ZIP 50244 · Polk County, IA

Five governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 50244: 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 Iowa governments, the Iowa Department of Management and the Iowa Department of Education, as named under Sources and more.

Where do my taxes go in 50244?
50244 is served by the State of Iowa, Polk County, North Polk Community School District, Ballard Community School District and Story County. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of Iowa spent $30.0 billion (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Polk County spent $490 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), North Polk Community School District spent $52.0 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), Ballard Community School District spent $41.5 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025) and Story County spent $119 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 50244?
Of the governments serving 50244, Polk County collected $226 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), Story County collected $38.1 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), North Polk Community School District collected $13.1 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), Ballard Community School District collected $11.2 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025) and State of Iowa collected $837 thousand (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 50244.

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: Polk County, Story County, North Polk Community School District and Ballard Community School District

Why not this year? Iowa governments with newer filings show figures from the Iowa Department of Management and the Iowa Department of Education (for 2025). Figures for Polk County come from its own audited annual financial report. 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 50244

Polk County$226 million

50% of its $449 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

Story County$38.1 million

34% of its $111 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024

North Polk Community School District$13.1 million

33% of its $39.6 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

Ballard Community School District$11.2 million

34% of its $33.2 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

State of Iowa$837 thousand

<0.1% of its $32.3 billion in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024

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 Polk County and Story County provides local services like police and parks.

Polk County

$490 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the county's own audited annual financial report.

About 60% of this ZIP is in Polk County.

Where the money comes from

County taxes53%Grants from federal, state and local governments22%Fees for services16%Fines and other9.5%
Full Polk County breakdown

County taxes53%

Property tax
50%$226 million
Other taxes
2.6%$11.8 million

Fees for services16%

Fees for services
16%$71.3 million

Grants from federal, state and local governments22%

Grants from the federal government, the state and other local governments, which this government's report lists as one amount.

Grants from federal, state and local governments
22%$97.0 million

Fines and other9.5%

Interest, rents and other
9.5%$42.6 million
Polk County page →

Where the money goes

Police, fire, courts and jails24%Debt payments (principal and interest)20%Running the government and other costs19%Social services12%Environment and natural resources10%All other spending14%
Full Polk County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
24%$118 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
20%$97.0 million
Running the government and other costs
19%$93.7 million
Social services
12%$60.4 million
Environment and natural resources
10%$50.6 million
Health and hospitals
5.3%$25.9 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
5.2%$25.6 million
Roads, transit and parking
4.0%$19.4 million
Polk County page →

Story County

$119 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

About 38% of this ZIP is in Story County.

Where the money comes from

Fees for services (hospital bills, road charges)44%County taxes38%Federal tax money8.1%State tax money6.9%Fines and other2.6%Local tax money0.8%

What stands out

44%

of Story County's money comes from fees for services such as water, sewer and parking.A typical U.S. county of 50,000 to 250,000 people gets 11%.

Full Story County breakdown

County taxes38%

Property tax
34%$38.1 million
Sales tax
3.1%$3.4 million
Other taxes
<0.1%$76 thousand
What's in other taxesOther licenses
  • Other licenses$76 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services44%

Fees for services
44%$48.8 million
What's in fees for servicesHospital bills; other service charges and 1 more
  • Hospital bills$46.5 million
  • Other service charges$2.1 million
  • Road charges$177 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money8.1%

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

From the federal government
8.1%$8.9 million

State tax money6.9%

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

From the state
6.9%$7.6 million

Local tax money0.8%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
0.8%$900 thousand

Fines and other2.6%

Interest, rents and other
2.6%$2.9 million
Story County page →

Where the money goes

Health and hospitals63%Police, fire, courts and jails14%Running the government and other costs11%Roads, transit and parking6.1%Parks, recreation and libraries3.3%All other spending3.1%

What stands out

63%

of Story County's spending goes to health services and hospitals.A typical U.S. county of 50,000 to 250,000 people spends 5.7%.

