ZIP 52540 · Brighton, IA

Six governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 52540: 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 52540?
52540 is served by the State of Iowa, Washington Community School District, Jefferson County, Washington County, Fairfield Community School District and the City of Brighton. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of Iowa spent $30.0 billion (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Washington Community School District spent $40.7 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), Jefferson County spent $76.0 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Washington County spent $85.8 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Fairfield Community School District spent $26.8 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025) and City of Brighton spent $1.3 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 52540?
Of the governments serving 52540, Washington County collected $15.0 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Fairfield Community School District collected $11.1 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), Jefferson County collected $8.9 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Washington Community School District collected $8.9 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), State of Iowa collected $837 thousand (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024) and City of Brighton collected $156 thousand (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 52540.

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: Jefferson County, Washington County, Brighton and Washington 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 52540

Washington County$15.0 million

17% of its $86.1 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024

Fairfield Community School District$11.1 million

37% of its $30.1 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

Jefferson County$8.9 million

6.5% of its $136 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024

Washington Community School District$8.9 million

27% of its $32.8 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

City of Brighton$156 thousand

11% of its $1.4 million 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

Jefferson County

$76.0 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

About 54% of this ZIP is in Jefferson County.

Where the money comes from

Fees for services (hospital bills, road charges)86%County taxes7.4%State tax money3.7%Fines and other2.9%

What stands out

86%

of Jefferson 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 Jefferson County breakdown

County taxes7.4%

Property tax
6.5%$8.9 million
Sales tax
0.7%$988 thousand
Other taxes
0.1%$148 thousand
What's in other taxesPublic utility taxes and other licenses
  • Public utility taxes$103 thousand
  • Other licenses$45 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services86%

Fees for services
86%$117 million
What's in fees for servicesHospital bills; road charges and 2 more
  • Hospital bills$116 million
  • Road charges$615 thousand
  • Other service charges$508 thousand
  • Parks, land and natural resources$85 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

State tax money3.7%

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

From the state
3.7%$5.1 million

Fines and other2.9%

Interest, rents and other
2.9%$3.9 million
Jefferson County page →

Where the money goes

Health and hospitals80%Roads, transit and parking6.8%Police, fire, courts and jails5.7%Running the government and other costs5.3%Interest on debt0.8%All other spending1.5%

What stands out

80%

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

Full Jefferson County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Health and hospitals
80%$60.8 million
What's in health and hospitalsHospitals and public health
  • Hospitals$60.1 million
  • Public health$736 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
6.8%$5.1 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$5.1 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
5.7%$4.3 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; prisons and jails and 1 more
  • Police$2.3 million
  • Prisons and jails$1.3 million
  • Courts and legal services$701 thousand
Running the government and other costs
5.3%$4.0 million
What's in running the government and other costsCentral staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology); government buildings and 2 more
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$2.0 million
  • Government buildings$791 thousand
  • Other and not broken out$727 thousand
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$449 thousand
Interest on debt
0.8%$573 thousand
Environment and natural resources
0.6%$488 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$488 thousand
Social services
0.4%$275 thousand
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$275 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.2%$184 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$98 thousand
  • Libraries$86 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
0.2%$151 thousand
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste
  • Garbage and solid waste$151 thousand
Housing and community development
<0.1%$28 thousand
Jefferson County page →

Washington County

$85.8 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

About 47% of this ZIP is in Washington County.

Where the money comes from

Fees for services (hospital bills, road charges)59%County taxes20%Fines and other10%State tax money7.9%Local tax money2.6%Federal tax money0.2%

What stands out

59%

of Washington 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 Washington County breakdown

County taxes20%

Property tax
17%$15.0 million
Sales tax
2.2%$1.9 million
Other taxes
0.3%$288 thousand
What's in other taxesPublic utility taxes
  • Public utility taxes$288 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services59%

Fees for services
59%$51.0 million
What's in fees for servicesHospital bills; other government-run businesses and 3 more
  • Hospital bills$49.0 million
  • Other government-run businesses$1.6 million
  • Road charges$218 thousand
  • Other service charges$133 thousand
  • Parks and recreation$83 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money0.2%

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

From the federal government
0.2%$142 thousand

State tax money7.9%

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

From the state
7.9%$6.8 million

Local tax money2.6%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
2.6%$2.2 million

Fines and other10%

Interest, rents and other
10%$8.7 million
Washington County page →

Where the money goes

Health and hospitals72%Roads, transit and parking10%Police, fire, courts and jails7.6%Running the government and other costs4.9%Parks, recreation and libraries2.0%All other spending3.3%

What stands out

72%

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

Full Washington County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Health and hospitals
72%$62.0 million
What's in health and hospitalsHospitals and public health
  • Hospitals$57.1 million
  • Public health$4.8 million
Roads, transit and parking
10%$8.6 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$8.6 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
7.6%$6.5 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; prisons and jails and 2 more
  • Police$3.7 million
  • Prisons and jails$2.0 million
  • Courts and legal services$842 thousand
  • Fire protection$19 thousand
Running the government and other costs
4.9%$4.2 million
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$1.6 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$1.4 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$781 thousand
  • Government buildings$438 thousand
  • Other government-run businesses$4 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
2.0%$1.7 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$1.5 million
  • Libraries$165 thousand
Sent to other local governments
1.6%$1.4 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$1.4 million
Interest on debt
1.1%$935 thousand
Social services
0.3%$273 thousand
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$273 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
0.2%$211 thousand
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste
  • Garbage and solid waste$211 thousand
Environment and natural resources
<0.1%$46 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$46 thousand
Housing and community development
<0.1%$10 thousand
Washington County page →

Your city

City of Brighton

$1.3 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

About 15% of this ZIP is in Brighton.

