ZIP 29904 · Beaufort, SC

Three governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 29904: 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 29904?
29904 is served by the State of South Carolina, Beaufort County and the City of Beaufort. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of South Carolina spent $49.2 billion (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Beaufort County spent $473 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024) and City of Beaufort spent $20.8 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2022). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 29904?
Of the governments serving 29904, Beaufort County collected $151 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), State of South Carolina collected $92.8 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024) and City of Beaufort collected $8.2 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2022) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 29904.

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: Beaufort County and Beaufort

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 29904

Beaufort County$151 million

22% of its $677 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 Beaufort$8.2 million

27% of its $30.2 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

Beaufort County

$473 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

Where the money comes from

Fees for services (hospital bills, garbage collection)51%County taxes36%Fines and other5.8%State tax money5.3%Federal tax money2.5%

What stands out

51%

of Beaufort County's money comes from fees for services such as water, sewer and parking.A typical U.S. county of 50,000 to 250,000 people gets 11%.

Full Beaufort County breakdown

County taxes36%

Property tax
22%$151 million
Sales tax
10%$69.0 million
Other taxes
3.3%$22.1 million
What's in other taxesOther licenses and other selective sales taxes
  • Other licenses$18.7 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$3.3 million

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services51%

Fees for services
51%$343 million
What's in fees for servicesHospital bills; other service charges and 4 more
  • Hospital bills$300 million
  • Other service charges$19.2 million
  • Garbage collection$9.9 million
  • Sewer$6.6 million
  • Airport$6.1 million
  • Parks and recreation$1.4 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money2.5%

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

From the federal government
2.5%$16.8 million

State tax money5.3%

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

From the state
5.3%$36.0 million

Fines and other5.8%

Interest, rents and other
5.6%$37.8 million
Fines
0.2%$1.5 million
Beaufort County page →

Where the money goes

Health and hospitals64%Running the government and other costs16%Police, fire, courts and jails10%Parks, recreation and libraries3.5%Water, sewer, trash and utilities2.8%All other spending3.4%

What stands out

64%

of Beaufort County's spending goes to health services and hospitals.A typical U.S. county of 50,000 to 250,000 people spends 5.7%.

Full Beaufort County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Health and hospitals
64%$303 million
What's in health and hospitalsHospitals and public health
  • Hospitals$288 million
  • Public health$14.8 million
Running the government and other costs
16%$75.4 million
What's in running the government and other costsCentral staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology); other and not broken out and 1 more
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$32.2 million
  • Other and not broken out$23.1 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$20.0 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
10%$49.2 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; courts and legal services and 2 more
  • Police$31.4 million
  • Courts and legal services$9.1 million
  • Prisons and jails$6.9 million
  • Inspections and regulation$1.8 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
3.5%$16.4 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$11.4 million
  • Libraries$5.0 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
2.8%$13.2 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste and sewer systems
  • Garbage and solid waste$10.2 million
  • Sewer systems$3.0 million
Roads, transit and parking
2.4%$11.2 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways; airports and 1 more
  • Roads and highways$6.0 million
  • Airports$5.2 million
  • Parking$19 thousand
Social services
0.6%$2.8 million
What's in social servicesWelfare institutions and other public welfare
  • Welfare institutions$2.1 million
  • Other public welfare$680 thousand
Interest on debt
0.4%$1.9 million
Beaufort County page →

Your city

City of Beaufort

$20.8 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2022.

Where the money comes from

City taxes64%County and local tax money11%Fees for services (sewer, garbage collection)11%Fines and other9.3%State tax money2.7%Federal tax money2.4%
Full Beaufort breakdown

What stands out

36%

of Beaufort's money comes from taxes other than property, sales and income taxes.A typical U.S. city of 10,000 to 50,000 people gets 6.1%.

City taxes64%

Other taxes
36%$11.0 million
What's in other taxesOccupation and business licenses; other taxes not classified elsewhere and 2 more
  • Occupation and business licenses$5.0 million
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$4.8 million
  • Other licenses$1.2 million
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$47 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Property tax
27%$8.2 million

Fees for services11%

Fees for services
11%$3.2 million
What's in fees for servicesSewer; garbage collection and 2 more
  • Sewer$1.2 million
  • Garbage collection$1.1 million
  • Parks and recreation$652 thousand
  • Parking$277 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money2.4%

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

From the federal government
2.4%$714 thousand

State tax money2.7%

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

From the state
2.7%$803 thousand

County and local tax money11%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
11%$3.4 million

Fines and other9.3%

Interest, rents and other
9.2%$2.8 million
Fines
0.2%$58 thousand
Beaufort page →

Where the money goes

Police, fire, courts and jails34%Running the government and other costs31%Parks, recreation and libraries11%Sent to other local governments11%Water, sewer, trash and utilities4.9%All other spending6.7%

What stands out

11%

of Beaufort's spending goes to local governments.Most U.S. cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people spend nothing on this.

Full Beaufort breakdown

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
34%$7.1 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 1 more
  • Police$5.0 million
  • Fire protection$1.7 million
  • Courts and legal services$449 thousand
Running the government and other costs
31%$6.5 million
What's in running the government and other costsCentral staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology); other and not broken out and 2 more
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$2.8 million
  • Other and not broken out$1.9 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$1.4 million
  • Government buildings$499 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
11%$2.4 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$2.4 million
Sent to other local governments
11%$2.3 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$2.3 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
4.9%$1.0 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste
  • Garbage and solid waste$1.0 million
Roads, transit and parking
3.5%$723 thousand
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$723 thousand
Interest on debt
3.2%$660 thousand
Beaufort 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.

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

City of Beaufort. 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.

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.

Not shown. Part of this ZIP is also served by Beaufort Marine Corps Air Station School District and Beaufort County School District within Beaufort Marine Corps Air Station, which are not matched to a finance record here.

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.