ZIP 54855 · Marengo, WI

Seven governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 54855: 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 54855?
54855 is served by the State of Wisconsin, Ashland County, the Town of Marengo, Mellen Joint School District 1, Ashland School District, the Town of White River and the Town of Ashland. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of Wisconsin spent $53.8 billion (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Ashland County spent $31.1 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2024), Town of Marengo spent $1.4 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2024), Mellen Joint School District 1 spent $4.6 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), Ashland School District spent $37.9 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), Town of White River spent $767 thousand (fiscal year ended December 31, 2024) and Town of Ashland spent $463 thousand (fiscal year ended December 31, 2024). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 54855?
Of the governments serving 54855, State of Wisconsin collected $91.2 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Ashland County collected $9.3 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2024), Ashland School District collected $6.6 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), Mellen Joint School District 1 collected $1.0 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), Town of White River collected $321 thousand (fiscal year ended December 31, 2024), Town of Marengo collected $219 thousand (fiscal year ended December 31, 2024) and Town of Ashland collected $149 thousand (fiscal year ended December 31, 2024) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 54855.

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: Ashland County, Marengo, White River and Ashland

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 54855

State of Wisconsin$91.2 million

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

Ashland County$9.3 million

30% of its $31.1 million in revenue · fiscal year ended December 31, 2024

Ashland School District$6.6 million

18% of its $37.5 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

Mellen Joint School District 1$1.0 million

22% of its $4.8 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

Town of White River$321 thousand

43% of its $755 thousand in revenue · fiscal year ended December 31, 2024

Town of Marengo$219 thousand

24% of its $911 thousand in revenue · fiscal year ended December 31, 2024

Town of Ashland$149 thousand

32% of its $462 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

Ashland County

$31.1 million budget in fiscal year 2024 (ended December 31, 2024), from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.

Where the money comes from

County taxes37%State tax money36%Fees for services18%Federal tax money5.8%Fines and other2.3%Local tax money0.4%
Full Ashland County breakdown

County taxes37%

Property tax
30%$9.3 million
Other taxes
7.5%$2.3 million

Fees for services18%

Fees for services
18%$5.6 million

Federal tax money5.8%

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

From the federal government
5.8%$1.8 million

State tax money36%

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

From the state
36%$11.2 million

Local tax money0.4%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
0.4%$118 thousand

Fines and other2.3%

Interest, rents and other
2.1%$661 thousand
Fines
0.2%$60 thousand
Ashland County page →

Where the money goes

Social services37%Running the government and other costs21%Police, fire, courts and jails21%Roads, transit and parking8.6%Debt payments (principal and interest)7.6%All other spending5.2%
Full Ashland County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Social services
37%$11.5 million
Running the government and other costs
21%$6.5 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
21%$6.4 million
Roads, transit and parking
8.6%$2.7 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
7.6%$2.3 million
Housing and community development
3.9%$1.2 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
1.3%$407 thousand
Ashland County page →

Your towns

Town of Marengo

$1.4 million budget in fiscal year 2024 (ended December 31, 2024), from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.

About 65% of this ZIP is in Marengo.

Where the money comes from

State tax money74%Town taxes25%Fees for services1.1%Fines and other<0.1%
Full Marengo breakdown

Town taxes25%

Property tax
24%$219 thousand
Other taxes
0.8%$7 thousand

Fees for services1.1%

Fees for services
1.1%$10 thousand

State tax money74%

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

From the state
74%$675 thousand

Fines and other<0.1%

Interest, rents and other
<0.1%$479
Marengo page →

Where the money goes

Roads, transit and parking56%Debt payments (principal and interest)33%Running the government and other costs4.5%Police, fire, courts and jails4.3%Water, sewer, trash and utilities0.9%Health and hospitals0.7%
Full Marengo breakdown

Spending by category100%

Roads, transit and parking
56%$788 thousand
Debt payments (principal and interest)
33%$465 thousand
Running the government and other costs
4.5%$63 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
4.3%$60 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
0.9%$12 thousand
Health and hospitals
0.7%$10 thousand
Marengo page →

Town of White River

$767 thousand budget in fiscal year 2024 (ended December 31, 2024), from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.

