ZIP 38109 · Memphis, TN

Three governments run on your community's money

From the state down to your schools: where each one's money comes from and goes.

Yearly budgets from each government's latest fiscal year on record. Tap one to jump to it.

Your state

State of Tennessee

$49.5 billion budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

Where the money comes from

State taxes49%Federal tax money41%Fees for services (college tuition, university housing and dining)5.8%Fines and other4.8%Local tax money0.2%
Full Tennessee breakdown

What stands out

28%

of Tennessee's money comes from sales tax.A typical state government gets 14%.

State taxes49%

Sales tax
28%$14.1 billion
Other taxes
14%$6.94 billion
What's in other taxesCorporation licenses; insurance premium taxes and 17 more
  • Corporation licenses$1.50 billion
  • Insurance premium taxes$1.46 billion
  • Motor fuel taxes$1.27 billion
  • Other selective sales taxes$723 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$541 million
  • Motor vehicle licenses$405 million
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$356 million
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$327 million
  • Tobacco taxes$196 million
  • Hunting and fishing licenses$51.5 million
  • Driver's licenses$46.8 million
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$35.6 million
  • Public utility taxes$10.3 million
  • Other licenses$9.6 million
  • Public utility licenses$6.5 million
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$1.8 million
  • Severance taxes$529 thousand
  • Amusement licenses$432 thousand
  • Estate and gift taxes$7 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Business income tax
6.2%$3.05 billion
Individual income tax
<0.1%$2.1 million

Fees for services5.8%

Fees for services
5.8%$2.86 billion
What's in fees for servicesCollege tuition; other service charges and 10 more
  • College tuition$1.38 billion
  • Other service charges$719 million
  • University housing and dining$505 million
  • Other education charges$136 million
  • Parks and recreation$67.0 million
  • Parks, land and natural resources$28.8 million
  • Hospital bills$19.2 million
  • Garbage collection$2.1 million
  • Sewer$530 thousand
  • Road charges$118 thousand
  • Tolls on roads and bridges$45 thousand
  • Housing$9 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money41%

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

From the federal government
41%$20.1 billion

Local tax money0.2%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From local governments
0.2%$117 million

Fines and other4.8%

Interest, rents and other
4.7%$2.32 billion
Fines
<0.1%$38.4 million
Tennessee page →

Where the money goes

Social services33%Sent to local governments28%Schools and colleges14%Health and hospitals5.4%Roads, transit and parking5.0%All other spending14%

What stands out

28%

of Tennessee's spending goes to local governments.A typical state government spends 24%.

Full Tennessee breakdown

Spending by category100%

Social services
33%$16.5 billion
What's in social servicesOther public welfare; unemployment and social insurance offices and 1 more
  • Other public welfare$16.4 billion
  • Unemployment and social insurance offices$89.2 million
  • Veterans' services$12.2 million
Sent to local governments
28%$13.8 billion
What's in sent to local governmentsSent to local governments: elementary and secondary schools; sent to local governments: general support and 21 more
  • Sent to local governments: elementary and secondary schools$8.60 billion
  • Sent to local governments: general support$2.46 billion
  • Sent to local governments: other public welfare$904 million
  • Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$331 million
  • Sent to local governments: roads and highways$327 million
  • Sent to local governments: prisons and jails$270 million
  • Sent to school districts$266 million
  • Sent to local governments: natural resources, farming and conservation$145 million
  • Sent to local governments: public health$131 million
  • Sent to local governments: police$94.8 million
  • Sent to local governments: courts and legal services$80.5 million
  • Sent to local governments: housing and community development$51.2 million
  • Sent to local governments: hospitals$44.7 million
  • Sent to local governments: inspections and regulation$31.7 million
  • Sent to local governments: airports$23.5 million
  • Sent to local governments: parks and recreation$17.3 million
  • Sent to local governments: finance, tax collection and budgeting$5.9 million
  • Sent to local governments: other education$3.0 million
  • Sent to local governments: libraries$2.2 million
  • Sent to local governments: garbage and solid waste$956 thousand
  • Sent to local governments: probation, parole and other corrections$856 thousand
  • Sent to local governments: central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$225 thousand
  • Sent to local governments: other government administration$20 thousand
Schools and colleges
14%$7.17 billion
What's in schools and collegesColleges and universities; scholarships and other education subsidies and 3 more
  • Colleges and universities$4.88 billion
  • Scholarships and other education subsidies$1.15 billion
  • Other education$547 million
  • College housing, dining and bookstores$499 million
  • Elementary and secondary schools$90.3 million
Health and hospitals
5.4%$2.69 billion
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health and hospitals
  • Public health$2.02 billion
  • Hospitals$675 million
Roads, transit and parking
5.0%$2.47 billion
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and airports
  • Roads and highways$2.41 billion
  • Airports$60.6 million
Running the government and other costs
5.0%$2.46 billion
What's in running the government and other costsFinance, tax collection and budgeting; other and not broken out and 3 more
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$1.06 billion
  • Other and not broken out$918 million
  • Government buildings$323 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$128 million
  • Other government administration$28.8 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
4.6%$2.26 billion
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPrisons and jails; courts and legal services and 3 more
  • Prisons and jails$866 million
  • Courts and legal services$550 million
  • Police$496 million
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$177 million
  • Inspections and regulation$174 million
Environment and natural resources
1.5%$738 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$738 million
Interest on debt
1.4%$698 million
Housing and community development
0.9%$471 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.4%$220 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$207 million
  • Libraries$13.0 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
<0.1%$47.8 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste; sewer systems and 1 more
  • Garbage and solid waste$45.2 million
  • Sewer systems$1.4 million
  • Water supply$1.1 million
Tennessee page →

Your county

Public schools here are run by Shelby County, so school money is part of its budget.

