ZIP 35611 · Athens, AL

Five governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 35611: 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 35611?
35611 is served by the State of Alabama, Limestone County, Limestone County School District, Athens City School District and the City of Athens. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of Alabama spent $44.6 billion (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023), Limestone County spent $34.1 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2021), Limestone County School District spent $185 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2025), Athens City School District spent $84.2 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023) and City of Athens spent $199 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 35611?
Of the governments serving 35611, State of Alabama collected $621 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023), Limestone County collected $17.1 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2021), City of Athens collected $5.8 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023) and Athens City School District collected $5.7 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 35611.

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: Limestone County, Athens, Limestone County School District and Athens City School District

Why not this year? Alabama governments with newer filings show school system figures from the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts (for 2025). 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 35611

State of Alabama$621 million

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

Limestone County$17.1 million

33% of its $51.0 million in revenue · fiscal year ended September 30, 2021

City of Athens$5.8 million

2.8% of its $208 million in revenue · fiscal year ended September 30, 2023 · estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

Athens City School District$5.7 million

5.9% of its $96.5 million in revenue · fiscal year ended September 30, 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

Limestone County

$34.1 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended September 30, 2021.

Where the money comes from

County taxes43%State tax money36%Fees for services (garbage collection, parks and recreation)12%Fines and other6.4%Federal tax money3.3%

What stands out

36%

of Limestone County's money comes from state tax money.A typical U.S. county of 50,000 to 250,000 people gets 22%.

Full Limestone County breakdown

County taxes43%

Property tax
33%$17.1 million
Other taxes
6.7%$3.4 million
What's in other taxesOther taxes not classified elsewhere; motor fuel taxes and 1 more
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$1.7 million
  • Motor fuel taxes$1.4 million
  • Other licenses$332 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Sales tax
2.5%$1.3 million

Fees for services12%

Fees for services
12%$6.0 million
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges; garbage collection and 2 more
  • Other service charges$5.4 million
  • Garbage collection$388 thousand
  • Parks and recreation$212 thousand
  • Road charges$61 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money3.3%

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

From the federal government
3.3%$1.7 million

State tax money36%

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

From the state
36%$18.3 million

Fines and other6.4%

Interest, rents and other
6.4%$3.3 million
Limestone County page →

Where the money goes

Police, fire, courts and jails44%Running the government and other costs25%Roads, transit and parking19%Health and hospitals3.3%Sent to other local governments3.1%All other spending6.1%

What stands out

44%

of Limestone County's spending goes to police, fire, courts and jails.A typical U.S. county of 50,000 to 250,000 people spends 25%.

Full Limestone County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
44%$15.0 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; prisons and jails and 2 more
  • Police$7.8 million
  • Prisons and jails$3.1 million
  • Courts and legal services$2.7 million
  • Fire protection$1.5 million
Running the government and other costs
25%$8.4 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$3.8 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$2.4 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$2.2 million
Roads, transit and parking
19%$6.5 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$6.5 million
Health and hospitals
3.3%$1.1 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$1.1 million
Sent to other local governments
3.1%$1.0 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$1.0 million
Social services
2.9%$986 thousand
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$986 thousand
Interest on debt
1.6%$547 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
1.2%$407 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$407 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
0.4%$134 thousand
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste
  • Garbage and solid waste$134 thousand
Limestone County page →

Your city

City of Athens

$199 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended September 30, 2023. Estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

About 17% of this ZIP is in Athens.

Where the money comes from

Fees for services (electric power, water)80%City taxes16%Fines and other2.8%State tax money1.1%

What stands out

80%

of Athens' money comes from fees for services such as water, sewer and parking.A typical U.S. city of 10,000 to 50,000 people gets 30%.

