ZIP 31605 · Valdosta, GA

Five governments run on your community's money

From the state down to your schools: where each one's money comes from and goes.

Yearly budgets from each government's latest fiscal year on record. Tap one to jump to it.

Your state

State of Georgia

$70.7 billion budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

Where the money comes from

State taxes50%Federal tax money38%Fees for services (college tuition, university housing and dining)7.1%Fines and other4.7%Local tax money<0.1%
Full Georgia breakdown

What stands out

24%

of Georgia's money comes from a personal income tax.A typical state government gets 14%.

State taxes50%

Individual income tax
24%$16.0 billion
Sales tax
13%$9.01 billion
Other taxes
6.1%$4.13 billion
What's in other taxesMotor fuel taxes; insurance premium taxes and 11 more
  • Motor fuel taxes$1.76 billion
  • Insurance premium taxes$562 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$535 million
  • Motor vehicle licenses$409 million
  • Tobacco taxes$226 million
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$224 million
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$203 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$85.3 million
  • Corporation licenses$57.2 million
  • Driver's licenses$34.8 million
  • Hunting and fishing licenses$29.0 million
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$5.0 million
  • Other licenses$452 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Business income tax
5.4%$3.61 billion
Property tax
1.3%$863 million

Fees for services7.1%

Fees for services
7.1%$4.77 billion
What's in fees for servicesCollege tuition; university housing and dining and 11 more
  • College tuition$1.85 billion
  • University housing and dining$803 million
  • Ports and waterways$699 million
  • Other service charges$617 million
  • Hospital bills$374 million
  • Parks and recreation$178 million
  • Tolls on roads and bridges$76.6 million
  • Other education charges$72.8 million
  • Parks, land and natural resources$68.1 million
  • Road charges$28.0 million
  • Housing$4.3 million
  • Transit fares$2.0 million
  • Airport$10 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money38%

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

From the federal government
38%$25.6 billion

Local tax money<0.1%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From local governments
<0.1%$60.4 million

Fines and other4.7%

Interest, rents and other
4.6%$3.10 billion
Fines
<0.1%$57.5 million
Georgia page →

Where the money goes

Social services27%Sent to local governments25%Schools and colleges20%Roads, transit and parking7.8%Running the government and other costs7.0%All other spending14%

What stands out

20%

of Georgia's spending goes to schools and colleges.A typical state government spends 15%.

Full Georgia breakdown

Spending by category100%

Social services
27%$19.1 billion
What's in social servicesOther public welfare; unemployment and social insurance offices and 2 more
  • Other public welfare$19.0 billion
  • Unemployment and social insurance offices$39.6 million
  • Veterans' services$24.3 million
  • Welfare institutions$23.4 million
Sent to local governments
25%$17.9 billion
What's in sent to local governmentsSent to school districts; sent to local governments: finance, tax collection and budgeting and 17 more
  • Sent to school districts$14.3 billion
  • Sent to local governments: finance, tax collection and budgeting$850 million
  • Sent to local governments: public health$708 million
  • Sent to local governments: other public welfare$603 million
  • Sent to local governments: roads and highways$523 million
  • Sent to local governments: hospitals$271 million
  • Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$243 million
  • Sent to local governments: airports$71.4 million
  • Sent to local governments: housing and community development$56.3 million
  • Sent to local governments: police$52.0 million
  • Sent to local governments: libraries$47.4 million
  • Sent to local governments: courts and legal services$40.4 million
  • Sent to local governments: probation, parole and other corrections$36.8 million
  • Sent to local governments: natural resources, farming and conservation$26.2 million
  • Sent to local governments: inspections and regulation$3.5 million
  • Sent to local governments: other education$2.5 million
  • Sent to local governments: other government administration$599 thousand
  • Sent to local governments: central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$449 thousand
  • Sent to local governments: prisons and jails$114 thousand
Schools and colleges
20%$13.8 billion
What's in schools and collegesColleges and universities; other education and 2 more
  • Colleges and universities$7.45 billion
  • Other education$3.70 billion
  • Scholarships and other education subsidies$1.73 billion
  • College housing, dining and bookstores$966 million
Roads, transit and parking
7.8%$5.51 billion
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways; ports and harbors and 3 more
  • Roads and highways$4.54 billion
  • Ports and harbors$862 million
  • Public transit$53.0 million
  • Toll roads and bridges$50.4 million
  • Airports$6.2 million
Running the government and other costs
7.0%$4.93 billion
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 3 more
  • Other and not broken out$3.00 billion
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$1.03 billion
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$761 million
  • Government buildings$88.7 million
  • Other government administration$47.7 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
6.0%$4.27 billion
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPrisons and jails; inspections and regulation and 3 more
  • Prisons and jails$1.49 billion
  • Inspections and regulation$954 million
  • Police$672 million
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$575 million
  • Courts and legal services$575 million
Health and hospitals
4.2%$2.96 billion
What's in health and hospitalsHospitals and public health
  • Hospitals$1.53 billion
  • Public health$1.43 billion
Environment and natural resources
1.1%$766 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$766 million
Interest on debt
0.9%$631 million
Housing and community development
0.8%$595 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.4%$307 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$290 million
  • Libraries$16.8 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
<0.1%$26.4 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste and sewer systems
  • Garbage and solid waste$17.1 million
  • Sewer systems$9.3 million
Georgia page →

