ZIP 59520 · Chouteau County, MT

Three governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 59520: 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 Montana governments, the Montana Office of Public Instruction, as named under Sources and more.

Where do my taxes go in 59520?
59520 is served by the State of Montana, Chouteau County and Big Sandy Public Schools. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of Montana spent $9.11 billion (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Chouteau County spent $9.9 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2022) and Big Sandy Public Schools spent $3.8 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 59520?
Of the governments serving 59520, State of Montana collected $481 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Chouteau County collected $7.7 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2022) and Big Sandy Public Schools collected $1.1 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 59520.

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: Chouteau County and Big Sandy Public Schools

Why not this year? Montana governments with newer filings show school district figures from the Montana Office of Public Instruction (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 59520

State of Montana$481 million

4.5% of its $10.8 billion in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024

Chouteau County$7.7 million

63% of its $12.2 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2022 · estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

Big Sandy Public Schools$1.1 million

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

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

This ZIP is outside any city or town, so Chouteau County provides local services like police and parks.

Chouteau County

$9.9 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2022. Estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

About 97% of this ZIP is in Chouteau County.

Where the money comes from

County taxes63%Federal tax money17%State tax money14%Fees for services (road charges, parks, land and natural resources)5.3%Fines and other1.4%
Full Chouteau County breakdown

What stands out

63%

of Chouteau County's money comes from property tax.A typical U.S. county of under 50,000 people gets 28%.

County taxes63%

Property tax
63%$7.7 million
Other taxes
<0.1%$4 thousand
What's in other taxesOther licenses
  • Other licenses$4 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services5.3%

Fees for services
5.3%$648 thousand
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges; road charges and 1 more
  • Other service charges$543 thousand
  • Road charges$58 thousand
  • Parks, land and natural resources$47 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money17%

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

From the federal government
17%$2.0 million

State tax money14%

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

From the state
14%$1.7 million

Fines and other1.4%

Interest, rents and other
1.0%$118 thousand
Fines
0.4%$47 thousand
Chouteau County page →

Where the money goes

Roads, transit and parking41%Running the government and other costs21%Police, fire, courts and jails18%Sent to other local governments11%Health and hospitals5.2%All other spending2.8%

What stands out

11%

of Chouteau County's spending goes to local governments.Most U.S. counties of under 50,000 people spend nothing on this.

Full Chouteau County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Roads, transit and parking
41%$4.1 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and airports
  • Roads and highways$3.0 million
  • Airports$1.1 million
Running the government and other costs
21%$2.1 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; finance, tax collection and budgeting and 2 more
  • Other and not broken out$1.3 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$365 thousand
  • Government buildings$215 thousand
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$209 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
18%$1.8 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPrisons and jails; police and 2 more
  • Prisons and jails$760 thousand
  • Police$698 thousand
  • Courts and legal services$317 thousand
  • Fire protection$7 thousand
Sent to other local governments
11%$1.1 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$1.1 million
Health and hospitals
5.2%$511 thousand
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$511 thousand
Environment and natural resources
2.8%$272 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$272 thousand
Interest on debt
<0.1%$5 thousand
Chouteau County page →

Your schools

Big Sandy Public Schools

$3.8 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the Montana Office of Public Instruction.

About 97% of this ZIP is in Big Sandy Public Schools.

Where the money comes from

State tax money42%School district taxes30%Federal tax money13%County and local tax money8.9%Fees for services5.4%Fines and other0.8%
Full Big Sandy Public Schools breakdown

School district taxes30%

Property tax
30%$1.1 million

Fees for services5.4%

Fees for services
5.4%$198 thousand

Federal tax money13%

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

From the federal government
13%$465 thousand

State tax money42%

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

From the state
42%$1.5 million

County and local tax money8.9%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
8.9%$325 thousand

Fines and other0.8%

Interest, rents and other
0.8%$31 thousand
Big Sandy Public Schools page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges100%
Full Big Sandy Public Schools breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
100%$3.8 million
Big Sandy Public Schools page →

Your state

State of Montana

$9.11 billion budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

Where the money comes from

State taxes44%Federal tax money43%Fees for services (college tuition, liquor stores)7.7%Fines and other5.4%
Full Montana breakdown

What stands out

4.5%

of Montana's money comes from property tax.Most state governments get none.

