ZIP 51248 · O'Brien County, IA

Five governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 51248: 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 51248?
51248 is served by the State of Iowa, O'Brien County, Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Community School District, Sheldon Community School District and Osceola County. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of Iowa spent $30.0 billion (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), O'Brien County spent $16.3 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Community School District spent $13.1 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), Sheldon Community School District spent $38.9 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025) and Osceola County spent $13.5 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 51248?
Of the governments serving 51248, O'Brien County collected $9.7 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), Sheldon Community School District collected $7.2 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Community School District collected $7.0 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), Osceola County collected $5.6 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 51248.

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: O'Brien County, Osceola County, Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Community School District and Sheldon Community School District

Figures for Iowa governments come from the Iowa Department of Management and the Iowa Department of Education and are for 2025. The state government's own figures are the newest year the U.S. Census Bureau has published.

Where property tax goes in 51248

O'Brien County$9.7 million

51% of its $18.9 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

Sheldon Community School District$7.2 million

32% of its $22.8 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Community School District$7.0 million

49% of its $14.3 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

Osceola County$5.6 million

50% of its $11.3 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 O'Brien County and Osceola County provides local services like police and parks.

O'Brien County

$16.3 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the Iowa Department of Management.

About 90% of this ZIP is in O'Brien County.

Where the money comes from

County taxes52%Grants from federal, state and local governments37%Fines and other7.2%Fees for services4.3%
Full O'Brien County breakdown

County taxes52%

Property tax
51%$9.7 million
Other taxes
0.6%$111 thousand

Fees for services4.3%

Fees for services
4.3%$808 thousand

Grants from federal, state and local governments37%

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
37%$7.0 million

Fines and other7.2%

Interest, rents and other
7.2%$1.4 million
O'Brien County page →

Where the money goes

Roads, transit and parking38%Police, fire, courts and jails28%Running the government and other costs23%Environment and natural resources7.3%Health and hospitals3.6%
Full O'Brien County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Roads, transit and parking
38%$6.2 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
28%$4.6 million
Running the government and other costs
23%$3.7 million
Environment and natural resources
7.3%$1.2 million
Health and hospitals
3.6%$592 thousand
O'Brien County page →

Osceola County

$13.5 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the Iowa Department of Management.

About 10% of this ZIP is in Osceola County.

Where the money comes from

County taxes51%Grants from federal, state and local governments41%Fines and other4.3%Fees for services4.1%
Full Osceola County breakdown

County taxes51%

Property tax
50%$5.6 million
Other taxes
0.5%$62 thousand

Fees for services4.1%

Fees for services
4.1%$457 thousand

Grants from federal, state and local governments41%

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
41%$4.6 million

Fines and other4.3%

Interest, rents and other
4.3%$483 thousand
Osceola County page →

Where the money goes

Roads, transit and parking52%Running the government and other costs23%Police, fire, courts and jails15%Environment and natural resources5.3%Debt payments (principal and interest)3.6%Health and hospitals1.9%
Full Osceola County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Roads, transit and parking
52%$7.0 million
Running the government and other costs
23%$3.0 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
15%$2.0 million
Environment and natural resources
5.3%$709 thousand
Debt payments (principal and interest)
3.6%$480 thousand
Health and hospitals
1.9%$257 thousand
Osceola County page →

Your schools

Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Community School District

$13.1 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the Iowa Department of Education.

About 85% of this ZIP is in Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Community School District.

Where the money comes from

School district taxes51%State tax money34%Fees for services7.0%Federal tax money4.1%Fines and other3.3%
Full Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Community School District breakdown

School district taxes51%

Property tax
49%$7.0 million
Other taxes
2.0%$284 thousand
Individual income tax
1.0%$137 thousand

Fees for services7.0%

Fees for services
7.0%$1.0 million

Federal tax money4.1%

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

From the federal government
4.1%$589 thousand

State tax money34%

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

From the state
34%$4.9 million

Fines and other3.3%

Interest, rents and other
3.3%$468 thousand
Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Community School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges82%Debt payments (principal and interest)16%Sent to other local governments2.2%
Full Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Community School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
82%$10.8 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
16%$2.1 million
Sent to other local governments
2.2%$287 thousand
Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Community School District page →

Sheldon Community School District

$38.9 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the Iowa Department of Education.

About 13% of this ZIP is in Sheldon Community School District.

Where the money comes from

State tax money48%School district taxes35%Fees for services6.9%Federal tax money6.0%Fines and other4.3%
Full Sheldon Community School District breakdown

School district taxes35%

Property tax
32%$7.2 million
Individual income tax
2.4%$556 thousand
Other taxes
1.1%$240 thousand

Fees for services6.9%

Fees for services
6.9%$1.6 million

Federal tax money6.0%

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

From the federal government
6.0%$1.4 million

State tax money48%

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

From the state
48%$10.8 million

Fines and other4.3%

Interest, rents and other
4.3%$988 thousand
Sheldon Community School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges92%Debt payments (principal and interest)6.7%Sent to other local governments1.3%
Full Sheldon Community School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
92%$35.8 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
6.7%$2.6 million
Sent to other local governments
1.3%$487 thousand
Sheldon 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.

O'Brien County. Iowa Department of Management, county Annual Financial Report data (Iowa Data Hub datasets 936 and 938), fiscal year 2025, fiscal year ended June 30, 2025. The earlier Census figures are from U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments, Finance, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2022.

Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn 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.

Sheldon 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.

Osceola County. Iowa Department of Management, county Annual Financial Report data (Iowa Data Hub datasets 936 and 938), fiscal year 2025, fiscal year ended June 30, 2025. The earlier Census figures are from U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments, Finance, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2022.

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.