Your county

Lowndes County

$179 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

Where the money comes from

County taxes54%Fees for services (sewer, airport)18%Federal tax money13%Fines and other8.4%Local tax money4.1%State tax money3.0%
Full Lowndes County breakdown

What stands out

22%

of Lowndes County's money comes from sales tax.A typical U.S. county of 50,000 to 250,000 people gets 4.2%.

County taxes54%

Property tax
30%$49.0 million
Sales tax
22%$36.1 million
Other taxes
2.3%$3.8 million
What's in other taxesInsurance premium taxes; other selective sales taxes and 6 more
  • Insurance premium taxes$1.1 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$1.1 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$719 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$447 thousand
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$200 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$153 thousand
  • Public utility taxes$119 thousand
  • Other licenses$5 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services18%

Fees for services
18%$30.2 million
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges; sewer and 3 more
  • Other service charges$19.3 million
  • Sewer$9.5 million
  • Airport$798 thousand
  • Road charges$617 thousand
  • Water$10 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money13%

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

From the federal government
13%$20.9 million

State tax money3.0%

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

From the state
3.0%$5.0 million

Local tax money4.1%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
4.1%$6.8 million

Fines and other8.4%

Interest, rents and other
8.4%$13.9 million
Lowndes County page →

Where the money goes

Running the government and other costs37%Police, fire, courts and jails22%Sent to other local governments17%Roads, transit and parking8.0%Water, sewer, trash and utilities7.0%All other spending8.4%

What stands out

17%

of Lowndes County's spending goes to local governments.Most U.S. counties of 50,000 to 250,000 people spend nothing on this.

Full Lowndes County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Running the government and other costs
37%$66.8 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$42.3 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$11.5 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$7.0 million
  • Government buildings$6.0 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
22%$38.8 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; prisons and jails and 3 more
  • Police$15.9 million
  • Prisons and jails$11.7 million
  • Courts and legal services$9.1 million
  • Inspections and regulation$1.6 million
  • Fire protection$402 thousand
Sent to other local governments
17%$31.1 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$31.1 million
Roads, transit and parking
8.0%$14.3 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and airports
  • Roads and highways$13.2 million
  • Airports$1.1 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
7.0%$12.6 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems; electric power and 1 more
  • Sewer systems$12.4 million
  • Electric power$206 thousand
  • Water supply$16 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
6.1%$10.8 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$9.6 million
  • Libraries$1.2 million
Health and hospitals
1.4%$2.5 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$2.5 million
Interest on debt
0.7%$1.3 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$1.3 million
  • Interest on water supply debt$1 thousand
Environment and natural resources
0.1%$217 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$217 thousand
Lowndes County page →

Your city

City of Valdosta

$99.4 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

About 14% of this ZIP is in Valdosta.

