ZIP 53541 · Gratiot, WI

Seven governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 53541: 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 Wisconsin governments, the Wisconsin Department of Revenue and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, as named under Sources and more.

Where do my taxes go in 53541?
53541 is served by the State of Wisconsin, Lafayette County, the Town of Gratiot, Black Hawk School District, Shullsburg City School District, Darlington Community School District and the Town of Wiota. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of Wisconsin spent $53.8 billion (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Lafayette County spent $57.1 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2023), Town of Gratiot spent $565 thousand (fiscal year ended December 31, 2024), Black Hawk School District spent $12.3 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), Shullsburg City School District spent $7.0 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), Darlington Community School District spent $17.6 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025) and Town of Wiota spent $851 thousand (fiscal year ended December 31, 2024). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 53541?
Of the governments serving 53541, State of Wisconsin collected $91.2 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Lafayette County collected $8.7 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2023), Darlington Community School District collected $4.1 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), Black Hawk School District collected $1.7 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), Shullsburg City School District collected $1.4 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), Town of Gratiot collected $267 thousand (fiscal year ended December 31, 2024) and Town of Wiota collected $239 thousand (fiscal year ended December 31, 2024) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 53541.

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: Lafayette County, Gratiot, Wiota and Black Hawk School District

Why not this year? Wisconsin governments with newer filings show figures from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (for 2024 and 2025, each government's newest year on file). 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 53541

State of Wisconsin$91.2 million

0.2% of its $50.5 billion in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024

Lafayette County$8.7 million

15% of its $57.5 million in revenue · fiscal year ended December 31, 2023

Darlington Community School District$4.1 million

25% of its $16.6 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

Black Hawk School District$1.7 million

23% of its $7.5 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

Shullsburg City School District$1.4 million

21% of its $6.6 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

Town of Gratiot$267 thousand

48% of its $556 thousand in revenue · fiscal year ended December 31, 2024

Town of Wiota$239 thousand

32% of its $753 thousand in revenue · fiscal year ended December 31, 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

Lafayette County

$57.1 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended December 31, 2023.

Where the money comes from

Fees for services (hospital bills, parks and recreation)65%County taxes18%State tax money12%Fines and other3.0%Federal tax money2.5%

What stands out

65%

of Lafayette 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 Lafayette County breakdown

County taxes18%

Property tax
15%$8.7 million
Sales tax
2.4%$1.4 million
Other taxes
0.4%$203 thousand
What's in other taxesOther licenses and real estate and stock transfer taxes
  • Other licenses$112 thousand
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$91 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services65%

Fees for services
65%$37.3 million
What's in fees for servicesHospital bills; other service charges and 2 more
  • Hospital bills$30.4 million
  • Other service charges$6.7 million
  • Parks and recreation$158 thousand
  • Parks, land and natural resources$37 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money2.5%

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

From the federal government
2.5%$1.4 million

State tax money12%

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

From the state
12%$6.8 million

Local tax money<0.1%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
<0.1%$8 thousand

Fines and other3.0%

Interest, rents and other
2.9%$1.6 million
Fines
0.2%$107 thousand
Lafayette County page →

Where the money goes

Health and hospitals61%Social services20%Police, fire, courts and jails9.5%Running the government and other costs7.4%Parks, recreation and libraries1.3%All other spending0.3%

What stands out

61%

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

Full Lafayette County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Health and hospitals
61%$34.9 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$34.9 million
Social services
20%$11.7 million
What's in social servicesWelfare institutions and other public welfare
  • Welfare institutions$7.0 million
  • Other public welfare$4.7 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
9.5%$5.4 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; prisons and jails and 1 more
  • Police$2.7 million
  • Prisons and jails$1.6 million
  • Courts and legal services$1.1 million
Running the government and other costs
7.4%$4.2 million
What's in running the government and other costsCentral staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology); other and not broken out and 2 more
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$1.5 million
  • Other and not broken out$1.3 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$1.1 million
  • Government buildings$385 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
1.3%$733 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$499 thousand
  • Libraries$234 thousand
Interest on debt
0.2%$115 thousand
Schools and colleges
<0.1%$52 thousand
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
  • Elementary and secondary schools$52 thousand
Lafayette County page →

Your towns

Town of Gratiot

$565 thousand budget in fiscal year 2024 (ended December 31, 2024), from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.

