ZIP 36801 · Opelika, AL

Seven governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 36801: 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 36801?
36801 is served by the State of Alabama, Lee County, Opelika City Schools, the City of Opelika, Lee County School District, Chambers County and Chambers County School District. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of Alabama spent $44.6 billion (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023), Lee County spent $54.8 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023), Opelika City Schools spent $77.8 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023), City of Opelika spent $172 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023), Lee County School District spent $161 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2025), Chambers County spent $3.2 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2021) and Chambers County School District spent $46.3 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2025). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 36801?
Of the governments serving 36801, State of Alabama collected $621 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023), Lee County collected $26.4 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023), Opelika City Schools collected $18.1 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023), City of Opelika collected $17.3 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023) and Chambers County collected $4.8 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2021) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 36801.

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: Lee County, Chambers County, Opelika and Opelika City Schools

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 36801

State of Alabama$621 million

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

Lee County$26.4 million

43% of its $61.1 million in revenue · fiscal year ended September 30, 2023 · estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

Opelika City Schools$18.1 million

20% of its $92.3 million in revenue · fiscal year ended September 30, 2023

City of Opelika$17.3 million

9.2% of its $189 million in revenue · fiscal year ended September 30, 2023

Chambers County$4.8 million

45% of its $10.6 million in revenue · fiscal year ended September 30, 2021 · estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

These are each government's total property tax collections, not your bill. Your own bill is split by each government's tax rate, shown on your property tax bill.

Your counties

Lee County

$54.8 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended September 30, 2023. Estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

About 78% of this ZIP is in Lee County.

Where the money comes from

County taxes51%State tax money22%Fees for services (garbage collection)18%Fines and other4.5%Local tax money3.0%Federal tax money1.4%
Full Lee County breakdown

What stands out

43%

of Lee County's money comes from property tax.A typical U.S. county of 50,000 to 250,000 people gets 28%.

County taxes51%

Property tax
43%$26.4 million
Other taxes
4.2%$2.5 million
What's in other taxesReal estate and stock transfer taxes; other licenses and 3 more
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$1.3 million
  • Other licenses$1.0 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$166 thousand
  • Amusement licenses$50 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$15 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Sales tax
3.7%$2.3 million

Fees for services18%

Fees for services
18%$11.3 million
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges and garbage collection
  • Other service charges$7.5 million
  • Garbage collection$3.8 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money1.4%

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

From the federal government
1.4%$863 thousand

State tax money22%

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

From the state
22%$13.1 million

Local tax money3.0%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
3.0%$1.8 million

Fines and other4.5%

Interest, rents and other
4.5%$2.7 million
Lee County page →

Where the money goes

Police, fire, courts and jails42%Running the government and other costs31%Roads, transit and parking17%Water, sewer, trash and utilities7.5%Interest on debt1.7%All other spending0.9%

What stands out

42%

of Lee 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 Lee County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
42%$22.8 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; prisons and jails and 4 more
  • Police$12.7 million
  • Prisons and jails$8.9 million
  • Inspections and regulation$727 thousand
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$413 thousand
  • Courts and legal services$116 thousand
  • Fire protection$8 thousand
Running the government and other costs
31%$17.2 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; government buildings and 2 more
  • Other and not broken out$12.0 million
  • Government buildings$3.0 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$1.9 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$348 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
17%$9.2 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$9.2 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
7.5%$4.1 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste
  • Garbage and solid waste$4.1 million
Interest on debt
1.7%$939 thousand
Health and hospitals
0.8%$443 thousand
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$443 thousand
Environment and natural resources
<0.1%$43 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$43 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
<0.1%$15 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesLibraries and parks and recreation
  • Libraries$9 thousand
  • Parks and recreation$6 thousand
Social services
<0.1%$3 thousand
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$3 thousand
Lee County page →

Chambers County

$3.2 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended September 30, 2021. Estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

About 22% of this ZIP is in Chambers County.

Where the money comes from

County taxes79%State tax money21%
Full Chambers County breakdown

What stands out

21%

of Chambers County's money comes from sales tax.A typical U.S. county of under 50,000 people gets 1.6%.

County taxes79%

Property tax
45%$4.8 million
Sales tax
21%$2.2 million
Other taxes
14%$1.4 million
What's in other taxesMotor fuel taxes; alcoholic beverage taxes and 1 more
  • Motor fuel taxes$1.2 million
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$224 thousand
  • Tobacco taxes$16 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

State tax money21%

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

From the state
21%$2.2 million
Chambers County page →

Where the money goes

Police, fire, courts and jails67%Running the government and other costs24%Water, sewer, trash and utilities8.1%Interest on debt0.5%

What stands out

67%

of Chambers County's spending goes to police, fire, courts and jails.A typical U.S. county of under 50,000 people spends 20%.

Full Chambers County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
67%$2.2 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPrisons and jails and fire protection
  • Prisons and jails$2.0 million
  • Fire protection$174 thousand
Running the government and other costs
24%$791 thousand
What's in running the government and other costsCentral staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and government buildings
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$588 thousand
  • Government buildings$203 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
8.1%$260 thousand
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste
  • Garbage and solid waste$260 thousand
Interest on debt
0.5%$15 thousand
Chambers County page →

Your city

City of Opelika

$172 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended September 30, 2023.

About 51% of this ZIP is in Opelika.