Where the money comes from

Fees for services (sewer, water)30%City taxes29%County and local tax money25%Federal tax money11%Fines and other4.5%State tax money0.3%

What stands out

25%

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

Full Valdosta breakdown

City taxes29%

Property tax
15%$17.8 million
Other taxes
14%$16.3 million
What's in other taxesInsurance premium taxes; public utility taxes and 6 more
  • Insurance premium taxes$4.9 million
  • Public utility taxes$4.0 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$3.5 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$2.4 million
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$910 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$448 thousand
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$177 thousand
  • Other licenses$10 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services30%

Fees for services
30%$35.9 million
What's in fees for servicesSewer; water and 4 more
  • Sewer$19.8 million
  • Water$6.7 million
  • Garbage collection$6.4 million
  • Transit fares$1.9 million
  • Other service charges$682 thousand
  • Road charges$302 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money11%

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

From the federal government
11%$13.0 million

State tax money0.3%

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

From the state
0.3%$311 thousand

County and local tax money25%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
25%$30.0 million

Fines and other4.5%

Interest, rents and other
4.0%$4.7 million
Fines
0.5%$601 thousand
Valdosta page →

Where the money goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities42%Police, fire, courts and jails27%Running the government and other costs16%Roads, transit and parking10%Interest on debt2.0%All other spending3.8%

What stands out

42%

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

Full Valdosta breakdown

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
42%$41.3 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems; garbage and solid waste and 1 more
  • Sewer systems$19.2 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$13.8 million
  • Water supply$8.4 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
27%$26.4 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
  • Police$15.7 million
  • Fire protection$9.7 million
  • Courts and legal services$719 thousand
  • Prisons and jails$236 thousand
Running the government and other costs
16%$15.9 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 3 more
  • Other and not broken out$9.9 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$2.5 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$2.3 million
  • Other government-run businesses$660 thousand
  • Government buildings$467 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
10%$9.9 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$9.9 million
Interest on debt
2.0%$2.0 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$1.6 million
  • Interest on water supply debt$427 thousand
Sent to other local governments
1.8%$1.8 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$1.8 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
1.8%$1.8 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$1.8 million
Housing and community development
0.2%$197 thousand
Valdosta page →

Your schools

Lowndes County School District

$155 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

About 86% of this ZIP is in Lowndes County School District.

Where the money comes from

State tax money60%School district taxes30%Fines and other3.7%Fees for services (school lunches, school tuition and transportation)3.1%County and local tax money2.6%Federal tax money0.5%
Full Lowndes County School District breakdown

What stands out

11%

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

School district taxes30%

Property tax
19%$33.7 million
Sales tax
11%$18.7 million

Fees for services3.1%

Fees for services
3.1%$5.3 million
What's in fees for servicesOther school charges; school lunches and 1 more
  • Other school charges$4.1 million
  • School lunches$985 thousand
  • School tuition and transportation$210 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%$814 thousand

State tax money60%

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

From the state
60%$103 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%$4.5 million

Fines and other3.7%

Interest, rents and other
3.7%$6.5 million
Lowndes County School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges99%Interest on debt0.5%

What stands out

99%

of Lowndes County School District's spending goes to schools and colleges.A typical school district with 5,000 to 25,000 students spends 96%.

Full Lowndes County School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
99%$154 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
  • Elementary and secondary schools$154 million
Interest on debt
0.5%$749 thousand
Sent to other local governments
<0.1%$70 thousand
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to school districts
  • Sent to school districts$70 thousand
Lowndes County School District page →

Valdosta Independent School District

$135 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

About 14% of this ZIP is in Valdosta Independent School District.

Where the money comes from

State tax money64%School district taxes30%Fines and other3.0%County and local tax money1.7%Fees for services (school lunches)1.6%Federal tax money<0.1%
Full Valdosta Independent School District breakdown

What stands out

10%

of Valdosta Independent School District's money comes from sales tax.Most school districts with 5,000 to 25,000 students get none.

School district taxes30%

Property tax
19%$26.7 million
Sales tax
10%$14.1 million

Fees for services1.6%

Fees for services
1.6%$2.2 million
What's in fees for servicesOther school charges and school lunches
  • Other school charges$1.8 million
  • School lunches$416 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%$84 thousand

State tax money64%

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

From the state
64%$87.5 million

County and local tax money1.7%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
1.7%$2.3 million

Fines and other3.0%

Interest, rents and other
3.0%$4.0 million
Valdosta Independent School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges99%Interest on debt1.5%
Full Valdosta Independent School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
99%$133 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
  • Elementary and secondary schools$133 million
Interest on debt
1.5%$2.0 million
Valdosta Independent School District page →
Sources and moreEach government's source, fiscal year and how a ZIP is matched

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

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

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

Valdosta Independent School District. 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.