ZIP 49969 · Watersmeet Township, MI

Four governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 49969: 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 Michigan governments, the Michigan Department of Treasury, as named under Sources and more.

Where do my taxes go in 49969?
49969 is served by the State of Michigan, Gogebic County, Watersmeet Township and Watersmeet Township School District. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of Michigan spent $98.8 billion (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023), Gogebic County spent $42.7 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2025), Watersmeet Township spent $6.8 million (fiscal year ended March 31, 2022) and Watersmeet Township School District spent $4.9 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 49969?
Of the governments serving 49969, State of Michigan collected $2.81 billion (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023), Gogebic County collected $6.8 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2025), Watersmeet Township School District collected $2.4 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024) and Watersmeet Township collected $781 thousand (fiscal year ended March 31, 2022) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 49969.

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: Gogebic County, Watersmeet Township and Watersmeet Township School District

Why not this year? Michigan governments with newer filings show figures from the Michigan Department of Treasury (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 49969

State of Michigan$2.81 billion

3.0% of its $93.9 billion in revenue · fiscal year ended September 30, 2023

Gogebic County$6.8 million

14% of its $48.1 million in revenue · fiscal year ended September 30, 2025

Watersmeet Township School District$2.4 million

45% of its $5.4 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024

Watersmeet Township$781 thousand

39% of its $2.0 million in revenue · fiscal year ended March 31, 2022 · 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 county

Gogebic County

$42.7 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended September 30, 2025), from the Michigan Department of Treasury.

Where the money comes from

Fees for services44%State tax money35%County taxes14%Fines and other4.2%Federal tax money2.8%Local tax money0.6%
Full Gogebic County breakdown

County taxes14%

Property tax
14%$6.8 million
Other taxes
<0.1%$2 thousand

Fees for services44%

Fees for services
44%$21.0 million

Federal tax money2.8%

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

From the federal government
2.8%$1.3 million

State tax money35%

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

From the state
35%$16.7 million

Local tax money0.6%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
0.6%$279 thousand

Fines and other4.2%

Interest, rents and other
4.1%$2.0 million
Fines
<0.1%$39 thousand
Gogebic County page →

Where the money goes

Social services38%Roads, transit and parking35%Police, fire, courts and jails15%Running the government and other costs10%Housing and community development0.8%All other spending1.2%
Full Gogebic County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Social services
38%$16.2 million
Roads, transit and parking
35%$14.8 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
15%$6.5 million
Running the government and other costs
10%$4.3 million
Housing and community development
0.8%$331 thousand
Health and hospitals
0.7%$306 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.5%$227 thousand
Gogebic County page →

Your town

Watersmeet Township

$6.8 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended March 31, 2022. Estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

Where the money comes from

The Census record for this side looks incomplete, so these figures may be lower than the government's own totals.

Township taxes40%Fines and other31%Fees for services (sewer, water)21%State tax money7.9%Federal tax money0.5%
Full Watersmeet Township breakdown

Township taxes40%

Property tax
39%$781 thousand
Other taxes
1.0%$20 thousand
What's in other taxesOther licenses
  • Other licenses$20 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services21%

Fees for services
21%$424 thousand
What's in fees for servicesSewer; water and 1 more
  • Sewer$253 thousand
  • Water$154 thousand
  • Other service charges$17 thousand

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%$10 thousand

State tax money7.9%

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

From the state
7.9%$159 thousand

Fines and other31%

Interest, rents and other
31%$624 thousand
Watersmeet Township page →

Where the money goes

Running the government and other costs93%Water, sewer, trash and utilities3.2%Police, fire, courts and jails2.0%Parks, recreation and libraries1.1%Health and hospitals0.8%Interest on debt0.2%

What stands out

93%

of Watersmeet Township's spending goes to running the government and other costs.A typical U.S. township or town of under 10,000 people spends 23%.