About 74% of this ZIP is in Gratiot.

Where the money comes from

Town taxes48%State tax money43%Fees for services5.6%Fines and other2.7%
Full Gratiot breakdown

Town taxes48%

Property tax
48%$267 thousand
Other taxes
0.3%$2 thousand

Fees for services5.6%

Fees for services
5.6%$31 thousand

State tax money43%

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

From the state
43%$241 thousand

Fines and other2.7%

Interest, rents and other
2.7%$15 thousand
Gratiot page →

Where the money goes

Roads, transit and parking65%Running the government and other costs12%Debt payments (principal and interest)11%Police, fire, courts and jails7.3%Water, sewer, trash and utilities4.0%Housing and community development1.2%
Full Gratiot breakdown

Spending by category100%

Roads, transit and parking
65%$367 thousand
Running the government and other costs
12%$68 thousand
Debt payments (principal and interest)
11%$60 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
7.3%$41 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
4.0%$23 thousand
Housing and community development
1.2%$7 thousand
Gratiot page →

Town of Wiota

$851 thousand budget in fiscal year 2024 (ended December 31, 2024), from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.

About 10% of this ZIP is in Wiota.

Where the money comes from

State tax money35%Town taxes33%Federal tax money28%Fines and other2.4%Fees for services1.9%
Full Wiota breakdown

Town taxes33%

Property tax
32%$239 thousand
Other taxes
0.8%$6 thousand

Fees for services1.9%

Fees for services
1.9%$14 thousand

Federal tax money28%

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

From the federal government
28%$212 thousand

State tax money35%

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

From the state
35%$264 thousand

Fines and other2.4%

Interest, rents and other
2.4%$18 thousand
Wiota page →

Where the money goes

Roads, transit and parking57%Water, sewer, trash and utilities28%Running the government and other costs10%Police, fire, courts and jails4.5%Parks, recreation and libraries0.5%
Full Wiota breakdown

Spending by category100%

Roads, transit and parking
57%$482 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
28%$240 thousand
Running the government and other costs
10%$87 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
4.5%$38 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.5%$5 thousand
Wiota page →

Your schools

Black Hawk School District

$12.3 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

About 72% of this ZIP is in Black Hawk School District.

Where the money comes from

State tax money54%School district taxes23%Federal tax money8.7%County and local tax money6.6%Fines and other5.6%Fees for services1.9%
Full Black Hawk School District breakdown

School district taxes23%

Property tax
23%$1.7 million

Fees for services1.9%

Fees for services
1.9%$141 thousand

Federal tax money8.7%

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

From the federal government
8.7%$648 thousand

State tax money54%

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

From the state
54%$4.0 million

County and local tax money6.6%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
6.6%$490 thousand

Fines and other5.6%

Interest, rents and other
5.6%$418 thousand
Black Hawk School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges86%Sent to other local governments7.9%Debt payments (principal and interest)5.8%
Full Black Hawk School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
86%$10.6 million
Sent to other local governments
7.9%$975 thousand
Debt payments (principal and interest)
5.8%$708 thousand
Black Hawk School District page →

Shullsburg City School District

$7.0 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

About 18% of this ZIP is in Shullsburg City School District.

