ZIP 35119 · Gardendale, AL

Five governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 35119: 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 or, for Alabama governments, the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts, as named under Sources and more.

Where do my taxes go in 35119?
35119 is served by the State of Alabama, Jefferson County, Jefferson County Board of Education, the City of Gardendale and the City of Fultondale. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of Alabama spent $44.6 billion (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023), Jefferson County spent $1.03 billion (fiscal year ended September 30, 2025), Jefferson County Board of Education spent $545 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2025), City of Gardendale spent $23.8 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023) and City of Fultondale spent $10.1 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2021). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 35119?
Of the governments serving 35119, State of Alabama collected $621 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023), Jefferson County collected $173 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2025), City of Gardendale collected $2.1 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023) and City of Fultondale collected $573 thousand (fiscal year ended September 30, 2021) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 35119.

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: Jefferson County, Gardendale, Fultondale and Jefferson County Board of Education

Why not this year? Alabama governments with newer filings show school system figures from the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts (for 2025). Figures for Jefferson County come from its own audited annual financial report. Each other 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 35119

State of Alabama$621 million

1.4% of its $45.4 billion in revenue · fiscal year ended September 30, 2023

Jefferson County$173 million

18% of its $970 million in revenue · fiscal year ended September 30, 2025

City of Gardendale$2.1 million

7.5% of its $28.5 million in revenue · fiscal year ended September 30, 2023 · estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

City of Fultondale$573 thousand

3.8% of its $15.1 million in revenue · fiscal year ended September 30, 2021 · estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

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

Jefferson County

$1.03 billion budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended September 30, 2025), from the county's own audited annual financial report.

Where the money comes from

County taxes53%Fees for services34%Grants from federal, state and local governments7.1%Fines and other6.0%
Full Jefferson County breakdown

County taxes53%

Sales tax
32%$311 million
Property tax
18%$173 million
Other taxes
2.8%$26.8 million

Fees for services34%

Fees for services
34%$331 million

Grants from federal, state and local governments7.1%

Grants from the federal government, the state and other local governments, which this government's report lists as one amount.

Grants from federal, state and local governments
7.1%$69.2 million

Fines and other6.0%

Interest, rents and other
5.9%$57.4 million
Fines
0.1%$1.2 million
Jefferson County page →

Where the money goes

Running the government and other costs26%Water, sewer, trash and utilities21%Debt payments (principal and interest)21%Police, fire, courts and jails12%Roads, transit and parking11%All other spending9.3%
Full Jefferson County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Running the government and other costs
26%$270 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
21%$217 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
21%$212 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
12%$126 million
Roads, transit and parking
11%$110 million
Social services
8.7%$90.1 million
Housing and community development
0.6%$6.0 million
Jefferson County page →

Your cities and towns

City of Gardendale

$23.8 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended September 30, 2023. Estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

About 43% of this ZIP is in Gardendale.

Where the money comes from

City taxes85%State tax money8.6%Fines and other4.1%Fees for services (parks and recreation)2.8%
Full Gardendale breakdown

What stands out

59%

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

City taxes85%

Sales tax
59%$16.7 million
Other taxes
18%$5.3 million
What's in other taxesOccupation and business licenses; public utility taxes and 1 more
  • Occupation and business licenses$2.8 million
  • Public utility taxes$2.1 million
  • Other licenses$305 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Property tax
7.5%$2.1 million

Fees for services2.8%

Fees for services
2.8%$800 thousand
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges and parks and recreation
  • Other service charges$540 thousand
  • Parks and recreation$260 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

State tax money8.6%

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

From the state
8.6%$2.4 million

Fines and other4.1%

Interest, rents and other
2.4%$690 thousand
Fines
1.7%$480 thousand
Gardendale page →

Where the money goes

Running the government and other costs37%Police, fire, courts and jails35%Parks, recreation and libraries13%Roads, transit and parking8.2%Interest on debt7.1%

What stands out

37%

of Gardendale'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 Gardendale breakdown

Spending by category100%

Running the government and other costs
37%$8.7 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out and central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)
  • Other and not broken out$4.5 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$4.2 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
35%$8.3 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
  • Police$4.2 million
  • Fire protection$3.1 million
  • Inspections and regulation$552 thousand
  • Courts and legal services$370 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
13%$3.1 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$2.4 million
  • Libraries$710 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
8.2%$2.0 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$2.0 million
Interest on debt
7.1%$1.7 million
Gardendale page →

City of Fultondale

$10.1 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended September 30, 2021. Estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

About 24% of this ZIP is in Fultondale.