Full Watersmeet Township breakdown

Spending by category100%

Running the government and other costs
93%$6.3 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$6.0 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$147 thousand
  • Government buildings$101 thousand
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$100 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
3.2%$216 thousand
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste and sewer systems
  • Garbage and solid waste$126 thousand
  • Sewer systems$90 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
2.0%$133 thousand
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsFire protection; inspections and regulation and 1 more
  • Fire protection$80 thousand
  • Inspections and regulation$47 thousand
  • Courts and legal services$6 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
1.1%$78 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$78 thousand
Health and hospitals
0.8%$53 thousand
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$53 thousand
Interest on debt
0.2%$11 thousand
What's in interest on debtInterest on water supply debt and interest on general debt
  • Interest on water supply debt$7 thousand
  • Interest on general debt$4 thousand
Watersmeet Township page →

Your schools

Watersmeet Township School District

$4.9 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

Where the money comes from

School district taxes45%Federal tax money28%State tax money20%Fines and other3.8%County and local tax money2.2%Fees for services (school lunches)1.2%

What stands out

28%

of Watersmeet Township School District's money comes from federal tax money.Most school districts with fewer than 5,000 students get none.

Full Watersmeet Township School District breakdown

School district taxes45%

Property tax
45%$2.4 million

Fees for services1.2%

Fees for services
1.2%$63 thousand
What's in fees for servicesOther school charges and school lunches
  • Other school charges$57 thousand
  • School lunches$6 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money28%

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

From the federal government
28%$1.5 million

State tax money20%

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

From the state
20%$1.1 million

County and local tax money2.2%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
2.2%$119 thousand

Fines and other3.8%

Interest, rents and other
3.8%$202 thousand
Watersmeet Township School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges100%Sent to other local governments0.1%

What stands out

100%

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

Full Watersmeet Township School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
100%$4.9 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
  • Elementary and secondary schools$4.9 million
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
Watersmeet Township School District page →

Your state

State of Michigan

$98.8 billion budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended September 30, 2023.

Where the money comes from

State taxes41%Federal tax money36%Fees for services (hospital bills, college tuition)17%Fines and other6.2%Local tax money0.3%

What stands out

17%

of Michigan's money comes from fees for services such as water, sewer and parking.A typical state government gets 10%.

Full Michigan breakdown

State taxes41%

Sales tax
14%$12.7 billion
Local income tax
12%$11.6 billion
Other taxes
8.9%$8.34 billion
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; motor fuel taxes and 17 more
  • Other selective sales taxes$2.33 billion
  • Motor fuel taxes$1.55 billion
  • Motor vehicle licenses$1.53 billion
  • Tobacco taxes$675 million
  • Insurance premium taxes$529 million
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$399 million
  • Amusement taxes$311 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$281 million
  • Other licenses$238 million
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$205 million
  • Driver's licenses$65.4 million
  • Hunting and fishing licenses$64.4 million
  • Public utility taxes$42.7 million
  • Public utility licenses$37.9 million
  • Severance taxes$27.6 million
  • Corporation licenses$24.3 million
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$22.5 million
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$40 thousand
  • Estate and gift taxes$6 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Business income tax
3.4%$3.18 billion
Property tax
3.0%$2.81 billion

Fees for services17%

Fees for services
17%$15.6 billion
What's in fees for servicesHospital bills; college tuition and 12 more
  • Hospital bills$8.03 billion
  • College tuition$4.34 billion
  • Liquor stores$1.56 billion
  • University housing and dining$1.36 billion
  • Other service charges$164 million
  • Parks, land and natural resources$58.2 million
  • Housing$43.7 million
  • Tolls on roads and bridges$32.1 million
  • Parks and recreation$8.7 million
  • Other education charges$6.7 million
  • Airport$529 thousand
  • Other government-run businesses$443 thousand
  • Road charges$159 thousand
  • Transit fares$10 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money36%

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

From the federal government
36%$33.6 billion

Local tax money0.3%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From local governments
0.3%$279 million

Fines and other6.2%

Interest, rents and other
6.1%$5.73 billion
Fines
0.1%$119 million
Michigan page →

Where the money goes

Sent to local governments34%Social services25%Schools and colleges16%Health and hospitals10%Running the government and other costs3.6%All other spending11%

