ZIP 36272 · Cherokee County, AL

Seven governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 36272: 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 36272?
36272 is served by the State of Alabama, Cherokee County, Cherokee County School District, Calhoun County, Piedmont City School District, Calhoun County School District and Cleburne County. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of Alabama spent $44.6 billion (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023), Cherokee County spent $32.7 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023), Cherokee County School District spent $66.5 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2025), Calhoun County spent $47.9 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023), Piedmont City School District spent $15.3 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023), Calhoun County School District spent $115 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2025) and Cleburne County spent $11.6 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2021). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 36272?
Of the governments serving 36272, State of Alabama collected $621 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023), Calhoun County collected $15.3 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023), Cherokee County collected $4.5 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023), Cleburne County collected $1.8 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2021) and Piedmont City School District collected $1.2 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 36272.

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: Cherokee County, Calhoun County, Cleburne County and Cherokee County 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 36272

State of Alabama$621 million

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

Calhoun County$15.3 million

20% of its $75.7 million in revenue · fiscal year ended September 30, 2023

Cherokee County$4.5 million

12% of its $38.7 million in revenue · fiscal year ended September 30, 2023

Cleburne County$1.8 million

14% of its $13.1 million in revenue · fiscal year ended September 30, 2021 · estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

Piedmont City School District$1.2 million

6.4% of its $18.2 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 counties

This ZIP is outside any city or town, so Cherokee County, Calhoun County and Cleburne County provides local services like police and parks.

Cherokee County

$32.7 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended September 30, 2023.

About 42% of this ZIP is in Cherokee County.

Where the money comes from

Fees for services50%County taxes34%Fines and other7.1%Local tax money5.5%Federal tax money3.6%State tax money0.2%

What stands out

50%

of Cherokee County's money comes from fees for services such as water, sewer and parking.A typical U.S. county of under 50,000 people gets 8.4%.

Full Cherokee County breakdown

County taxes34%

Sales tax
16%$6.3 million
Property tax
12%$4.5 million
Other taxes
6.1%$2.4 million
What's in other taxesMotor fuel taxes; motor vehicle licenses and 2 more
  • Motor fuel taxes$2.2 million
  • Motor vehicle licenses$125 thousand
  • Occupation and business licenses$85 thousand
  • Other licenses$3 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services50%

Fees for services
50%$19.2 million
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges
  • Other service charges$19.2 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money3.6%

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

From the federal government
3.6%$1.4 million

State tax money0.2%

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

From the state
0.2%$74 thousand

Local tax money5.5%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
5.5%$2.1 million

Fines and other7.1%

Interest, rents and other
7.0%$2.7 million
Fines
0.1%$46 thousand
Cherokee County page →

Where the money goes

Social services52%Police, fire, courts and jails20%Roads, transit and parking18%Running the government and other costs6.8%Parks, recreation and libraries1.7%All other spending1.5%

What stands out

52%

of Cherokee County's spending goes to social services.Most U.S. counties of under 50,000 people spend nothing on this.

Full Cherokee County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Social services
52%$16.9 million
What's in social servicesWelfare institutions and other public welfare
  • Welfare institutions$16.7 million
  • Other public welfare$192 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
20%$6.6 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; prisons and jails and 1 more
  • Police$3.3 million
  • Prisons and jails$2.7 million
  • Courts and legal services$656 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
18%$5.9 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and airports
  • Roads and highways$5.9 million
  • Airports$13 thousand
Running the government and other costs
6.8%$2.2 million
What's in running the government and other costsFinance, tax collection and budgeting and central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$2.0 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$248 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
1.7%$557 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$315 thousand
  • Libraries$242 thousand
Interest on debt
1.5%$488 thousand
Environment and natural resources
<0.1%$13 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$13 thousand
Cherokee County page →

Calhoun County

$47.9 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended September 30, 2023.

About 33% of this ZIP is in Calhoun County.

Where the money comes from

County taxes32%State tax money27%Fines and other22%Fees for services (garbage collection, road charges)12%Federal tax money7.2%
Full Calhoun County breakdown

What stands out

22%

of Calhoun 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 taxes32%

Property tax
20%$15.3 million
Sales tax
7.4%$5.6 million
Other taxes
4.8%$3.7 million
What's in other taxesOther licenses and other selective sales taxes
  • Other licenses$2.4 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$1.3 million

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services12%

Fees for services
12%$9.2 million
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges; garbage collection and 1 more
  • Other service charges$5.5 million
  • Garbage collection$3.6 million
  • Road charges$138 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money7.2%

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

From the federal government
7.2%$5.4 million

State tax money27%

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

From the state
27%$20.1 million

Fines and other22%

Interest, rents and other
22%$16.5 million
Calhoun County page →

Where the money goes

Police, fire, courts and jails44%Running the government and other costs24%Roads, transit and parking21%Water, sewer, trash and utilities7.3%Parks, recreation and libraries2.0%All other spending1.8%

What stands out

44%

of Calhoun 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 Calhoun County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
44%$21.1 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; prisons and jails and 2 more
  • Police$10.7 million
  • Prisons and jails$4.2 million
  • Courts and legal services$4.1 million
  • Fire protection$2.0 million
Running the government and other costs
24%$11.6 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$4.6 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$3.7 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$3.4 million
Roads, transit and parking
21%$9.9 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$9.9 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
7.3%$3.5 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste
  • Garbage and solid waste$3.5 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
2.0%$975 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$975 thousand
Health and hospitals
1.1%$538 thousand
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$538 thousand
Interest on debt
0.4%$184 thousand
Social services
0.3%$126 thousand
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$126 thousand
Calhoun County page →

Cleburne County

$11.6 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended September 30, 2021. Estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

About 20% of this ZIP is in Cleburne County.