Where the money comes from

City taxes97%Fines and other3.0%
Full Fultondale breakdown

What stands out

69%

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

City taxes97%

Sales tax
69%$10.3 million
Other taxes
25%$3.7 million
What's in other taxesOccupation and business licenses; other taxes not classified elsewhere and 5 more
  • Occupation and business licenses$1.9 million
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$1.4 million
  • Motor fuel taxes$170 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$115 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$61 thousand
  • Motor vehicle licenses$36 thousand
  • Tobacco taxes$7 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Property tax
3.8%$573 thousand

Fines and other3.0%

Interest, rents and other
2.0%$298 thousand
Fines
1.0%$153 thousand
Fultondale page →

Where the money goes

Police, fire, courts and jails40%Running the government and other costs23%Roads, transit and parking14%Parks, recreation and libraries14%Interest on debt7.8%Social services1.1%

What stands out

40%

of Fultondale'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 Fultondale breakdown

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
40%$4.1 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 3 more
  • Police$2.9 million
  • Fire protection$621 thousand
  • Courts and legal services$338 thousand
  • Inspections and regulation$184 thousand
  • Prisons and jails$15 thousand
Running the government and other costs
23%$2.3 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$1.1 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$874 thousand
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$391 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
14%$1.4 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$1.4 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
14%$1.4 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$906 thousand
  • Libraries$460 thousand
Interest on debt
7.8%$782 thousand
Social services
1.1%$109 thousand
What's in social servicesWelfare institutions
  • Welfare institutions$109 thousand
Fultondale page →

Your schools

Jefferson County Board of Education

$545 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended September 30, 2025), from the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts.

Where the money comes from

State tax money60%School district taxes30%Federal tax money11%
Full Jefferson County Board of Education breakdown

School district taxes30%

Local taxes and other local revenue
30%$173 million

Federal tax money11%

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

From the federal government
11%$61.2 million

State tax money60%

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

From the state
60%$345 million
Jefferson County Board of Education page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges96%Debt payments (principal and interest)3.6%
Full Jefferson County Board of Education breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
96%$525 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
3.6%$19.6 million
Jefferson County Board of Education page →

Your state

State of Alabama

$44.6 billion budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended September 30, 2023.

Where the money comes from

Federal tax money37%State taxes37%Fees for services (hospital bills, college tuition)19%Fines and other6.2%Local tax money0.5%

What stands out

19%

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

Full Alabama breakdown

State taxes37%

Individual income tax
12%$5.28 billion
Sales tax
10%$4.59 billion
Other taxes
9.2%$4.18 billion
What's in other taxesMotor fuel taxes; public utility taxes and 14 more
  • Motor fuel taxes$972 million
  • Public utility taxes$773 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$705 million
  • Insurance premium taxes$613 million
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$284 million
  • Motor vehicle licenses$230 million
  • Corporation licenses$219 million
  • Tobacco taxes$132 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$71.1 million
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$54.7 million
  • Driver's licenses$47.9 million
  • Severance taxes$38.3 million
  • Hunting and fishing licenses$25.4 million
  • Public utility licenses$14.7 million
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$4.6 million
  • Other licenses$1 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Business income tax
4.8%$2.18 billion
Property tax
1.4%$621 million

Fees for services19%

Fees for services
19%$8.53 billion
What's in fees for servicesHospital bills; college tuition and 11 more
  • Hospital bills$4.46 billion
  • College tuition$2.37 billion
  • University housing and dining$680 million
  • Liquor stores$530 million
  • Ports and waterways$197 million
  • Other service charges$141 million
  • Parks and recreation$59.2 million
  • Housing$46.4 million
  • Other education charges$29.7 million
  • Parks, land and natural resources$10.9 million
  • Garbage collection$9.0 million
  • Road charges$1.1 million
  • Parking$580 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money37%

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

From the federal government
37%$16.9 billion

Local tax money0.5%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From local governments
0.5%$224 million