What stands out

34%

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

Full Michigan breakdown

Spending by category100%

Sent to local governments
34%$34.0 billion
What's in sent to local governmentsSent to school districts; sent to local governments: other public welfare and 20 more
  • Sent to school districts$20.3 billion
  • Sent to local governments: other public welfare$5.13 billion
  • Sent to local governments: roads and highways$2.45 billion
  • Sent to local governments: general support$1.68 billion
  • Sent to local governments: public health$1.02 billion
  • Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$856 million
  • Sent to school districts (colleges)$568 million
  • Sent to local governments: other government administration$556 million
  • Sent to local governments: courts and legal services$487 million
  • Sent to local governments: finance, tax collection and budgeting$437 million
  • Sent to local governments: airports$221 million
  • Sent to local governments: police$80.9 million
  • Sent to local governments: natural resources, farming and conservation$40.2 million
  • Sent to local governments: housing and community development$35.2 million
  • Sent to local governments: inspections and regulation$31.1 million
  • Sent to local governments: parks and recreation$29.0 million
  • Sent to local governments: probation, parole and other corrections$25.4 million
  • Sent to local governments: libraries$17.1 million
  • Sent to local governments: colleges and universities$13.5 million
  • Sent to local governments: other education$12.8 million
  • Sent to local governments: hospitals$7.0 million
  • Sent to the federal government$2.2 million
Social services
25%$24.7 billion
What's in social servicesOther public welfare; unemployment and social insurance offices and 1 more
  • Other public welfare$24.4 billion
  • Unemployment and social insurance offices$304 million
  • Welfare institutions$31.7 million
Schools and colleges
16%$15.6 billion
What's in schools and collegesColleges and universities; scholarships and other education subsidies and 2 more
  • Colleges and universities$10.9 billion
  • Scholarships and other education subsidies$1.95 billion
  • College housing, dining and bookstores$1.93 billion
  • Other education$812 million
Health and hospitals
10%$10.3 billion
What's in health and hospitalsHospitals and public health
  • Hospitals$8.10 billion
  • Public health$2.22 billion
Running the government and other costs
3.6%$3.56 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$1.63 billion
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$1.33 billion
  • Other government administration$346 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$250 million
  • Other government-run businesses$514 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
3.5%$3.45 billion
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPrisons and jails; police and 3 more
  • Prisons and jails$1.68 billion
  • Police$733 million
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$361 million
  • Inspections and regulation$359 million
  • Courts and legal services$316 million
Roads, transit and parking
3.2%$3.14 billion
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways; toll roads and bridges and 2 more
  • Roads and highways$2.98 billion
  • Toll roads and bridges$92.2 million
  • Airports$63.4 million
  • Public transit$114 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
1.3%$1.27 billion
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesLiquor stores and garbage and solid waste
  • Liquor stores$1.26 billion
  • Garbage and solid waste$5.3 million
Interest on debt
1.0%$984 million
Housing and community development
0.9%$928 million
Environment and natural resources
0.6%$548 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$548 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.3%$284 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$273 million
  • Libraries$11.1 million
Michigan page →
Sources and moreEach government's source, fiscal year and how a ZIP is matched

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

Gogebic County. Michigan Department of Treasury, MI Community Financial Dashboard (annual F-65 filings), fiscal year 2025, fiscal year ended September 30, 2025. The earlier Census figures are from U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments, Finance, individual unit file, fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.

Watersmeet Township. U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments, Finance, individual unit file, fiscal year ended March 31, 2022. 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.

Watersmeet Township School District. 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. Revenue and spending are the annual financial reports (Form F-65) that a Michigan government filed with the Michigan Department of Treasury, grouped into the same categories as the Census figures. Counties, cities, villages and townships are included together with their component units, such as road commissions, downtown development authorities and county health departments. Internal service funds, transfers, borrowing proceeds and depreciation are not counted.

Debt payments. The report lists principal and interest on debt, so the "Debt payments" line includes principal as well as interest. The Census figures leave principal out.

Capital purchases. Michigan filings do not break out enterprise capital purchases, so total spending can read lower than the Census figure for governments with large water or sewer projects.

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.