Where the money comes from

State tax money57%County taxes23%Fines and other12%Fees for services (road charges)7.5%

What stands out

57%

of Cleburne County's money comes from state tax money.A typical U.S. county of under 50,000 people gets 23%.

Full Cleburne County breakdown

County taxes23%

Property tax
14%$1.8 million
Sales tax
6.1%$800 thousand
Other taxes
3.4%$451 thousand
What's in other taxesTobacco taxes; alcoholic beverage taxes and 4 more
  • Tobacco taxes$175 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$101 thousand
  • Other selective sales taxes$101 thousand
  • Motor vehicle licenses$71 thousand
  • Other licenses$2 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$1 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services7.5%

Fees for services
7.5%$982 thousand
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges and road charges
  • Other service charges$954 thousand
  • Road charges$28 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

State tax money57%

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

From the state
57%$7.5 million

Fines and other12%

Interest, rents and other
12%$1.5 million
Fines
0.2%$26 thousand
Cleburne County page →

Where the money goes

Roads, transit and parking50%Police, fire, courts and jails27%Running the government and other costs18%Water, sewer, trash and utilities2.8%Parks, recreation and libraries1.1%All other spending0.8%

What stands out

50%

of Cleburne County's spending goes to roads, transit and parking.A typical U.S. county of under 50,000 people spends 16%.

Full Cleburne County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Roads, transit and parking
50%$5.8 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$5.8 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
27%$3.1 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice and courts and legal services
  • Police$2.6 million
  • Courts and legal services$519 thousand
Running the government and other costs
18%$2.1 million
What's in running the government and other costsFinance, tax collection and budgeting; other and not broken out and 2 more
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$1.3 million
  • Other and not broken out$370 thousand
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$259 thousand
  • Government buildings$121 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
2.8%$326 thousand
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste
  • Garbage and solid waste$326 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
1.1%$122 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$122 thousand
Social services
0.6%$71 thousand
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$71 thousand
Interest on debt
0.2%$27 thousand
Cleburne County page →

Your schools

Cherokee County School District

$66.5 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended September 30, 2025), from the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts.

About 42% of this ZIP is in Cherokee County School District.

Where the money comes from

State tax money60%School district taxes28%Federal tax money12%
Full Cherokee County School District breakdown

School district taxes28%

Local taxes and other local revenue
28%$18.4 million

Federal tax money12%

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

From the federal government
12%$7.7 million

State tax money60%

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

From the state
60%$39.0 million
Cherokee County School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges95%Debt payments (principal and interest)4.6%
Full Cherokee County School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
95%$63.5 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
4.6%$3.0 million
Cherokee County School District page →

Piedmont City School District

$15.3 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended September 30, 2023.

About 24% of this ZIP is in Piedmont City School District.

Where the money comes from

State tax money78%County and local tax money7.4%School district taxes6.4%Fines and other6.0%Fees for services (school lunches)2.2%Federal tax money<0.1%
Full Piedmont City School District breakdown

What stands out

6.4%

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

School district taxes6.4%

Property tax
6.4%$1.2 million
Other taxes
<0.1%$2 thousand
What's in other taxesOther taxes not classified elsewhere
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$2 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services2.2%

Fees for services
2.2%$404 thousand
What's in fees for servicesOther school charges and school lunches
  • Other school charges$373 thousand
  • School lunches$31 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%$11 thousand

State tax money78%

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

From the state
78%$14.2 million

County and local tax money7.4%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
7.4%$1.3 million

Fines and other6.0%

Interest, rents and other
6.0%$1.1 million
Piedmont City School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges100%Interest on debt0.2%

What stands out

100%

of Piedmont City School District's spending goes to schools and colleges.A typical school district with fewer than 5,000 students spends 97%.

Full Piedmont City School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
100%$15.3 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
  • Elementary and secondary schools$15.3 million
Interest on debt
0.2%$28 thousand
Sent to other local governments
<0.1%$7 thousand
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to school districts
  • Sent to school districts$7 thousand
Piedmont City School District page →

Calhoun County School District

$115 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended September 30, 2025), from the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts.

About 21% of this ZIP is in Calhoun County School District.

Where the money comes from

State tax money65%School district taxes25%Federal tax money10%
Full Calhoun County School District breakdown

School district taxes25%

Local taxes and other local revenue
25%$31.0 million

Federal tax money10%

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

From the federal government
10%$12.2 million

State tax money65%

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

From the state
65%$79.4 million
Calhoun County School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges97%Debt payments (principal and interest)2.5%
Full Calhoun County School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
97%$112 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
2.5%$2.9 million
Calhoun County 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.

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

Cherokee 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.

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

Piedmont 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.

Calhoun 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.

Cleburne County. 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.