Fines and other6.2%

Interest, rents and other
5.9%$2.66 billion
Fines
0.3%$148 million
Alabama page →

Where the money goes

Sent to local governments29%Schools and colleges22%Social services22%Health and hospitals12%Roads, transit and parking4.9%All other spending10%

What stands out

12%

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

Full Alabama breakdown

Spending by category100%

Sent to local governments
29%$12.7 billion
What's in sent to local governmentsSent to school districts; sent to local governments: hospitals and 17 more
  • Sent to school districts$8.98 billion
  • Sent to local governments: hospitals$1.00 billion
  • Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$847 million
  • Sent to local governments: general support$476 million
  • Sent to local governments: public health$310 million
  • Sent to local governments: other education$210 million
  • Sent to local governments: other public welfare$206 million
  • Sent to local governments: roads and highways$190 million
  • Sent to local governments: inspections and regulation$173 million
  • Sent to local governments: other government administration$131 million
  • Sent to local governments: natural resources, farming and conservation$50.8 million
  • Sent to local governments: airports$44.0 million
  • Sent to local governments: housing and community development$37.4 million
  • Sent to local governments: prisons and jails$28.9 million
  • Sent to local governments: parks and recreation$12.9 million
  • Sent to local governments: police$10.7 million
  • Sent to local governments: libraries$8.0 million
  • Sent to local governments: courts and legal services$3.2 million
  • Sent to local governments: probation, parole and other corrections$2.7 million
Schools and colleges
22%$10.0 billion
What's in schools and collegesColleges and universities; scholarships and other education subsidies and 2 more
  • Colleges and universities$7.33 billion
  • Scholarships and other education subsidies$1.13 billion
  • College housing, dining and bookstores$964 million
  • Other education$577 million
Social services
22%$9.87 billion
What's in social servicesOther public welfare; unemployment and social insurance offices and 2 more
  • Other public welfare$9.66 billion
  • Unemployment and social insurance offices$118 million
  • Welfare institutions$81.3 million
  • Veterans' services$12.8 million
Health and hospitals
12%$5.21 billion
What's in health and hospitalsHospitals and public health
  • Hospitals$4.64 billion
  • Public health$570 million
Roads, transit and parking
4.9%$2.18 billion
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways; ports and harbors and 1 more
  • Roads and highways$1.97 billion
  • Ports and harbors$207 million
  • Airports$813 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
3.7%$1.65 billion
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPrisons and jails; courts and legal services and 3 more
  • Prisons and jails$808 million
  • Courts and legal services$361 million
  • Police$240 million
  • Inspections and regulation$142 million
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$104 million
Running the government and other costs
3.5%$1.56 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$723 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$599 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$144 million
  • Other government administration$87.8 million
  • Government buildings$7.7 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
1.5%$657 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesLiquor stores and water supply
  • Liquor stores$657 million
  • Water supply$95 thousand
Interest on debt
0.7%$327 million
Environment and natural resources
0.6%$266 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$266 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.2%$89.2 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$79.9 million
  • Libraries$9.3 million
Housing and community development
0.1%$47.3 million
Alabama page →
Sources and moreEach government's source, fiscal year and how a ZIP is matched

State of Alabama. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended September 30, 2023.

Jefferson County. Jefferson County, Alabama, Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, fiscal year ended September 30, 2025, fiscal year ended September 30, 2025. The earlier Census figures are from U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended September 30, 2023.

Jefferson County Board of Education. Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts, audited Board of Education financial statements, fiscal year ended September 30, 2025, fiscal year ended September 30, 2025. The earlier Census figures are from U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended September 30, 2023.

City of Gardendale. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended September 30, 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 Fultondale. U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments, Finance, individual unit file, fiscal year ended September 30, 2021. Most of this government's figures were estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau from a sample; the government did not report them itself. The Census record for this government is from the 2022 survey, the newest on file.

How these figures are counted. Alabama school system figures are from each system's audited financial statements, as published by the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts, for the fiscal year ended September 30 (2025 for most systems). They cover governmental funds. The audit reports local taxes and other local revenue as one amount, so it is shown here as one line. Transfers between funds and borrowing are not counted, and spending includes construction. Spending is grouped as education and debt payments.

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.