State taxes44%

Individual income tax
21%$2.25 billion
Other taxes
16%$1.68 billion
What's in other taxesMotor fuel taxes; severance taxes and 16 more
  • Motor fuel taxes$288 million
  • Severance taxes$241 million
  • Motor vehicle licenses$211 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$198 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$190 million
  • Insurance premium taxes$178 million
  • Hunting and fishing licenses$84.1 million
  • Amusement taxes$83.4 million
  • Tobacco taxes$61.1 million
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$48.2 million
  • Public utility taxes$40.5 million
  • Other licenses$16.0 million
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$14.7 million
  • Driver's licenses$9.4 million
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$7.4 million
  • Amusement licenses$4.7 million
  • Corporation licenses$3.3 million
  • Public utility licenses$13 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Property tax
4.5%$481 million
Business income tax
2.9%$310 million

Fees for services7.7%

Fees for services
7.7%$829 million
What's in fees for servicesCollege tuition; liquor stores and 9 more
  • College tuition$430 million
  • Liquor stores$151 million
  • University housing and dining$125 million
  • Parks, land and natural resources$66.3 million
  • Other service charges$45.9 million
  • Housing$3.3 million
  • Hospital bills$2.6 million
  • Parks and recreation$2.2 million
  • Other education charges$1.9 million
  • Road charges$1.3 million
  • Airport$491 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money43%

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

From the federal government
43%$4.66 billion

Local tax money<0.1%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From local governments
<0.1%$4.7 million

Fines and other5.4%

Interest, rents and other
5.1%$551 million
Fines
0.3%$34.5 million
Montana page →

Where the money goes

Social services32%Sent to local governments16%Schools and colleges16%Roads, transit and parking10%Running the government and other costs8.5%All other spending17%

What stands out

16%

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

Full Montana breakdown

Spending by category100%

Social services
32%$2.95 billion
What's in social servicesOther public welfare; welfare institutions and 2 more
  • Other public welfare$2.85 billion
  • Welfare institutions$48.6 million
  • Unemployment and social insurance offices$43.1 million
  • Veterans' services$3.8 million
Sent to local governments
16%$1.45 billion
What's in sent to local governmentsSent to school districts; sent to local governments: general support and 13 more
  • Sent to school districts$1.03 billion
  • Sent to local governments: general support$248 million
  • Sent to local governments: roads and highways$102 million
  • Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$22.2 million
  • Sent to school districts (colleges)$16.2 million
  • Sent to local governments: public health$9.9 million
  • Sent to local governments: other public welfare$8.2 million
  • Sent to local governments: natural resources, farming and conservation$3.7 million
  • Sent to local governments: courts and legal services$3.2 million
  • Sent to local governments: housing and community development$2.7 million
  • Sent to local governments: airports$1.9 million
  • Sent to local governments: other government administration$1.8 million
  • Sent to local governments: inspections and regulation$1.8 million
  • Sent to local governments: libraries$1.1 million
  • Sent to local governments: finance, tax collection and budgeting$50 thousand
Schools and colleges
16%$1.44 billion
What's in schools and collegesColleges and universities; college housing, dining and bookstores and 2 more
  • Colleges and universities$1.12 billion
  • College housing, dining and bookstores$157 million
  • Scholarships and other education subsidies$132 million
  • Other education$23.6 million
Roads, transit and parking
10%$953 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways; public transit and 1 more
  • Roads and highways$933 million
  • Public transit$17.6 million
  • Airports$2.3 million
Running the government and other costs
8.5%$770 million
What's in running the government and other costsFinance, tax collection and budgeting; other and not broken out and 4 more
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$291 million
  • Other and not broken out$176 million
  • Government buildings$147 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$86.4 million
  • Other government administration$69.7 million
  • Other government-run businesses$185 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
5.9%$540 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsProbation, parole and other corrections; courts and legal services and 3 more
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$166 million
  • Courts and legal services$126 million
  • Prisons and jails$125 million
  • Police$82.9 million
  • Inspections and regulation$41.2 million
Environment and natural resources
3.9%$356 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$356 million
Health and hospitals
3.5%$317 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health and hospitals
  • Public health$213 million
  • Hospitals$104 million
Interest on debt
1.5%$139 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
1.4%$126 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesLiquor stores
  • Liquor stores$126 million
Housing and community development
0.4%$37.9 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.4%$33.8 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$25.6 million
  • Libraries$8.2 million
Montana page →
Sources and moreEach government's source, fiscal year and how a ZIP is matched

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

Chouteau County. U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments, Finance, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2022. Most of this government's figures were estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau from a sample; the government did not report them itself. The Census record for this government is from the 2022 survey, the newest on file.

Big Sandy Public Schools. Montana Office of Public Instruction, school district revenue and expenditure reports (OPI Financial Data Files), 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.

How these figures are counted. Montana school district figures are from each district's financial reports to the Montana Office of Public Instruction for fiscal year 2025 (the 2024-25 school year, ended June 30, 2025). They cover governmental and enterprise funds, including student activity funds, and leave out trust funds, transfers between funds and bond proceeds. Where an elementary district and a high school district share one board and are counted as one government, the two are added together. Spending includes construction and debt payments (principal and interest), and tuition paid to other districts is counted as education spending.

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.