ZIP 36303 · Dothan, AL

Six governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 36303: 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 36303?
36303 is served by the State of Alabama, Houston County, Dothan City School District, the City of Dothan, Houston County School District and the Town of Kinsey. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of Alabama spent $44.6 billion (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023), Houston County spent $56.8 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023), Dothan City School District spent $125 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023), City of Dothan spent $272 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023), Houston County School District spent $107 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2025) and Town of Kinsey took in $930 thousand (fiscal year ended September 30, 2021). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 36303?
Of the governments serving 36303, State of Alabama collected $621 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023), Houston County collected $20.5 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023), Dothan City School District collected $11.8 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023) and City of Dothan collected $4.7 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 36303.

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: Houston County, Dothan, Kinsey and Dothan 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 36303

State of Alabama$621 million

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

Houston County$20.5 million

33% of its $62.0 million in revenue · fiscal year ended September 30, 2023

Dothan City School District$11.8 million

9.0% of its $130 million in revenue · fiscal year ended September 30, 2023

City of Dothan$4.7 million

1.7% of its $275 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

Houston County

$56.8 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended September 30, 2023.

About 91% of this ZIP is in Houston County.

Where the money comes from

County taxes58%Local tax money19%Fees for services (water)16%Fines and other6.8%

What stands out

19%

of Houston County's money comes from county and other local tax money.A typical U.S. county of 50,000 to 250,000 people gets 1.1%.

Full Houston County breakdown

County taxes58%

Property tax
33%$20.5 million
Sales tax
24%$15.0 million
Other taxes
0.4%$274 thousand
What's in other taxesOccupation and business licenses
  • Occupation and business licenses$274 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services16%

Fees for services
16%$10.2 million
What's in fees for servicesWater
  • Water$10.2 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Local tax money19%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
19%$11.8 million

Fines and other6.8%

Interest, rents and other
6.8%$4.2 million
Houston County page →

Where the money goes

Police, fire, courts and jails36%Roads, transit and parking28%Running the government and other costs23%Water, sewer, trash and utilities8.0%Health and hospitals1.8%All other spending2.7%

What stands out

28%

of Houston 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 Houston County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
36%$20.5 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; prisons and jails and 3 more
  • Police$9.8 million
  • Prisons and jails$6.4 million
  • Courts and legal services$2.1 million
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$1.8 million
  • Fire protection$350 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
28%$16.0 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$16.0 million
Running the government and other costs
23%$13.2 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; government buildings and 2 more
  • Other and not broken out$6.5 million
  • Government buildings$4.5 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$1.4 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$728 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
8.0%$4.6 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste
  • Garbage and solid waste$4.6 million
Health and hospitals
1.8%$1.1 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$1.1 million
Interest on debt
1.2%$708 thousand
Social services
0.8%$455 thousand
What's in social servicesWelfare institutions
  • Welfare institutions$455 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.7%$385 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$385 thousand
Houston County page →

Your cities and towns

City of Dothan

$272 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended September 30, 2023.

About 70% of this ZIP is in Dothan.

Where the money comes from

Fees for services (electric power, sewer)54%City taxes41%Fines and other2.5%State tax money1.1%County and local tax money1.0%Federal tax money0.5%
Full Dothan breakdown

What stands out

34%

of Dothan's money comes from sales tax.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people gets 7.8%.

City taxes41%

Sales tax
34%$94.6 million
Other taxes
4.8%$13.2 million
What's in other taxesOccupation and business licenses; other selective sales taxes and 5 more
  • Occupation and business licenses$4.4 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$3.9 million
  • Public utility taxes$1.7 million
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$1.4 million
  • Motor vehicle licenses$999 thousand
  • Other licenses$624 thousand
  • Tobacco taxes$181 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Property tax
1.7%$4.7 million

Fees for services54%

Fees for services
54%$149 million
What's in fees for servicesElectric power; sewer and 4 more
  • Electric power$103 million
  • Sewer$22.9 million
  • Water$12.5 million
  • Parks and recreation$5.0 million
  • Garbage collection$4.5 million
  • Other service charges$1.0 million