Full Story County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Health and hospitals
63%$74.5 million
What's in health and hospitalsHospitals and public health
  • Hospitals$69.0 million
  • Public health$5.5 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
14%$16.0 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; prisons and jails and 2 more
  • Police$6.8 million
  • Prisons and jails$5.3 million
  • Courts and legal services$3.5 million
  • Inspections and regulation$360 thousand
Running the government and other costs
11%$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$5.1 million
  • Government buildings$4.7 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$2.5 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$952 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
6.1%$7.2 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$7.2 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
3.3%$3.9 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$3.9 million
Social services
1.4%$1.6 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$1.6 million
Environment and natural resources
1.2%$1.4 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$1.4 million
Interest on debt
0.4%$471 thousand
Housing and community development
0.2%$251 thousand
Story County page →

Your schools

North Polk Community School District

$52.0 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the Iowa Department of Education.

About 60% of this ZIP is in North Polk Community School District.

Where the money comes from

State tax money50%School district taxes36%Fees for services8.6%Fines and other2.9%Federal tax money2.5%
Full North Polk Community School District breakdown

School district taxes36%

Property tax
33%$13.1 million
Individual income tax
2.1%$843 thousand
Other taxes
0.5%$190 thousand

Fees for services8.6%

Fees for services
8.6%$3.4 million

Federal tax money2.5%

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

From the federal government
2.5%$987 thousand

State tax money50%

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

From the state
50%$20.0 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%$8 thousand

Fines and other2.9%

Interest, rents and other
2.9%$1.1 million
North Polk Community School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges89%Debt payments (principal and interest)9.6%Sent to other local governments1.6%
Full North Polk Community School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
89%$46.1 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
9.6%$5.0 million
Sent to other local governments
1.6%$819 thousand
North Polk Community School District page →

Ballard Community School District

$41.5 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the Iowa Department of Education.

About 40% of this ZIP is in Ballard Community School District.

Where the money comes from

State tax money51%School district taxes35%Fees for services8.9%Federal tax money3.0%Fines and other2.7%
Full Ballard Community School District breakdown

School district taxes35%

Property tax
34%$11.2 million
Individual income tax
0.8%$270 thousand
Other taxes
0.4%$134 thousand

Fees for services8.9%

Fees for services
8.9%$3.0 million

Federal tax money3.0%

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

From the federal government
3.0%$988 thousand

State tax money51%

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

From the state
51%$16.8 million

Fines and other2.7%

Interest, rents and other
2.7%$904 thousand
Ballard Community School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges90%Debt payments (principal and interest)8.3%Sent to other local governments1.6%
Full Ballard Community School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
90%$37.4 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
8.3%$3.5 million
Sent to other local governments
1.6%$675 thousand
Ballard Community School District page →

Your state

State of Iowa

$30.0 billion budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

Where the money comes from

State taxes39%Federal tax money32%Fees for services (hospital bills, college tuition)19%Fines and other9.5%Local tax money0.1%

What stands out

19%

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

Full Iowa breakdown

State taxes39%

Sales tax
14%$4.64 billion
Individual income tax
12%$3.76 billion
Other taxes
8.6%$2.79 billion
What's in other taxesMotor vehicle licenses; motor fuel taxes and 16 more
  • Motor vehicle licenses$788 million
  • Motor fuel taxes$680 million
  • Amusement taxes$345 million
  • Insurance premium taxes$190 million
  • Tobacco taxes$160 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$118 million
  • Corporation licenses$116 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$109 million
  • Public utility taxes$76.8 million
  • Estate and gift taxes$59.7 million
  • Hunting and fishing licenses$36.4 million
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$28.6 million
  • Amusement licenses$20.6 million
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$17.4 million
  • Driver's licenses$17.2 million
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$15.0 million
  • Public utility licenses$13.1 million
  • Other licenses$2.8 million

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Business income tax
4.7%$1.53 billion
Property tax
<0.1%$837 thousand

Fees for services19%

Fees for services
19%$6.06 billion
What's in fees for servicesHospital bills; college tuition and 10 more
  • Hospital bills$3.61 billion
  • College tuition$1.19 billion
  • University housing and dining$532 million
  • Liquor stores$445 million
  • Parks, land and natural resources$136 million
  • Other service charges$116 million
  • Housing$17.5 million
  • Parks and recreation$6.9 million
  • Garbage collection$6.1 million
  • Airport$2.1 million
  • Road charges$1.8 million
  • Other education charges$558 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money32%

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

From the federal government
32%$10.4 billion

Local tax money0.1%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From local governments
0.1%$45.6 million

Fines and other9.5%

Interest, rents and other
9.2%$2.98 billion
Fines
0.3%$93.0 million
Iowa page →

Where the money goes

Social services34%Sent to local governments23%Health and hospitals13%Schools and colleges13%Roads, transit and parking6.6%All other spending11%

What stands out

13%

of Iowa's spending goes to health services and hospitals.A typical state government spends 5.7%.