Shelby County

$3.33 billion budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

Where the money comes from

State tax money42%County taxes25%Fees for services (hospital bills, parks, land and natural resources)23%Fines and other5.0%Federal tax money2.3%Local tax money2.2%

What stands out

42%

of Shelby County's money comes from state tax money.A typical U.S. county of 250,000+ people gets 19%.

Full Shelby County breakdown

County taxes25%

Property tax
19%$531 million
Other taxes
3.1%$84.8 million
What's in other taxesMotor vehicle licenses; other selective sales taxes and 2 more
  • Motor vehicle licenses$46.3 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$23.6 million
  • Other licenses$14.8 million
  • Public utility taxes$6 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Sales tax
2.7%$75.7 million

Fees for services23%

Fees for services
23%$647 million
What's in fees for servicesHospital bills; other service charges and 7 more
  • Hospital bills$588 million
  • Other service charges$36.3 million
  • Other school charges$15.0 million
  • Parks, land and natural resources$5.6 million
  • Garbage collection$753 thousand
  • Road charges$659 thousand
  • Sewer$568 thousand
  • School lunches$35 thousand
  • Parks and recreation$8 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money2.3%

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

From the federal government
2.3%$62.6 million

State tax money42%

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

From the state
42%$1.17 billion

Local tax money2.2%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
2.2%$61.7 million

Fines and other5.0%

Fines
2.7%$74.8 million
Interest, rents and other
2.3%$65.0 million
Shelby County page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges52%Health and hospitals25%Police, fire, courts and jails12%Running the government and other costs6.9%Interest on debt1.4%All other spending2.5%

What stands out

52%

of Shelby County's spending goes to schools and colleges.Most U.S. counties of 250,000+ people spend nothing on this.

Full Shelby County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
52%$1.71 billion
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
  • Elementary and secondary schools$1.71 billion
Health and hospitals
25%$840 million
What's in health and hospitalsHospitals and public health
  • Hospitals$775 million
  • Public health$65.2 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
12%$413 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; courts and legal services and 4 more
  • Police$206 million
  • Courts and legal services$94.1 million
  • Prisons and jails$63.0 million
  • Fire protection$35.6 million
  • Inspections and regulation$14.3 million
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$408 thousand
Running the government and other costs
6.9%$228 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$132 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$65.7 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$27.1 million
  • Other government-run businesses$3.0 million
Interest on debt
1.4%$48.0 million
Roads, transit and parking
0.9%$30.6 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$30.6 million
Housing and community development
0.6%$20.1 million
Social services
0.4%$13.9 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$13.9 million
Sent to other local governments
0.3%$9.1 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$9.1 million
Environment and natural resources
0.2%$7.3 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$7.3 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
<0.1%$1.1 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste and sewer systems
  • Garbage and solid waste$653 thousand
  • Sewer systems$493 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
<0.1%$939 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$939 thousand
Shelby County page →

Your city

City of Memphis

$3.22 billion budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

About 74% of this ZIP is in Memphis.

Where the money comes from

Fees for services (electric power, gas)58%City taxes16%State tax money13%Fines and other7.4%County and local tax money3.0%Federal tax money1.7%

What stands out

58%

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

Full Memphis breakdown

City taxes16%

Property tax
7.9%$287 million
Sales tax
6.5%$236 million
Other taxes
2.0%$74.2 million
What's in other taxesAlcoholic beverage taxes; other selective sales taxes and 4 more
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$32.0 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$28.2 million
  • Motor vehicle licenses$11.8 million
  • Public utility taxes$1.1 million
  • Other licenses$809 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$280 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services58%

Fees for services
58%$2.12 billion
What's in fees for servicesElectric power; gas and 8 more
  • Electric power$1.38 billion
  • Gas$257 million
  • Sewer$161 million
  • Water$131 million
  • Garbage collection$77.8 million
  • Other service charges$54.8 million
  • Parks and recreation$48.2 million
  • Transit fares$2.8 million
  • Parking$2.8 million
  • Ports and waterways$2.5 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money1.7%

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

From the federal government
1.7%$60.4 million

State tax money13%

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

From the state
13%$480 million

County and local tax money3.0%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
3.0%$109 million

Fines and other7.4%

Interest, rents and other
7.1%$260 million
Fines
0.3%$11.1 million
Memphis page →

Where the money goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities59%Police, fire, courts and jails17%Running the government and other costs12%Roads, transit and parking3.9%Housing and community development3.7%All other spending4.1%

What stands out

59%

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

Full Memphis breakdown

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
59%$1.91 billion
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesElectric power; gas supply and 3 more
  • Electric power$1.39 billion
  • Gas supply$228 million
  • Water supply$115 million
  • Sewer systems$102 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$76.7 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
17%$551 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 1 more
  • Police$309 million
  • Fire protection$215 million
  • Courts and legal services$26.4 million
Running the government and other costs
12%$382 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; finance, tax collection and budgeting and 2 more
  • Other and not broken out$282 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$36.9 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$35.5 million
  • Government buildings$27.3 million
Roads, transit and parking
3.9%$125 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingPublic transit; roads and highways and 2 more
  • Public transit$81.7 million
  • Roads and highways$36.9 million
  • Parking$4.1 million
  • Ports and harbors$1.8 million
Housing and community development
3.7%$121 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
3.3%$108 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$85.1 million
  • Libraries$22.6 million
Interest on debt
0.8%$24.9 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt; interest on electric power debt and 2 more
  • Interest on general debt$15.8 million
  • Interest on electric power debt$5.3 million
  • Interest on gas supply debt$2.1 million
  • Interest on water supply debt$1.8 million
Memphis page →
Sources and moreEach government's source, fiscal year and how a ZIP is matched

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

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

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

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.