Where the money comes from

State tax money56%School district taxes21%Federal tax money8.8%Fees for services5.9%County and local tax money4.9%Fines and other3.5%
Full Shullsburg City School District breakdown

School district taxes21%

Property tax
21%$1.4 million
Other taxes
<0.1%$642

Fees for services5.9%

Fees for services
5.9%$385 thousand

Federal tax money8.8%

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

From the federal government
8.8%$581 thousand

State tax money56%

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

From the state
56%$3.7 million

County and local tax money4.9%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
4.9%$322 thousand

Fines and other3.5%

Interest, rents and other
3.5%$232 thousand
Shullsburg City School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges93%Sent to other local governments6.6%Debt payments (principal and interest)0.1%
Full Shullsburg City School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
93%$6.5 million
Sent to other local governments
6.6%$459 thousand
Debt payments (principal and interest)
0.1%$9 thousand
Shullsburg City School District page →

Darlington Community School District

$17.6 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

About 10% of this ZIP is in Darlington Community School District.

Where the money comes from

State tax money62%School district taxes25%Federal tax money5.3%Fines and other4.0%County and local tax money2.8%Fees for services1.8%
Full Darlington Community School District breakdown

School district taxes25%

Property tax
25%$4.1 million
Other taxes
<0.1%$1 thousand

Fees for services1.8%

Fees for services
1.8%$293 thousand

Federal tax money5.3%

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

From the federal government
5.3%$879 thousand

State tax money62%

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

From the state
62%$10.2 million

County and local tax money2.8%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
2.8%$472 thousand

Fines and other4.0%

Interest, rents and other
4.0%$661 thousand
Darlington Community School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges91%Sent to other local governments5.9%Debt payments (principal and interest)3.4%
Full Darlington Community School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
91%$16.0 million
Sent to other local governments
5.9%$1.0 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
3.4%$595 thousand
Darlington Community School District page →

Your state

State of Wisconsin

$53.8 billion budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

Where the money comes from

State taxes48%Federal tax money30%Fees for services (hospital bills, college tuition)12%Fines and other9.6%Local tax money0.6%
Full Wisconsin breakdown

What stands out

19%

of Wisconsin's money comes from a personal income tax.A typical state government gets 14%.

State taxes48%

Individual income tax
19%$9.49 billion
Sales tax
15%$7.59 billion
Other taxes
8.6%$4.35 billion
What's in other taxesMotor fuel taxes; motor vehicle licenses and 18 more
  • Motor fuel taxes$1.17 billion
  • Motor vehicle licenses$722 million
  • Tobacco taxes$495 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$435 million
  • Public utility taxes$410 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$360 million
  • Insurance premium taxes$275 million
  • Hunting and fishing licenses$96.8 million
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$94.7 million
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$76.3 million
  • Public utility licenses$60.3 million
  • Other licenses$59.6 million
  • Driver's licenses$39.8 million
  • Corporation licenses$33.7 million
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$19.3 million
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$2.5 million
  • Severance taxes$1.1 million
  • Amusement taxes$166 thousand
  • Amusement licenses$77 thousand
  • Estate and gift taxes$8 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Business income tax
5.3%$2.66 billion
Property tax
0.2%$91.2 million

Fees for services12%

Fees for services
12%$5.90 billion
What's in fees for servicesHospital bills; college tuition and 8 more
  • Hospital bills$2.46 billion
  • College tuition$2.06 billion
  • Other service charges$752 million
  • University housing and dining$471 million
  • Parks, land and natural resources$74.2 million
  • Road charges$38.7 million
  • Housing$20.0 million
  • Parks and recreation$7.0 million
  • Other education charges$5.4 million
  • Sewer$101 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money30%

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

From the federal government
30%$15.3 billion

Local tax money0.6%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From local governments
0.6%$283 million

Fines and other9.6%

Interest, rents and other
9.5%$4.78 billion
Fines
0.1%$60.2 million
Wisconsin page →

Where the money goes

Social services31%Sent to local governments27%Schools and colleges15%Running the government and other costs7.6%Health and hospitals7.2%All other spending13%

What stands out

27%

of Wisconsin's spending goes to local governments.A typical state government spends 24%.