Full Athens breakdown

City taxes16%

Sales tax
10%$21.8 million
Property tax
2.8%$5.8 million
Other taxes
2.8%$5.7 million
What's in other taxesOther licenses; alcoholic beverage taxes and 3 more
  • Other licenses$3.2 million
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$1.1 million
  • Motor fuel taxes$837 thousand
  • Tobacco taxes$558 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$52 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services80%

Fees for services
80%$167 million
What's in fees for servicesElectric power; water and 2 more
  • Electric power$130 million
  • Water$15.3 million
  • Gas$14.7 million
  • Other service charges$7.2 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

State tax money1.1%

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

From the state
1.1%$2.3 million

Fines and other2.8%

Interest, rents and other
2.4%$5.0 million
Fines
0.3%$726 thousand
Athens page →

Where the money goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities74%Roads, transit and parking9.2%Police, fire, courts and jails5.5%Running the government and other costs4.2%Sent to other local governments3.1%All other spending3.8%

What stands out

74%

of Athens' spending goes to water, sewer, trash and other utilities.A typical U.S. city of 10,000 to 50,000 people spends 24%.

Full Athens breakdown

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
74%$148 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesElectric power; gas supply and 2 more
  • Electric power$123 million
  • Gas supply$10.9 million
  • Water supply$10.0 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$3.9 million
Roads, transit and parking
9.2%$18.4 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$18.4 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
5.5%$11.0 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 1 more
  • Police$6.3 million
  • Fire protection$4.7 million
  • Courts and legal services$8 thousand
Running the government and other costs
4.2%$8.5 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)$4.4 million
  • Other and not broken out$2.7 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$1.3 million
Sent to other local governments
3.1%$6.2 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$6.2 million
Interest on debt
2.5%$4.9 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt; interest on water supply debt and 2 more
  • Interest on general debt$3.3 million
  • Interest on water supply debt$838 thousand
  • Interest on electric power debt$656 thousand
  • Interest on gas supply debt$99 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
1.3%$2.6 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$2.4 million
  • Libraries$181 thousand
Athens page →

Your schools

Limestone County School District

$185 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended September 30, 2025), from the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts.

About 83% of this ZIP is in Limestone County School District.

Where the money comes from

State tax money71%School district taxes24%Federal tax money5.5%
Full Limestone County School District breakdown

School district taxes24%

Local taxes and other local revenue
24%$49.5 million

Federal tax money5.5%

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

From the federal government
5.5%$11.5 million

State tax money71%

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

From the state
71%$147 million
Limestone County School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges97%Debt payments (principal and interest)3.3%
Full Limestone County School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
97%$179 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
3.3%$6.2 million
Limestone County School District page →

Athens City School District

$84.2 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended September 30, 2023.

About 17% of this ZIP is in Athens City School District.

Where the money comes from

State tax money55%County and local tax money31%School district taxes5.9%Fines and other5.4%Fees for services (school lunches, school tuition and transportation)2.5%Federal tax money0.2%

What stands out

31%

of Athens City School District's money comes from county and other local tax money.A typical school district with fewer than 5,000 students gets 1.1%.

Full Athens City School District breakdown

School district taxes5.9%

Property tax
5.9%$5.7 million
Other taxes
<0.1%$4 thousand
What's in other taxesOther taxes not classified elsewhere
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$4 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services2.5%

Fees for services
2.5%$2.4 million
What's in fees for servicesOther school charges; school lunches and 1 more
  • Other school charges$1.6 million
  • School lunches$589 thousand
  • School tuition and transportation$264 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money0.2%

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

From the federal government
0.2%$166 thousand

State tax money55%

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

From the state
55%$53.4 million

County and local tax money31%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
31%$29.6 million

Fines and other5.4%

Interest, rents and other
5.4%$5.2 million
Fines
<0.1%$1 thousand
Athens City School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges96%Interest on debt3.2%Sent to other local governments0.3%
Full Athens City School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
96%$81.2 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
  • Elementary and secondary schools$81.2 million
Interest on debt
3.2%$2.7 million
Sent to other local governments
0.3%$294 thousand
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to school districts
  • Sent to school districts$294 thousand
Athens City School District 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.

Limestone County. U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments, Finance, individual unit file, fiscal year ended September 30, 2021. The Census record for this government is from the 2022 survey, the newest on file.

Limestone County School District. 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.

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

City of Athens. 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.

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.