ZIP 29485 · North Charleston, SC

Five governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 29485: 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 29485?
29485 is served by the State of South Carolina, Dorchester County, Dorchester County School District 2, the City of North Charleston and the Town of Summerville. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of South Carolina spent $49.2 billion (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Dorchester County spent $263 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Dorchester County School District 2 spent $369 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), City of North Charleston spent $216 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024) and Town of Summerville spent $77.6 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2023). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 29485?
Of the governments serving 29485, Dorchester County School District 2 collected $116 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), City of North Charleston collected $95.8 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), State of South Carolina collected $92.8 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Dorchester County collected $72.7 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024) and Town of Summerville collected $18.4 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2023) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 29485.

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: Dorchester County, North Charleston, Summerville and Dorchester County School District 2

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 29485

Dorchester County School District 2$116 million

30% of its $393 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024

City of North Charleston$95.8 million

38% of its $252 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

Dorchester County$72.7 million

25% of its $291 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024 · estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

Town of Summerville$18.4 million

25% of its $74.4 million in revenue · fiscal year ended December 31, 2023

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

Dorchester County

$263 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024. Estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

About 94% of this ZIP is in Dorchester County.

Where the money comes from

County taxes41%Fees for services (sewer, water)27%Fines and other23%State tax money8.6%Federal tax money0.8%
Full Dorchester County breakdown

What stands out

23%

of Dorchester County's money comes from interest, rents and other revenue.A typical U.S. county of 50,000 to 250,000 people gets 5.4%.

County taxes41%

Property tax
25%$72.7 million
Sales tax
13%$37.1 million
Other taxes
3.5%$10.2 million
What's in other taxesOccupation and business licenses; other selective sales taxes and 2 more
  • Occupation and business licenses$7.5 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$2.0 million
  • Public utility licenses$741 thousand
  • Other licenses$46 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services27%

Fees for services
27%$77.4 million
What's in fees for servicesSewer; other service charges and 3 more
  • Sewer$31.5 million
  • Other service charges$19.3 million
  • Water$17.1 million
  • Garbage collection$9.5 million
  • Parks and recreation$35 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%$2.4 million

State tax money8.6%

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

From the state
8.6%$25.0 million

Fines and other23%

Interest, rents and other
23%$65.8 million
Fines
0.3%$932 thousand
Dorchester County page →

Where the money goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities28%Roads, transit and parking23%Running the government and other costs16%Police, fire, courts and jails16%Health and hospitals7.1%All other spending9.8%

What stands out

28%

of Dorchester County's spending goes to water, sewer, trash and other utilities.A typical U.S. county of 50,000 to 250,000 people spends 1.6%.

Full Dorchester County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
28%$74.0 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply; garbage and solid waste and 1 more
  • Water supply$64.3 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$7.3 million
  • Sewer systems$2.4 million
Roads, transit and parking
23%$60.6 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways; public transit and 1 more
  • Roads and highways$59.8 million
  • Public transit$458 thousand
  • Airports$333 thousand
Running the government and other costs
16%$42.2 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; government buildings and 2 more
  • Other and not broken out$27.3 million
  • Government buildings$7.5 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$4.9 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$2.4 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
16%$42.0 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; courts and legal services and 4 more
  • Police$19.7 million
  • Courts and legal services$11.0 million
  • Fire protection$8.2 million
  • Prisons and jails$2.2 million
  • Inspections and regulation$765 thousand
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$46 thousand
Health and hospitals
7.1%$18.8 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$18.8 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
6.3%$16.5 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesLibraries and parks and recreation
  • Libraries$13.4 million
  • Parks and recreation$3.1 million
Interest on debt
2.5%$6.5 million
Housing and community development
1.1%$2.9 million
Dorchester County page →

Your cities and towns

City of North Charleston

$216 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

About 30% of this ZIP is in North Charleston.

Where the money comes from

City taxes73%County and local tax money10%Fines and other9.2%Fees for services (parking, parks and recreation)5.6%State tax money2.1%Federal tax money0.5%
Full North Charleston breakdown

What stands out

27%

of North 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 taxes73%

Property tax
38%$95.8 million
Other taxes
27%$69.1 million
What's in other taxesOther licenses; other selective sales taxes and 2 more
  • Other licenses$49.7 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$11.3 million
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$7.9 million
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$258 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Sales tax
7.2%$18.0 million

Fees for services5.6%

Fees for services
5.6%$14.0 million
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges; parking and 1 more
  • Other service charges$10.5 million
  • Parking$2.8 million
  • Parks and recreation$628 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%$1.3 million

State tax money2.1%

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

From the state
2.1%$5.2 million

County and local tax money10%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
10%$25.1 million

Fines and other9.2%

Interest, rents and other
8.9%$22.3 million
Fines
0.3%$686 thousand
North Charleston page →

Where the money goes

Police, fire, courts and jails40%Running the government and other costs39%Parks, recreation and libraries5.9%Roads, transit and parking5.8%Interest on debt5.0%All other spending4.3%

What stands out

39%

of North Charleston's spending goes to running the government and other costs.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people spends 16%.

