ZIP 59602 · Lewis and Clark County, MT

Five governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 59602: 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 59602?
59602 is served by the State of Montana, Lewis and Clark County, Helena Public Schools, East Helena K-12 School District 9 and Trinity Elementary District 4. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of Montana spent $9.11 billion (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Lewis and Clark County spent $78.0 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Helena Public Schools spent $109 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), East Helena K-12 School District 9 spent $23.2 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025) and Trinity Elementary District 4 spent $921 thousand (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 59602?
Of the governments serving 59602, State of Montana collected $481 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Lewis and Clark County collected $54.3 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Helena Public Schools collected $38.7 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), East Helena K-12 School District 9 collected $6.0 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025) and Trinity Elementary District 4 collected $359 thousand (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 59602.

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: Lewis and Clark County, Helena Public Schools, East Helena K-12 School District 9 and Trinity Elementary District 4

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 59602

State of Montana$481 million

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

Lewis and Clark County$54.3 million

62% of its $87.6 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024

Helena Public Schools$38.7 million

34% of its $113 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

East Helena K-12 School District 9$6.0 million

25% of its $24.3 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

Trinity Elementary District 4$359 thousand

43% of its $838 thousand 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 Lewis and Clark County provides local services like police and parks.

Lewis and Clark County

$78.0 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

Where the money comes from

County taxes62%Fines and other14%Federal tax money11%Fees for services (garbage collection, road charges)6.4%State tax money5.1%Local tax money0.8%
Full Lewis and Clark County breakdown

What stands out

62%

of Lewis and Clark County's money comes from property tax.A typical U.S. county of 50,000 to 250,000 people gets 28%.

County taxes62%

Property tax
62%$54.3 million
Other taxes
0.3%$258 thousand
What's in other taxesOccupation and business licenses; motor vehicle licenses and 2 more
  • Occupation and business licenses$223 thousand
  • Motor vehicle licenses$23 thousand
  • Other licenses$9 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$3 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services6.4%

Fees for services
6.4%$5.6 million
What's in fees for servicesGarbage collection; other service charges and 1 more
  • Garbage collection$3.2 million
  • Other service charges$1.9 million
  • Road charges$480 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money11%

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

From the federal government
11%$9.7 million

State tax money5.1%

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

From the state
5.1%$4.5 million

Local tax money0.8%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
0.8%$682 thousand

Fines and other14%

Interest, rents and other
14%$12.2 million
Fines
0.5%$421 thousand
Lewis and Clark County page →

Where the money goes

Police, fire, courts and jails41%Sent to other local governments18%Running the government and other costs16%Roads, transit and parking12%Health and hospitals7.7%All other spending6.3%

What stands out

18%

of Lewis and Clark County's spending goes to local governments.Most U.S. counties of 50,000 to 250,000 people spend nothing on this.

Full Lewis and Clark County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
41%$31.6 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice and courts and legal services
  • Police$25.3 million
  • Courts and legal services$6.3 million
Sent to other local governments
18%$13.7 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$13.7 million
Running the government and other costs
16%$12.4 million
What's in running the government and other costsCentral staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and finance, tax collection and budgeting
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$9.8 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$2.6 million
Roads, transit and parking
12%$9.4 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$9.4 million
Health and hospitals
7.7%$6.0 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$6.0 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
2.6%$2.0 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$2.0 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
1.6%$1.2 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste
  • Garbage and solid waste$1.2 million
Social services
1.5%$1.1 million
What's in social servicesWelfare institutions
  • Welfare institutions$1.1 million
Interest on debt
0.7%$536 thousand
Lewis and Clark County page →

Your schools

Helena Public Schools

$109 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the Montana Office of Public Instruction.

About 70% of this ZIP is in Helena Public Schools.

Where the money comes from

State tax money44%School district taxes34%County and local tax money8.5%Federal tax money8.0%Fines and other3.7%Fees for services1.8%
Full Helena Public Schools breakdown

School district taxes34%

Property tax
34%$38.7 million

Fees for services1.8%

Fees for services
1.8%$2.0 million

Federal tax money8.0%

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

From the federal government
8.0%$9.0 million

State tax money44%

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

From the state
44%$49.8 million

County and local tax money8.5%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
8.5%$9.6 million

Fines and other3.7%

Interest, rents and other
3.7%$4.2 million
Helena Public Schools page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges95%Debt payments (principal and interest)4.7%
Full Helena Public Schools breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
95%$104 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
4.7%$5.1 million
Helena Public Schools page →

East Helena K-12 School District 9

$23.2 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the Montana Office of Public Instruction.

About 30% of this ZIP is in East Helena K-12 School District 9.

Where the money comes from

State tax money53%School district taxes25%County and local tax money8.3%Fines and other6.2%Federal tax money4.9%Fees for services3.1%
Full East Helena K-12 School District 9 breakdown

School district taxes25%

Property tax
25%$6.0 million

Fees for services3.1%

Fees for services
3.1%$753 thousand

Federal tax money4.9%

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

From the federal government
4.9%$1.2 million

State tax money53%

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

From the state
53%$12.8 million

County and local tax money8.3%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
8.3%$2.0 million

Fines and other6.2%

Interest, rents and other
6.2%$1.5 million
East Helena K-12 School District 9 page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges86%Debt payments (principal and interest)14%
Full East Helena K-12 School District 9 breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
86%$20.0 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
14%$3.2 million
East Helena K-12 School District 9 page →

Trinity Elementary District 4

$921 thousand budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the Montana Office of Public Instruction.

About 21% of this ZIP is in Trinity Elementary District 4.

Where the money comes from

School district taxes43%State tax money22%Federal tax money21%Fines and other8.5%County and local tax money5.2%
Full Trinity Elementary District 4 breakdown

School district taxes43%

Property tax
43%$359 thousand

Federal tax money21%

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

From the federal government
21%$178 thousand

State tax money22%

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

From the state
22%$186 thousand

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%$43 thousand

Fines and other8.5%

Interest, rents and other
8.5%$72 thousand
Trinity Elementary District 4 page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges100%
Full Trinity Elementary District 4 breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
100%$921 thousand
Trinity Elementary District 4 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.

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

Helena 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.

East Helena K-12 School District 9. Montana Office of Public Instruction, school district revenue and expenditure reports (OPI Financial Data Files), fiscal year 2025, fiscal year ended June 30, 2025.

Trinity Elementary District 4. 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.