ZIP 50527 · Palo Alto County, IA

Five governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 50527: 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 50527?
50527 is served by the State of Iowa, Palo Alto County, Emmetsburg Community School District, West Bend-Mallard Community School District and Laurens-Marathon Community School District. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of Iowa spent $30.0 billion (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Palo Alto County spent $54.3 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Emmetsburg Community School District spent $15.2 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), West Bend-Mallard Community School District spent $7.8 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025) and Laurens-Marathon Community School District spent $6.7 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 50527?
Of the governments serving 50527, Palo Alto County collected $9.9 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Emmetsburg Community School District collected $5.2 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), West Bend-Mallard Community School District collected $2.9 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), Laurens-Marathon Community School District collected $2.2 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 50527.

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: Palo Alto County, Emmetsburg Community School District, West Bend-Mallard Community School District and Laurens-Marathon 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). 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 50527

Palo Alto County$9.9 million

16% of its $60.4 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024 · estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

Emmetsburg Community School District$5.2 million

37% of its $14.2 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

West Bend-Mallard Community School District$2.9 million

39% of its $7.3 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

Laurens-Marathon Community School District$2.2 million

38% of its $5.9 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 county

This ZIP is outside any city or town, so Palo Alto County provides local services like police and parks.

Palo Alto County

$54.3 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024. Estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

Where the money comes from

Fees for services (hospital bills, road charges)67%County taxes17%Fines and other8.0%State tax money7.5%

What stands out

67%

of Palo Alto County's money comes from fees for services such as water, sewer and parking.A typical U.S. county of under 50,000 people gets 8.4%.

Full Palo Alto County breakdown

County taxes17%

Property tax
16%$9.9 million
Sales tax
0.8%$488 thousand
Other taxes
0.3%$180 thousand
What's in other taxesPublic utility taxes and other licenses
  • Public utility taxes$154 thousand
  • Other licenses$26 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services67%

Fees for services
67%$40.5 million
What's in fees for servicesHospital bills; other service charges and 1 more
  • Hospital bills$39.4 million
  • Other service charges$1.0 million
  • Road charges$67 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

State tax money7.5%

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

From the state
7.5%$4.5 million

Fines and other8.0%

Interest, rents and other
8.0%$4.8 million
Palo Alto County page →

Where the money goes

Health and hospitals66%Roads, transit and parking15%Running the government and other costs5.9%Police, fire, courts and jails4.9%Environment and natural resources4.6%All other spending3.4%

What stands out

66%

of Palo Alto County's spending goes to health services and hospitals.A typical U.S. county of under 50,000 people spends 4.8%.

Full Palo Alto County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Health and hospitals
66%$35.9 million
What's in health and hospitalsHospitals and public health
  • Hospitals$35.3 million
  • Public health$546 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
15%$8.3 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$8.3 million
Running the government and other costs
5.9%$3.2 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$1.5 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$935 thousand
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$558 thousand
  • Government buildings$196 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
4.9%$2.7 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; courts and legal services and 2 more
  • Police$1.7 million
  • Courts and legal services$537 thousand
  • Prisons and jails$422 thousand
  • Inspections and regulation$32 thousand
Environment and natural resources
4.6%$2.5 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$2.5 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
1.3%$687 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$578 thousand
  • Libraries$109 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
1.1%$612 thousand
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste
  • Garbage and solid waste$612 thousand
Interest on debt
0.7%$360 thousand
Social services
0.3%$163 thousand
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$163 thousand
Palo Alto County page →

Your schools

Emmetsburg Community School District

$15.2 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the Iowa Department of Education.

About 50% of this ZIP is in Emmetsburg Community School District.

Where the money comes from

School district taxes41%State tax money38%Fees for services11%Fines and other5.8%Federal tax money3.9%
Full Emmetsburg Community School District breakdown

School district taxes41%

Property tax
37%$5.2 million
Individual income tax
2.2%$311 thousand
Other taxes
1.7%$247 thousand

Fees for services11%

Fees for services
11%$1.6 million

Federal tax money3.9%

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

From the federal government
3.9%$553 thousand

State tax money38%

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

From the state
38%$5.5 million

Fines and other5.8%

Interest, rents and other
5.8%$822 thousand
Emmetsburg Community School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges93%Debt payments (principal and interest)5.3%Sent to other local governments1.9%
Full Emmetsburg Community School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
93%$14.1 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
5.3%$807 thousand
Sent to other local governments
1.9%$288 thousand
Emmetsburg Community School District page →

West Bend-Mallard Community School District

$7.8 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the Iowa Department of Education.

About 28% of this ZIP is in West Bend-Mallard Community School District.

Where the money comes from

School district taxes39%State tax money38%Fees for services17%Federal tax money3.2%Fines and other2.7%
Full West Bend-Mallard Community School District breakdown

School district taxes39%

Property tax
39%$2.9 million
Other taxes
<0.1%$315

Fees for services17%

Fees for services
17%$1.2 million

Federal tax money3.2%

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

From the federal government
3.2%$236 thousand

State tax money38%

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

From the state
38%$2.8 million

Fines and other2.7%

Interest, rents and other
2.7%$198 thousand
West Bend-Mallard Community School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges98%Sent to other local governments1.8%Debt payments (principal and interest)0.3%
Full West Bend-Mallard Community School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
98%$7.7 million
Sent to other local governments
1.8%$142 thousand
Debt payments (principal and interest)
0.3%$25 thousand
West Bend-Mallard Community School District page →

Laurens-Marathon Community School District

$6.7 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the Iowa Department of Education.

About 23% of this ZIP is in Laurens-Marathon Community School District.

Where the money comes from

State tax money51%School district taxes40%Federal tax money7.1%Fines and other1.0%Fees for services0.6%
Full Laurens-Marathon Community School District breakdown

School district taxes40%

Property tax
38%$2.2 million
Individual income tax
2.4%$145 thousand
Other taxes
0.3%$19 thousand

Fees for services0.6%

Fees for services
0.6%$34 thousand

Federal tax money7.1%

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

From the federal government
7.1%$421 thousand

State tax money51%

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

From the state
51%$3.0 million

Fines and other1.0%

Interest, rents and other
1.0%$60 thousand
Laurens-Marathon Community School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges98%Sent to other local governments2.1%
Full Laurens-Marathon Community School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
98%$6.6 million
Sent to other local governments
2.1%$143 thousand
Laurens-Marathon 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.

Palo Alto County. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2024. Most of this government's figures were estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau from a sample; the government did not report them itself.

Emmetsburg 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.

West Bend-Mallard 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.

Laurens-Marathon 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.

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.