ZIP 52738 · Columbus City, IA

Four governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 52738: 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 52738?
52738 is served by the State of Iowa, Louisa County, Columbus Community School District and the City of Columbus City. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of Iowa spent $30.0 billion (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Louisa County spent $18.1 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Columbus Community School District spent $15.3 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025) and City of Columbus City spent $378 thousand (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 52738?
Of the governments serving 52738, Louisa County collected $6.9 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Columbus Community School District collected $3.1 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), State of Iowa collected $837 thousand (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024) and City of Columbus City collected $51 thousand (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 52738.

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: Louisa County, Columbus City and Columbus 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 52738

Louisa County$6.9 million

22% of its $31.0 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024 · estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

Columbus Community School District$3.1 million

23% of its $13.6 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 Columbus City$51 thousand

17% of its $308 thousand 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

Louisa County

$18.1 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024. Estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

About 97% of this ZIP is in Louisa County.

Where the money comes from

Fines and other56%County taxes28%State tax money13%Fees for services3.4%
Full Louisa County breakdown

What stands out

56%

of Louisa County's money comes from interest, rents and other revenue.A typical U.S. county of under 50,000 people gets 4.1%.

County taxes28%

Property tax
22%$6.9 million
Other taxes
3.0%$941 thousand
What's in other taxesPublic utility taxes and other licenses
  • Public utility taxes$917 thousand
  • Other licenses$24 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Sales tax
2.6%$796 thousand

Fees for services3.4%

Fees for services
3.4%$1.0 million
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges
  • Other service charges$1.0 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

State tax money13%

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

From the state
13%$3.9 million

Fines and other56%

Interest, rents and other
56%$17.4 million
Louisa County page →

Where the money goes

Roads, transit and parking33%Police, fire, courts and jails24%Running the government and other costs14%Interest on debt11%Environment and natural resources8.5%All other spending9.6%

What stands out

11%

of Louisa County's spending goes to interest on debt.Most U.S. counties of under 50,000 people spend nothing on this.

Full Louisa County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Roads, transit and parking
33%$6.0 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$6.0 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
24%$4.4 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; prisons and jails and 1 more
  • Police$2.6 million
  • Prisons and jails$1.4 million
  • Courts and legal services$349 thousand
Running the government and other costs
14%$2.5 million
What's in running the government and other costsFinance, tax collection and budgeting; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 2 more
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$958 thousand
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$763 thousand
  • Other and not broken out$561 thousand
  • Government buildings$191 thousand
Interest on debt
11%$1.9 million
Environment and natural resources
8.5%$1.5 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$1.5 million
Health and hospitals
7.9%$1.4 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$1.4 million
Social services
1.0%$180 thousand
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$180 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.5%$83 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesLibraries
  • Libraries$83 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
0.2%$44 thousand
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste
  • Garbage and solid waste$44 thousand
Louisa County page →

Your city

City of Columbus City

$378 thousand budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

About 45% of this ZIP is in Columbus City.

Where the money comes from

Fees for services (water, sewer)57%City taxes28%State tax money14%Fines and other0.3%
Full Columbus City breakdown

What stands out

11%

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

City taxes28%

Property tax
17%$51 thousand
Sales tax
11%$33 thousand
Other taxes
1.0%$3 thousand
What's in other taxesPublic utility taxes
  • Public utility taxes$3 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services57%

Fees for services
57%$177 thousand
What's in fees for servicesWater; sewer and 1 more
  • Water$75 thousand
  • Sewer$62 thousand
  • Garbage collection$40 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

State tax money14%

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

From the state
14%$43 thousand

Fines and other0.3%

Interest, rents and other
0.3%$1 thousand
Columbus City page →

Where the money goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities39%Roads, transit and parking22%Sent to other local governments20%Running the government and other costs13%Police, fire, courts and jails5.0%All other spending1.6%

What stands out

20%

of Columbus City's spending goes to local governments.Most U.S. cities, towns and villages of under 10,000 people spend nothing on this.

Full Columbus City breakdown

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
39%$148 thousand
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply; garbage and solid waste and 1 more
  • Water supply$72 thousand
  • Garbage and solid waste$40 thousand
  • Sewer systems$36 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
22%$83 thousand
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$83 thousand
Sent to other local governments
20%$74 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$74 thousand
Running the government and other costs
13%$48 thousand
What's in running the government and other costsGovernment buildings; finance, tax collection and budgeting and 2 more
  • Government buildings$19 thousand
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$16 thousand
  • Other and not broken out$8 thousand
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$5 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
5.0%$19 thousand
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice and courts and legal services
  • Police$15 thousand
  • Courts and legal services$4 thousand
Interest on debt
1.3%$5 thousand
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$3 thousand
  • Interest on water supply debt$2 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.3%$1 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$1 thousand
Columbus City page →

Your schools

Columbus Community School District

$15.3 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the Iowa Department of Education.

About 78% of this ZIP is in Columbus Community School District.

Where the money comes from

State tax money58%School district taxes26%Federal tax money7.7%Fees for services4.4%Fines and other4.3%
Full Columbus Community School District breakdown

School district taxes26%

Property tax
23%$3.1 million
Individual income tax
2.5%$337 thousand
Other taxes
0.4%$55 thousand

Fees for services4.4%

Fees for services
4.4%$601 thousand

Federal tax money7.7%

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

From the federal government
7.7%$1.0 million

State tax money58%

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

From the state
58%$7.9 million

Fines and other4.3%

Interest, rents and other
4.3%$583 thousand
Columbus Community School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges95%Debt payments (principal and interest)3.3%Sent to other local governments2.1%
Full Columbus Community School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
95%$14.5 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
3.3%$511 thousand
Sent to other local governments
2.1%$316 thousand
Columbus 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.

Louisa 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.

Columbus 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 Columbus City. 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.