ZIP 35968 · Fort Payne, AL

Five governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 35968: 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 35968?
35968 is served by the State of Alabama, De Kalb County, De Kalb County School District, the City of Fort Payne and Fort Payne City School District. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of Alabama spent $44.6 billion (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023), De Kalb County spent $33.8 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023), De Kalb County School District spent $124 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2025), City of Fort Payne spent $34.6 million (fiscal year ended October 31, 2023) and Fort Payne City School District spent $49.0 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 35968?
Of the governments serving 35968, State of Alabama collected $621 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023), De Kalb County collected $7.3 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023) and Fort Payne City School District collected $5.5 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 35968.

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: De Kalb County, Fort Payne, De Kalb County School District and Fort Payne 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 35968

State of Alabama$621 million

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

De Kalb County$7.3 million

20% of its $35.9 million in revenue · fiscal year ended September 30, 2023

Fort Payne City School District$5.5 million

10% of its $53.0 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

De Kalb County

$33.8 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended September 30, 2023.

Where the money comes from

County taxes33%State tax money31%Fines and other20%Federal tax money15%Local tax money2.1%
Full De Kalb County breakdown

What stands out

19%

of De Kalb 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 taxes33%

Property tax
20%$7.3 million
Sales tax
7.4%$2.7 million
Other taxes
4.9%$1.8 million
What's in other taxesMotor fuel taxes; tobacco taxes and 4 more
  • Motor fuel taxes$1.1 million
  • Tobacco taxes$366 thousand
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$245 thousand
  • Occupation and business licenses$42 thousand
  • Other licenses$18 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$7 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Federal tax money15%

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

From the federal government
15%$5.2 million

State tax money31%

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

From the state
31%$11.2 million

Local tax money2.1%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
2.1%$741 thousand

Fines and other20%

Interest, rents and other
19%$6.9 million
Fines
0.3%$93 thousand
De Kalb County page →

Where the money goes

Roads, transit and parking35%Running the government and other costs29%Police, fire, courts and jails28%Interest on debt4.2%Social services1.9%All other spending2.6%

What stands out

35%

of De Kalb County's spending goes to roads, transit and parking.A typical U.S. county of 50,000 to 250,000 people spends 8.9%.

Full De Kalb County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Roads, transit and parking
35%$11.8 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$11.8 million
Running the government and other costs
29%$9.7 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$3.8 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$2.3 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$2.1 million
  • Government buildings$1.5 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
28%$9.3 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice and prisons and jails
  • Police$5.7 million
  • Prisons and jails$3.6 million
Interest on debt
4.2%$1.4 million
Social services
1.9%$655 thousand
What's in social servicesWelfare institutions
  • Welfare institutions$655 thousand
Health and hospitals
1.5%$490 thousand
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$490 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
1.2%$401 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$228 thousand
  • Libraries$173 thousand
De Kalb County page →

Your city

City of Fort Payne

$34.6 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended October 31, 2023.

About 16% of this ZIP is in Fort Payne.

Where the money comes from

City taxes60%Fees for services (water, garbage collection)31%Fines and other5.3%State tax money3.1%
Full Fort Payne breakdown

What stands out

46%

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

City taxes60%

Sales tax
46%$20.3 million
Other taxes
14%$6.4 million
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; occupation and business licenses and 3 more
  • Other selective sales taxes$3.8 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$1.5 million
  • Motor fuel taxes$585 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$394 thousand
  • Tobacco taxes$116 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services31%

Fees for services
31%$13.8 million
What's in fees for servicesWater; garbage collection and 4 more
  • Water$6.9 million
  • Garbage collection$3.1 million
  • Sewer$2.7 million
  • Airport$570 thousand
  • Parks and recreation$362 thousand
  • Other government-run businesses$60 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

State tax money3.1%

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

From the state
3.1%$1.4 million

Fines and other5.3%

Interest, rents and other
4.2%$1.8 million
Fines
1.1%$484 thousand
Fort Payne page →

Where the money goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities31%Police, fire, courts and jails28%Roads, transit and parking18%Running the government and other costs10%Parks, recreation and libraries6.4%Interest on debt6.1%

What stands out

18%

of Fort Payne's spending goes to roads, transit and parking.A typical U.S. city of 10,000 to 50,000 people spends 10%.

Full Fort Payne breakdown

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
31%$10.6 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply; garbage and solid waste and 1 more
  • Water supply$4.7 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$3.6 million
  • Sewer systems$2.4 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
28%$9.7 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsFire protection; police and 2 more
  • Fire protection$4.4 million
  • Police$4.2 million
  • Courts and legal services$594 thousand
  • Inspections and regulation$553 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
18%$6.4 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and airports
  • Roads and highways$5.6 million
  • Airports$751 thousand
Running the government and other costs
10%$3.6 million
What's in running the government and other costsFinance, tax collection and budgeting; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 1 more
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$1.6 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$1.4 million
  • Government buildings$544 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
6.4%$2.2 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$2.2 million
Interest on debt
6.1%$2.1 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$1.8 million
  • Interest on water supply debt$263 thousand
Fort Payne page →

Your schools

De Kalb County School District

$124 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended September 30, 2025), from the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts.

About 85% of this ZIP is in De Kalb County School District.

Where the money comes from

State tax money72%School district taxes17%Federal tax money11%
Full De Kalb County School District breakdown

School district taxes17%

Local taxes and other local revenue
17%$25.0 million

Federal tax money11%

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

From the federal government
11%$16.2 million

State tax money72%

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

From the state
72%$107 million
De Kalb County School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges99%Debt payments (principal and interest)1.1%
Full De Kalb County School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
99%$123 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
1.1%$1.4 million
De Kalb County School District page →

Fort Payne City School District

$49.0 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended September 30, 2023.

About 16% of this ZIP is in Fort Payne City School District.

Where the money comes from

State tax money78%School district taxes10%County and local tax money4.7%Fines and other4.0%Fees for services (school lunches)3.1%Federal tax money0.2%
Full Fort Payne City School District breakdown

What stands out

10%

of Fort Payne City School District's money comes from property tax.A typical school district with fewer than 5,000 students gets 28%.

School district taxes10%

Property tax
10%$5.5 million
Other taxes
<0.1%$3 thousand
What's in other taxesOther taxes not classified elsewhere
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$3 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services3.1%

Fees for services
3.1%$1.7 million
What's in fees for servicesOther school charges and school lunches
  • Other school charges$1.4 million
  • School lunches$244 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%$128 thousand

State tax money78%

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

From the state
78%$41.1 million

County and local tax money4.7%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
4.7%$2.5 million

Fines and other4.0%

Interest, rents and other
4.0%$2.1 million
Fines
<0.1%$1 thousand
Fort Payne City School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges100%Sent to other local governments0.3%Interest on debt0.2%
Full Fort Payne City School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
100%$48.7 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
  • Elementary and secondary schools$48.7 million
Sent to other local governments
0.3%$161 thousand
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to school districts
  • Sent to school districts$161 thousand
Interest on debt
0.2%$83 thousand
Fort Payne 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.

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

De Kalb 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.

City of Fort Payne. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended October 31, 2023.

Fort Payne 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.

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.