Where the money comes from

City taxes50%Fees for services (electric power, water)44%Fines and other4.6%State tax money1.2%Federal tax money0.4%
Full Opelika breakdown

What stands out

26%

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

City taxes50%

Sales tax
26%$49.1 million
Other taxes
15%$27.6 million
What's in other taxesOccupation and business licenses; other licenses and 5 more
  • Occupation and business licenses$20.3 million
  • Other licenses$4.7 million
  • Motor fuel taxes$963 thousand
  • Other selective sales taxes$923 thousand
  • Public utility taxes$570 thousand
  • Tobacco taxes$67 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$34 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Property tax
9.2%$17.3 million

Fees for services44%

Fees for services
44%$83.3 million
What's in fees for servicesElectric power; water and 6 more
  • Electric power$49.8 million
  • Water$16.0 million
  • Sewer$5.9 million
  • Garbage collection$4.7 million
  • Other service charges$2.7 million
  • Other government-run businesses$2.3 million
  • Parks and recreation$1.7 million
  • Road charges$47 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money0.4%

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

From the federal government
0.4%$672 thousand

State tax money1.2%

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

From the state
1.2%$2.2 million

County and local tax money<0.1%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
<0.1%$15 thousand

Fines and other4.6%

Interest, rents and other
4.4%$8.3 million
Fines
0.2%$467 thousand
Opelika page →

Where the money goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities40%Running the government and other costs26%Police, fire, courts and jails12%Parks, recreation and libraries9.3%Roads, transit and parking6.0%All other spending5.6%

What stands out

40%

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

Full Opelika breakdown

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
40%$69.8 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesElectric power; sewer systems and 2 more
  • Electric power$44.7 million
  • Sewer systems$10.7 million
  • Water supply$9.3 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$5.1 million
Running the government and other costs
26%$45.3 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; government buildings and 3 more
  • Other and not broken out$33.6 million
  • Government buildings$6.8 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$3.4 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$1.2 million
  • Other government-run businesses$264 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
12%$21.3 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 4 more
  • Police$12.8 million
  • Fire protection$6.9 million
  • Courts and legal services$718 thousand
  • Inspections and regulation$596 thousand
  • Prisons and jails$225 thousand
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$109 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
9.3%$16.0 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$14.6 million
  • Libraries$1.3 million
Roads, transit and parking
6.0%$10.4 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and airports
  • Roads and highways$10.3 million
  • Airports$138 thousand
Interest on debt
3.8%$6.6 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt; interest on water supply debt and 1 more
  • Interest on general debt$2.8 million
  • Interest on water supply debt$2.7 million
  • Interest on electric power debt$1.1 million
Health and hospitals
1.1%$2.0 million
What's in health and hospitalsHospitals and public health
  • Hospitals$1.2 million
  • Public health$754 thousand
Social services
0.5%$853 thousand
What's in social servicesWelfare institutions
  • Welfare institutions$853 thousand
Housing and community development
0.1%$236 thousand
Opelika page →

Your schools

Opelika City Schools

$77.8 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended September 30, 2023.

About 54% of this ZIP is in Opelika City Schools.

Where the money comes from

State tax money59%School district taxes20%County and local tax money15%Fines and other4.0%Fees for services (school lunches)2.4%

What stands out

15%

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

Full Opelika City Schools breakdown

School district taxes20%

Property tax
20%$18.1 million
Other taxes
<0.1%$18 thousand
What's in other taxesOther taxes not classified elsewhere
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$18 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services2.4%

Fees for services
2.4%$2.2 million
What's in fees for servicesOther school charges and school lunches
  • Other school charges$1.8 million
  • School lunches$406 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%$44 thousand

State tax money59%

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

From the state
59%$54.9 million

County and local tax money15%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
15%$13.4 million

Fines and other4.0%

Interest, rents and other
4.0%$3.6 million
Fines
<0.1%$2 thousand
Opelika City Schools page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges99%Interest on debt0.7%Sent to other local governments0.1%
Full Opelika City Schools breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
99%$77.1 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
  • Elementary and secondary schools$77.1 million
Interest on debt
0.7%$561 thousand
Sent to other local governments
0.1%$109 thousand
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to school districts
  • Sent to school districts$109 thousand
Opelika City Schools page →

Lee County School District

$161 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 Lee County School District.

Where the money comes from

State tax money59%School district taxes33%Federal tax money8.1%
Full Lee County School District breakdown

School district taxes33%

Local taxes and other local revenue
33%$50.4 million

Federal tax money8.1%

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

From the federal government
8.1%$12.4 million

State tax money59%

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

From the state
59%$89.3 million
Lee County School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges95%Debt payments (principal and interest)5.0%
Full Lee County School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
95%$153 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
5.0%$8.1 million
Lee County School District page →

Chambers County School District

$46.3 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended September 30, 2025), from the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts.

About 22% of this ZIP is in Chambers County School District.

Where the money comes from

State tax money63%School district taxes23%Federal tax money14%
Full Chambers County School District breakdown

School district taxes23%

Local taxes and other local revenue
23%$11.8 million

Federal tax money14%

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

From the federal government
14%$7.1 million

State tax money63%

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

From the state
63%$32.2 million
Chambers County School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges98%Debt payments (principal and interest)2.4%
Full Chambers County School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
98%$45.2 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
2.4%$1.1 million
Chambers 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.

Lee County. 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.

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

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

Lee 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.

Chambers 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.

Chambers 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 June 30, 2024.

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.