money comes from taxes other than property, sales and income taxes.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people gets 7.2%.

City taxes47%

Other taxes
26%$174 million
What's in other taxesOther licenses; public utility licenses and 2 more
  • Other licenses$70.4 million
  • Public utility licenses$64.8 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$23.2 million
  • Public utility taxes$15.1 million

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Property tax
16%$110 million
Sales tax
5.0%$33.7 million

Fees for services35%

Fees for services
35%$236 million
What's in fees for servicesWater; parking and 4 more
  • Water$183 million
  • Parking$32.6 million
  • Parks and recreation$8.7 million
  • Other service charges$4.5 million
  • Housing$3.6 million
  • Other government-run businesses$2.8 million

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%$3.1 million

State tax money1.0%

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

From the state
1.0%$6.6 million

Fines and other16%

Interest, rents and other
16%$106 million
Fines
0.4%$2.9 million
Charleston page →

Where the money goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities44%Police, fire, courts and jails21%Running the government and other costs13%Parks, recreation and libraries9.0%Interest on debt6.7%All other spending5.9%

What stands out

44%

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

Full Charleston breakdown

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
44%$255 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply; sewer systems and 2 more
  • Water supply$209 million
  • Sewer systems$30.4 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$9.9 million
  • Electric power$5.6 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
21%$121 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
  • Police$65.1 million
  • Fire protection$47.2 million
  • Courts and legal services$6.5 million
  • Inspections and regulation$2.1 million
Running the government and other costs
13%$75.2 million
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$52.5 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$12.9 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$4.0 million
  • Government buildings$3.2 million
  • Other government-run businesses$2.6 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
9.0%$51.7 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$51.7 million
Interest on debt
6.7%$38.5 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on water supply debt and interest on general debt
  • Interest on water supply debt$30.7 million
  • Interest on general debt$7.7 million
Roads, transit and parking
3.5%$20.3 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and parking
  • Roads and highways$10.2 million
  • Parking$10.1 million
Sent to other local governments
1.4%$8.2 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$8.2 million
Housing and community development
0.8%$4.4 million
Social services
0.2%$1.2 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$1.2 million
Charleston page →

City of Folly Beach

$11.2 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2022.

About 25% of this ZIP is in Folly Beach.

Where the money comes from

City taxes73%Fees for services (water, sewer)19%Fines and other6.2%State tax money1.4%
Full Folly Beach breakdown

What stands out

32%

of Folly Beach's money comes from sales tax.Most U.S. cities, towns and villages of under 10,000 people get none.

City taxes73%

Sales tax
32%$3.7 million
Property tax
22%$2.5 million
Other taxes
19%$2.2 million
What's in other taxesOccupation and business licenses; alcoholic beverage licenses and 1 more
  • Occupation and business licenses$2.1 million
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$43 thousand
  • Other licenses$9 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services19%

Fees for services
19%$2.2 million
What's in fees for servicesWater and sewer
  • Water$1.4 million
  • Sewer$779 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%$154 thousand

Fines and other6.2%

Fines
4.8%$545 thousand
Interest, rents and other
1.4%$160 thousand
Folly Beach page →

Where the money goes

Police, fire, courts and jails51%Water, sewer, trash and utilities32%Running the government and other costs17%Interest on debt0.5%

What stands out

51%

of Folly Beach's spending goes to police, fire, courts and jails.A typical U.S. city, town or village of under 10,000 people spends 11%.

Full Folly Beach breakdown

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
51%$5.8 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsFire protection; police and 1 more
  • Fire protection$2.9 million
  • Police$2.6 million
  • Courts and legal services$190 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
32%$3.6 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste; water supply and 1 more
  • Garbage and solid waste$1.5 million
  • Water supply$1.4 million
  • Sewer systems$664 thousand
Running the government and other costs
17%$1.9 million
What's in running the government and other costsCentral staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology); government buildings and 2 more
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$904 thousand
  • Government buildings$611 thousand
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$200 thousand
  • Other and not broken out$143 thousand
Interest on debt
0.5%$53 thousand
Folly Beach page →

Town of James Island

$3.3 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended October 31, 2021.

About 12% of this ZIP is in James Island.

Where the money comes from

Town taxes53%State tax money29%Fines and other18%Fees for services0.1%County and local tax money<0.1%
Full James Island breakdown

What stands out

28%

of James Island's money comes from sales tax.Most U.S. cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people get none.

Town taxes53%

Sales tax
28%$1.8 million
Other taxes
25%$1.6 million
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; occupation and business licenses and 4 more
  • Other selective sales taxes$701 thousand
  • Occupation and business licenses$384 thousand
  • Public utility taxes$320 thousand
  • Other licenses$126 thousand
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$27 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$12 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services0.1%

Fees for services
0.1%$8 thousand
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges
  • Other service charges$8 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

State tax money29%

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

From the state
29%$1.9 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%$4 thousand

Fines and other18%

Interest, rents and other
18%$1.1 million
James Island page →

Where the money goes

Running the government and other costs90%Police, fire, courts and jails9.5%Parks, recreation and libraries0.8%

What stands out

90%

of James Island's spending goes to running the government and other costs.A typical U.S. city of 10,000 to 50,000 people spends 18%.

Full James Island breakdown

Spending by category100%

Running the government and other costs
90%$3.0 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 1 more
  • Other and not broken out$2.4 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$451 thousand
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$128 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
9.5%$317 thousand
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice and inspections and regulation
  • Police$206 thousand
  • Inspections and regulation$111 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.8%$26 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$26 thousand
James Island page →

Your schools

Charleston County School District

$1.20 billion budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

Where the money comes from

School district taxes56%State tax money36%Fines and other4.7%Fees for services (school lunches, school tuition and transportation)1.9%County and local tax money1.5%
Full Charleston County School District breakdown

What stands out

12%

of Charleston County School District's money comes from sales tax.Most school districts with 25,000+ students get none.

School district taxes56%

Property tax
44%$591 million
Sales tax
12%$161 million

Fees for services1.9%

Fees for services
1.9%$25.1 million
What's in fees for servicesOther school charges; school lunches and 1 more
  • Other school charges$21.0 million
  • School lunches$3.3 million
  • School tuition and transportation$700 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money<0.1%

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

From the federal government
<0.1%$112 thousand

State tax money36%

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

From the state
36%$474 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%$19.8 million

Fines and other4.7%

Interest, rents and other
4.7%$62.3 million
Charleston County School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges97%Interest on debt1.9%Sent to other local governments1.6%
Full Charleston County School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
97%$1.16 billion
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
  • Elementary and secondary schools$1.16 billion
Interest on debt
1.9%$22.7 million
Sent to other local governments
1.6%$19.2 million
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to school districts and sent to the state government
  • Sent to school districts$18.4 million
  • Sent to the state government$752 thousand
Charleston County School District 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.

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

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

City of Charleston. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. Most of this government's figures were estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau from a sample; the government did not report them itself.

City of Folly Beach. 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.

Town of James Island. U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments, Finance, individual unit file, fiscal year ended October 31, 2021. The Census record for this government is from the 2022 survey, the newest on file.

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.