Where the money comes from

Fees for services (gas, sewer)53%City taxes21%Fines and other11%State tax money6.3%Federal tax money4.6%County and local tax money4.6%
Full Brighton breakdown

What stands out

7%

of Brighton's money comes from sales tax.Most U.S. cities, towns and villages of under 10,000 people get none.

City taxes21%

Property tax
11%$156 thousand
Sales tax
7.0%$95 thousand
Other taxes
2.4%$32 thousand
What's in other taxesPublic utility taxes and other licenses
  • Public utility taxes$31 thousand
  • Other licenses$1 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services53%

Fees for services
53%$718 thousand
What's in fees for servicesGas; sewer and 2 more
  • Gas$321 thousand
  • Sewer$209 thousand
  • Water$127 thousand
  • Garbage collection$61 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money4.6%

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

From the federal government
4.6%$63 thousand

State tax money6.3%

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

From the state
6.3%$85 thousand

County and local tax money4.6%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
4.6%$62 thousand

Fines and other11%

Interest, rents and other
11%$148 thousand
Brighton page →

Where the money goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities56%Running the government and other costs15%Roads, transit and parking13%Police, fire, courts and jails7.1%Interest on debt3.5%All other spending5.6%

What stands out

56%

of Brighton's spending goes to water, sewer, trash and other utilities.A typical U.S. city, town or village of under 10,000 people spends 32%.

Full Brighton breakdown

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
56%$715 thousand
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGas supply; water supply and 2 more
  • Gas supply$283 thousand
  • Water supply$258 thousand
  • Sewer systems$116 thousand
  • Garbage and solid waste$58 thousand
Running the government and other costs
15%$185 thousand
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; government buildings and 3 more
  • Other and not broken out$99 thousand
  • Government buildings$39 thousand
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$31 thousand
  • Other government-run businesses$13 thousand
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$3 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
13%$168 thousand
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$168 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
7.1%$91 thousand
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 1 more
  • Police$41 thousand
  • Fire protection$34 thousand
  • Courts and legal services$16 thousand
Interest on debt
3.5%$45 thousand
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$40 thousand
  • Interest on water supply debt$5 thousand
Sent to other local governments
3.2%$41 thousand
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$41 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
2.1%$27 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$21 thousand
  • Libraries$6 thousand
Health and hospitals
0.2%$3 thousand
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$3 thousand
Brighton page →

Your schools

Washington Community School District

$40.7 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the Iowa Department of Education.

About 54% of this ZIP is in Washington Community School District.

Where the money comes from

State tax money53%School district taxes30%Fees for services6.7%Fines and other5.1%Federal tax money5.1%
Full Washington Community School District breakdown

School district taxes30%

Property tax
27%$8.9 million
Individual income tax
2.4%$792 thousand
Other taxes
0.7%$236 thousand

Fees for services6.7%

Fees for services
6.7%$2.2 million

Federal tax money5.1%

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

From the federal government
5.1%$1.7 million

State tax money53%

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

From the state
53%$17.3 million

Fines and other5.1%

Interest, rents and other
5.1%$1.7 million
Washington Community School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges91%Debt payments (principal and interest)7.5%Sent to other local governments1.7%
Full Washington Community School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
91%$37.0 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
7.5%$3.1 million
Sent to other local governments
1.7%$685 thousand
Washington Community School District page →

Fairfield Community School District

$26.8 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the Iowa Department of Education.

About 45% of this ZIP is in Fairfield Community School District.

Where the money comes from

State tax money44%School district taxes39%Federal tax money8.2%Fees for services5.6%Fines and other3.6%
Full Fairfield Community School District breakdown

School district taxes39%

Property tax
37%$11.1 million
Other taxes
1.8%$543 thousand
Individual income tax
0.4%$127 thousand

Fees for services5.6%

Fees for services
5.6%$1.7 million

Federal tax money8.2%

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

From the federal government
8.2%$2.5 million

State tax money44%

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

From the state
44%$13.1 million

Fines and other3.6%

Interest, rents and other
3.6%$1.1 million
Fairfield Community School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges94%Debt payments (principal and interest)3.8%Sent to other local governments2.4%
Full Fairfield Community School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
94%$25.1 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
3.8%$1.0 million
Sent to other local governments
2.4%$654 thousand
Fairfield 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.

Washington 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.

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

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

Fairfield 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.

City of Brighton. 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.