ZIP 54554 · Phelps, WI

Four governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 54554: 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 54554?
54554 is served by the State of Wisconsin, Vilas County, the Town of Phelps and Phelps School District. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of Wisconsin spent $53.8 billion (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Vilas County spent $37.5 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2024), Town of Phelps spent $2.4 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2024) and Phelps School District spent $4.0 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 54554?
Of the governments serving 54554, State of Wisconsin collected $91.2 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Vilas County collected $17.6 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2024), Phelps School District collected $2.5 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025) and Town of Phelps collected $1.4 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2024) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 54554.

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: Vilas County, Phelps and Phelps School District

Figures for Wisconsin governments come from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and are for 2024 and 2025, each government's newest year on file. The state government's own figures are the newest year the U.S. Census Bureau has published.

Where property tax goes in 54554

State of Wisconsin$91.2 million

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

Vilas County$17.6 million

45% of its $38.8 million in revenue · fiscal year ended December 31, 2024

Phelps School District$2.5 million

69% of its $3.7 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

Town of Phelps$1.4 million

47% of its $3.1 million 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

Vilas County

$37.5 million budget in fiscal year 2024 (ended December 31, 2024), from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.

Where the money comes from

County taxes59%State tax money22%Fees for services6.7%Fines and other6.1%Federal tax money5.8%
Full Vilas County breakdown

County taxes59%

Property tax
45%$17.6 million
Other taxes
14%$5.5 million

Fees for services6.7%

Fees for services
6.7%$2.6 million

Federal tax money5.8%

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

From the federal government
5.8%$2.2 million

State tax money22%

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

From the state
22%$8.5 million

Fines and other6.1%

Interest, rents and other
6.0%$2.3 million
Fines
0.1%$43 thousand
Vilas County page →

Where the money goes

Police, fire, courts and jails26%Social services23%Running the government and other costs20%Roads, transit and parking11%Housing and community development7.9%All other spending11%
Full Vilas County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
26%$9.8 million
Social services
23%$8.8 million
Running the government and other costs
20%$7.7 million
Roads, transit and parking
11%$4.0 million
Housing and community development
7.9%$2.9 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
7.5%$2.8 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
3.9%$1.5 million
Vilas County page →

Your town

Town of Phelps

$2.4 million budget in fiscal year 2024 (ended December 31, 2024), from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.

Where the money comes from

Town taxes47%Fines and other30%State tax money20%Fees for services1.4%Federal tax money0.5%County and local tax money0.3%
Full Phelps breakdown

Town taxes47%

Property tax
47%$1.4 million
Other taxes
0.6%$17 thousand

Fees for services1.4%

Fees for services
1.4%$42 thousand

Federal tax money0.5%

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

From the federal government
0.5%$15 thousand

State tax money20%

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

From the state
20%$628 thousand

County and local tax money0.3%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
0.3%$8 thousand

Fines and other30%

Interest, rents and other
30%$929 thousand
Phelps page →

Where the money goes

Roads, transit and parking28%Debt payments (principal and interest)24%Police, fire, courts and jails18%Running the government and other costs18%Parks, recreation and libraries9.4%All other spending3.9%
Full Phelps breakdown

Spending by category100%

Roads, transit and parking
28%$648 thousand
Debt payments (principal and interest)
24%$553 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
18%$423 thousand
Running the government and other costs
18%$416 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
9.4%$221 thousand
Housing and community development
2.8%$67 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
0.6%$15 thousand
Health and hospitals
0.4%$10 thousand
Phelps page →

Your schools

Phelps School District

$4.0 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

Where the money comes from

School district taxes69%State tax money9.7%Fines and other6.5%Federal tax money5.4%County and local tax money5.0%Fees for services4.4%
Full Phelps School District breakdown

School district taxes69%

Property tax
69%$2.5 million

Fees for services4.4%

Fees for services
4.4%$161 thousand

Federal tax money5.4%

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

From the federal government
5.4%$200 thousand

State tax money9.7%

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

From the state
9.7%$357 thousand

County and local tax money5.0%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
5.0%$183 thousand

Fines and other6.5%

Interest, rents and other
6.5%$239 thousand
Phelps School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges90%Sent to other local governments10%
Full Phelps School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
90%$3.6 million
Sent to other local governments
10%$417 thousand
Phelps 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.

Vilas County. 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.

Town of Phelps. 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.

Phelps 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.

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.