Full North Charleston breakdown

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
40%$85.8 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
  • Police$47.0 million
  • Fire protection$31.2 million
  • Courts and legal services$4.3 million
  • Inspections and regulation$3.3 million
Running the government and other costs
39%$85.2 million
What's in running the government and other costsGovernment buildings; finance, tax collection and budgeting and 2 more
  • Government buildings$49.6 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$17.3 million
  • Other and not broken out$12.6 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$5.7 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
5.9%$12.7 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$12.7 million
Roads, transit and parking
5.8%$12.6 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and parking
  • Roads and highways$11.4 million
  • Parking$1.2 million
Interest on debt
5.0%$10.7 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
3.7%$8.0 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste
  • Garbage and solid waste$8.0 million
Housing and community development
0.6%$1.3 million
North Charleston page →

Town of Summerville

$77.6 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended December 31, 2023.

About 16% of this ZIP is in Summerville.

Where the money comes from

Town taxes49%Fees for services (water, garbage collection)25%Fines and other18%County and local tax money4.2%Federal tax money2.6%State tax money0.8%
Full Summerville breakdown

What stands out

24%

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

Town taxes49%

Property tax
25%$18.4 million
Other taxes
24%$18.0 million
What's in other taxesOccupation and business licenses; other licenses and 1 more
  • Occupation and business licenses$16.3 million
  • Other licenses$1.6 million
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$107 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services25%

Fees for services
25%$18.6 million
What's in fees for servicesWater; garbage collection and 2 more
  • Water$12.5 million
  • Garbage collection$2.9 million
  • Other service charges$2.6 million
  • Parks and recreation$486 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money2.6%

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

From the federal government
2.6%$1.9 million

State tax money0.8%

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

From the state
0.8%$625 thousand

County and local tax money4.2%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
4.2%$3.1 million

Fines and other18%

Interest, rents and other
18%$13.3 million
Fines
0.4%$312 thousand
Summerville page →

Where the money goes

Police, fire, courts and jails43%Water, sewer, trash and utilities24%Running the government and other costs15%Roads, transit and parking11%Parks, recreation and libraries4.7%Interest on debt2.4%

What stands out

43%

of Summerville's spending goes to police, fire, courts and jails.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people spends 25%.

Full Summerville breakdown

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
43%$33.3 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
  • Police$18.5 million
  • Fire protection$13.4 million
  • Inspections and regulation$849 thousand
  • Courts and legal services$605 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
24%$18.7 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply; garbage and solid waste and 1 more
  • Water supply$10.0 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$5.9 million
  • Sewer systems$2.7 million
Running the government and other costs
15%$11.5 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$4.1 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$3.6 million
  • Government buildings$3.0 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$872 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
11%$8.5 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$8.5 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
4.7%$3.7 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$3.7 million
Interest on debt
2.4%$1.9 million
Summerville page →

Your schools

Dorchester County School District 2

$369 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

About 94% of this ZIP is in Dorchester County School District 2.

Where the money comes from

State tax money64%School district taxes30%Fines and other4.1%County and local tax money1.5%Fees for services (school lunches, school tuition and transportation)1.2%

What stands out

64%

of Dorchester County School District 2's money comes from state tax money.A typical school district with 25,000+ students gets 55%.

Full Dorchester County School District 2 breakdown

School district taxes30%

Property tax
30%$116 million

Fees for services1.2%

Fees for services
1.2%$4.6 million
What's in fees for servicesOther school charges; school lunches and 1 more
  • Other school charges$2.9 million
  • School lunches$1.7 million
  • School tuition and transportation$41 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%$164 thousand

State tax money64%

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

From the state
64%$250 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%$6.0 million

Fines and other4.1%

Interest, rents and other
4.1%$16.0 million
Dorchester County School District 2 page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges98%Interest on debt2.1%Sent to other local governments<0.1%
Full Dorchester County School District 2 breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
98%$361 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
  • Elementary and secondary schools$361 million
Interest on debt
2.1%$7.7 million
Sent to other local governments
<0.1%$281 thousand
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to the state government
  • Sent to the state government$281 thousand
Dorchester County School District 2 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.

Dorchester 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.

Dorchester County School District 2. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2024.

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

Town of Summerville. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

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.