Full Wisconsin breakdown

Spending by category100%

Social services
31%$16.4 billion
What's in social servicesOther public welfare; unemployment and social insurance offices and 2 more
  • Other public welfare$16.1 billion
  • Unemployment and social insurance offices$134 million
  • Welfare institutions$128 million
  • Veterans' services$28.6 million
Sent to local governments
27%$14.6 billion
What's in sent to local governmentsSent to school districts; sent to local governments: general support and 17 more
  • Sent to school districts$8.52 billion
  • Sent to local governments: general support$3.19 billion
  • Sent to local governments: roads and highways$978 million
  • Sent to school districts (colleges)$601 million
  • Sent to local governments: other public welfare$376 million
  • Sent to local governments: public health$364 million
  • Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$346 million
  • Sent to local governments: natural resources, farming and conservation$137 million
  • Sent to local governments: courts and legal services$55.4 million
  • Sent to local governments: inspections and regulation$32.2 million
  • Sent to local governments: hospitals$12.4 million
  • Sent to local governments: ports and harbors$6.8 million
  • Sent to local governments: police$6.5 million
  • Sent to local governments: probation, parole and other corrections$3.3 million
  • Sent to local governments: airports$1.1 million
  • Sent to local governments: finance, tax collection and budgeting$543 thousand
  • Sent to local governments: parks and recreation$443 thousand
  • Sent to local governments: sewer systems$177 thousand
  • Sent to local governments: other government administration$58 thousand
Schools and colleges
15%$7.84 billion
What's in schools and collegesColleges and universities; scholarships and other education subsidies and 2 more
  • Colleges and universities$5.64 billion
  • Scholarships and other education subsidies$1.23 billion
  • College housing, dining and bookstores$671 million
  • Other education$289 million
Running the government and other costs
7.6%$4.10 billion
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$2.86 billion
  • Other and not broken out$627 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$550 million
  • Government buildings$52.1 million
  • Other government administration$9.4 million
Health and hospitals
7.2%$3.90 billion
What's in health and hospitalsHospitals and public health
  • Hospitals$2.99 billion
  • Public health$912 million
Roads, transit and parking
5.0%$2.68 billion
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways; airports and 3 more
  • Roads and highways$2.46 billion
  • Airports$188 million
  • Public transit$24.6 million
  • Ports and harbors$2.9 million
  • Parking$1.3 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
4.5%$2.42 billion
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPrisons and jails; courts and legal services and 3 more
  • Prisons and jails$1.41 billion
  • Courts and legal services$477 million
  • Inspections and regulation$285 million
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$195 million
  • Police$57.6 million
Environment and natural resources
1.2%$633 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$633 million
Interest on debt
1.1%$569 million
Housing and community development
1.0%$565 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.1%$57.6 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$57.6 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
<0.1%$5.8 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems
  • Sewer systems$5.8 million
Wisconsin page →
Sources and moreEach government's source, fiscal year and how a ZIP is matched

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

Lafayette County. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

Town of Gratiot. Wisconsin Department of Revenue, County and Municipal Revenues and Expenditures (Municipal Financial Report), calendar year 2024, fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. The earlier Census figures are from U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments, Finance, individual unit file, fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.

Black Hawk School District. Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, School Financial Services annual report data, school 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.

Shullsburg City School District. Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, School Financial Services annual report data, school 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.

Darlington Community School District. Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, School Financial Services annual report data, school 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.

Town of Wiota. Wisconsin Department of Revenue, County and Municipal Revenues and Expenditures (Municipal Financial Report), calendar year 2024, fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. The earlier Census figures are from U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments, Finance, individual unit file, fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.

How these figures are counted. Wisconsin county, city, village and town figures are the calendar-year Municipal Financial Reports filed with the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, which are unaudited, and many towns and small villages report on a cash basis. School district figures are the annual report data filed with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction for the 2024-25 school year, ended June 30, 2025. Everything is grouped into the same categories as the Census figures. Borrowing, transfers between a government's own funds and internal service funds are not counted. The "Debt payments" line includes principal as well as interest, so spending can be higher than the Census figure for the same government. County sales taxes are counted with other taxes.

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.