About 24% of this ZIP is in White River.

Where the money comes from

State tax money55%Town taxes44%Fines and other0.7%Fees for services0.5%
Full White River breakdown

Town taxes44%

Property tax
43%$321 thousand
Other taxes
1.0%$8 thousand

Fees for services0.5%

Fees for services
0.5%$4 thousand

State tax money55%

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

From the state
55%$416 thousand

Fines and other0.7%

Interest, rents and other
0.7%$5 thousand
White River page →

Where the money goes

Roads, transit and parking39%Debt payments (principal and interest)32%Police, fire, courts and jails15%Running the government and other costs13%Water, sewer, trash and utilities2.0%
Full White River breakdown

Spending by category100%

Roads, transit and parking
39%$296 thousand
Debt payments (principal and interest)
32%$244 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
15%$112 thousand
Running the government and other costs
13%$100 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
2.0%$16 thousand
White River page →

Town of Ashland

$463 thousand budget in fiscal year 2024 (ended December 31, 2024), from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.

About 11% of this ZIP is in Ashland.

Where the money comes from

State tax money56%Town taxes36%Fees for services7.5%Fines and other0.3%
Full Ashland breakdown

Town taxes36%

Property tax
32%$149 thousand
Other taxes
3.8%$18 thousand

Fees for services7.5%

Fees for services
7.5%$34 thousand

State tax money56%

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

From the state
56%$260 thousand

Fines and other0.3%

Interest, rents and other
0.3%$2 thousand
Ashland page →

Where the money goes

Roads, transit and parking56%Police, fire, courts and jails19%Debt payments (principal and interest)11%Running the government and other costs10%Water, sewer, trash and utilities2.3%All other spending0.9%
Full Ashland breakdown

Spending by category100%

Roads, transit and parking
56%$260 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
19%$90 thousand
Debt payments (principal and interest)
11%$51 thousand
Running the government and other costs
10%$48 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
2.3%$11 thousand
Health and hospitals
0.8%$4 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
<0.1%$200
Ashland page →

Your schools

Mellen Joint School District 1

$4.6 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

About 52% of this ZIP is in Mellen Joint School District 1.

Where the money comes from

State tax money55%School district taxes22%Federal tax money13%County and local tax money5.2%Fines and other4.2%Fees for services0.9%
Full Mellen Joint School District 1 breakdown

School district taxes22%

Property tax
22%$1.0 million
Other taxes
<0.1%$41

Fees for services0.9%

Fees for services
0.9%$42 thousand

Federal tax money13%

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

From the federal government
13%$606 thousand

State tax money55%

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

From the state
55%$2.6 million

County and local tax money5.2%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
5.2%$250 thousand

Fines and other4.2%

Interest, rents and other
4.2%$203 thousand
Mellen Joint School District 1 page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges92%Sent to other local governments5.9%Debt payments (principal and interest)1.8%
Full Mellen Joint School District 1 breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
92%$4.3 million
Sent to other local governments
5.9%$273 thousand
Debt payments (principal and interest)
1.8%$81 thousand
Mellen Joint School District 1 page →

Ashland School District

$37.9 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

About 48% of this ZIP is in Ashland School District.

Where the money comes from

State tax money63%School district taxes18%Federal tax money13%Fines and other3.3%County and local tax money1.4%Fees for services1.2%
Full Ashland School District breakdown

School district taxes18%

Property tax
18%$6.6 million

Fees for services1.2%

Fees for services
1.2%$464 thousand

Federal tax money13%

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

From the federal government
13%$5.0 million

State tax money63%

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

From the state
63%$23.7 million

County and local tax money1.4%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
1.4%$514 thousand

Fines and other3.3%

Interest, rents and other
3.3%$1.2 million
Ashland School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges82%Debt payments (principal and interest)9.8%Sent to other local governments8.7%
Full Ashland School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
82%$30.9 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
9.8%$3.7 million
Sent to other local governments
8.7%$3.3 million
Ashland 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.

Ashland 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 Marengo. 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.

Mellen Joint School District 1. 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.

Ashland 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 White River. 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 Ashland. 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.