Full Iowa breakdown

Spending by category100%

Social services
34%$10.3 billion
What's in social servicesOther public welfare; welfare institutions and 2 more
  • Other public welfare$10.2 billion
  • Welfare institutions$64.8 million
  • Unemployment and social insurance offices$48.8 million
  • Veterans' services$2.8 million
Sent to local governments
23%$6.86 billion
What's in sent to local governmentsSent to school districts; sent to local governments: roads and highways and 17 more
  • Sent to school districts$4.90 billion
  • Sent to local governments: roads and highways$714 million
  • Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$352 million
  • Sent to local governments: public health$241 million
  • Sent to local governments: other public welfare$206 million
  • Sent to local governments: general support$168 million
  • Sent to local governments: other education$90.9 million
  • Sent to local governments: housing and community development$65.4 million
  • Sent to local governments: airports$38.0 million
  • Sent to local governments: natural resources, farming and conservation$29.3 million
  • Sent to local governments: courts and legal services$27.9 million
  • Sent to local governments: police$10.1 million
  • Sent to local governments: other government administration$2.7 million
  • Sent to local governments: libraries$2.5 million
  • Sent to local governments: hospitals$1.9 million
  • Sent to local governments: garbage and solid waste$1.6 million
  • Sent to local governments: inspections and regulation$661 thousand
  • Sent to local governments: parks and recreation$356 thousand
  • Sent to local governments: central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$10 thousand
Health and hospitals
13%$3.88 billion
What's in health and hospitalsHospitals and public health
  • Hospitals$3.72 billion
  • Public health$166 million
Schools and colleges
13%$3.79 billion
What's in schools and collegesColleges and universities; college housing, dining and bookstores and 2 more
  • Colleges and universities$2.55 billion
  • College housing, dining and bookstores$641 million
  • Scholarships and other education subsidies$408 million
  • Other education$193 million
Roads, transit and parking
6.6%$1.97 billion
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways; public transit and 1 more
  • Roads and highways$1.97 billion
  • Public transit$20 thousand
  • Airports$3 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
3.3%$980 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPrisons and jails; courts and legal services and 3 more
  • Prisons and jails$355 million
  • Courts and legal services$341 million
  • Police$161 million
  • Inspections and regulation$104 million
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$19.8 million
Running the government and other costs
3.0%$884 million
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$365 million
  • Other and not broken out$334 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$103 million
  • Government buildings$45.4 million
  • Other government administration$37.7 million
Environment and natural resources
1.6%$493 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$493 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
1.1%$325 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesLiquor stores; garbage and solid waste and 1 more
  • Liquor stores$320 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$3.5 million
  • Sewer systems$1.2 million
Interest on debt
0.9%$275 million
Housing and community development
0.6%$172 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.1%$32.0 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$25.6 million
  • Libraries$6.4 million
Iowa page →
Sources and moreEach government's source, fiscal year and how a ZIP is matched

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

Polk County. Polk County, Iowa, Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, fiscal year ended June 30, 2025, fiscal year ended June 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.

North Polk Community School District. Iowa Department of Education, Certified Annual Report (CAR), fiscal year 2025, fiscal year ended June 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.

Ballard Community School District. Iowa Department of Education, Certified Annual Report (CAR), fiscal year 2025, fiscal year ended June 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.

Story County. 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. Iowa city and county figures are the Annual Financial Report figures filed with the Iowa Department of Management, and school district figures are the Certified Annual Reports filed with the Iowa Department of Education, grouped into the same categories as the Census figures. Borrowing, transfers between a government's own funds, internal service, trust and custodial funds and depreciation are not counted. Cities show the newest year with actual figures on file, counties and school districts the 2025 fiscal year (ended June 30, 2025). Federal, state and local grants are reported as one amount for cities and counties and are shown together. Local-option sales tax and hotel, motel and utility taxes are reported together as "Other taxes." County figures leave out county hospitals, which are separate, so a county can read lower than its Census figure. School district debt payments include principal, and construction is counted under schools and colleges.

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.