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%$1.5 million

State tax money1.1%

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

From the state
1.1%$2.9 million

County and local tax money1.0%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
1.0%$2.6 million

Fines and other2.5%

Interest, rents and other
2.1%$5.7 million
Fines
0.4%$1.2 million
Dothan page →

Where the money goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities49%Police, fire, courts and jails21%Running the government and other costs12%Parks, recreation and libraries9.4%Roads, transit and parking5.5%All other spending3.3%

What stands out

49%

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

Full Dothan breakdown

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
49%$133 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesElectric power; sewer systems and 2 more
  • Electric power$85.0 million
  • Sewer systems$30.6 million
  • Water supply$9.1 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$8.4 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
21%$58.5 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 3 more
  • Police$28.6 million
  • Fire protection$23.0 million
  • Inspections and regulation$2.5 million
  • Prisons and jails$2.3 million
  • Courts and legal services$2.2 million
Running the government and other costs
12%$31.4 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$13.7 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$9.8 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$4.5 million
  • Government buildings$3.5 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
9.4%$25.6 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$25.6 million
Roads, transit and parking
5.5%$14.9 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$14.9 million
Sent to other local governments
1.8%$4.8 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$4.8 million
Interest on debt
0.6%$1.7 million
Health and hospitals
0.5%$1.3 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$1.3 million
Housing and community development
0.3%$778 thousand
Social services
<0.1%$261 thousand
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$261 thousand
Dothan page →

Town of Kinsey

Took in $930 thousand in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended September 30, 2021.

About 17% of this ZIP is in Kinsey.

Where the money comes from

Fees for services (water, sewer)62%Town taxes38%
Full Kinsey breakdown

What stands out

37%

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

Town taxes38%

Sales tax
37%$347 thousand
Other taxes
1.1%$10 thousand
What's in other taxesAlcoholic beverage taxes and tobacco taxes
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$7 thousand
  • Tobacco taxes$3 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services62%

Fees for services
62%$573 thousand
What's in fees for servicesWater and sewer
  • Water$295 thousand
  • Sewer$278 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Kinsey page →

The Census record has no spending figures for Kinsey.

Your schools

Dothan City School District

$125 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended September 30, 2023.

About 70% of this ZIP is in Dothan City School District.

Where the money comes from

State tax money74%County and local tax money10%School district taxes9.3%Fines and other2.7%Federal tax money2.5%Fees for services (school lunches)1.4%

What stands out

10%

of Dothan City School District's money comes from county and other local tax money.A typical school district with 5,000 to 25,000 students gets 1%.

Full Dothan City School District breakdown

School district taxes9.3%

Property tax
9.0%$11.8 million
Other taxes
0.3%$340 thousand
What's in other taxesOther taxes not classified elsewhere
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$340 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services1.4%

Fees for services
1.4%$1.8 million
What's in fees for servicesOther school charges and school lunches
  • Other school charges$1.6 million
  • School lunches$252 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money2.5%

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

From the federal government
2.5%$3.2 million

State tax money74%

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

From the state
74%$96.5 million

County and local tax money10%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
10%$13.1 million

Fines and other2.7%

Interest, rents and other
2.7%$3.5 million
Fines
<0.1%$2 thousand
Dothan City School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges99%Interest on debt1.0%Sent to other local governments0.1%
Full Dothan City School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
99%$123 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
  • Elementary and secondary schools$123 million
Interest on debt
1.0%$1.3 million
Sent to other local governments
0.1%$169 thousand
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to school districts
  • Sent to school districts$169 thousand
Dothan City School District page →

Houston County School District

$107 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended September 30, 2025), from the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts.

About 24% of this ZIP is in Houston County School District.

Where the money comes from

State tax money65%School district taxes26%Federal tax money9.7%
Full Houston County School District breakdown

School district taxes26%

Local taxes and other local revenue
26%$26.0 million

Federal tax money9.7%

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

From the federal government
9.7%$9.8 million

State tax money65%

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

From the state
65%$65.8 million
Houston County School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges96%Debt payments (principal and interest)4.4%
Full Houston County School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
96%$102 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
4.4%$4.7 million
Houston 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.

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

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

Houston 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.

Town of Kinsey. 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.

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.