ZIP 68521 · Lincoln, NE

Four governments run on your community's money

From the state down to your schools: where each one's money comes from and goes.

Yearly budgets from each government's latest fiscal year on record. Tap one to jump to it.

Your state

State of Nebraska

$16.3 billion budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

Where the money comes from

State taxes48%Federal tax money35%Fines and other10%Fees for services (college tuition, university housing and dining)6.8%Local tax money0.3%
Full Nebraska breakdown

What stands out

10%

of Nebraska's money comes from business income taxes.A typical state government gets 3.8%.

State taxes48%

Sales tax
18%$2.97 billion
Individual income tax
15%$2.48 billion
Business income tax
10%$1.72 billion
Other taxes
5.5%$937 million
What's in other taxesMotor fuel taxes; motor vehicle licenses and 15 more
  • Motor fuel taxes$415 million
  • Motor vehicle licenses$130 million
  • Insurance premium taxes$94.2 million
  • Public utility taxes$65.9 million
  • Tobacco taxes$43.7 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$33.6 million
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$32.7 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$28.7 million
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$22.6 million
  • Amusement taxes$21.9 million
  • Hunting and fishing licenses$16.7 million
  • Corporation licenses$12.5 million
  • Driver's licenses$11.6 million
  • Severance taxes$3.7 million
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$1.4 million
  • Other licenses$1.2 million
  • Amusement licenses$559 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Property tax
<0.1%$126 thousand

Fees for services6.8%

Fees for services
6.8%$1.15 billion
What's in fees for servicesCollege tuition; university housing and dining and 10 more
  • College tuition$490 million
  • University housing and dining$377 million
  • Other service charges$147 million
  • Other school charges$50.4 million
  • Parks, land and natural resources$43.5 million
  • Hospital bills$30.6 million
  • Parks and recreation$10.7 million
  • Housing$2.8 million
  • Road charges$533 thousand
  • Airport$225 thousand
  • Other education charges$221 thousand
  • Garbage collection$95 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money35%

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

From the federal government
35%$5.91 billion

Local tax money0.3%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From local governments
0.3%$46.3 million

Fines and other10%

Interest, rents and other
10%$1.76 billion
Fines
<0.1%$12.8 million
Nebraska page →

Where the money goes

Social services31%Sent to local governments26%Schools and colleges18%Roads, transit and parking7.5%Police, fire, courts and jails5.6%All other spending12%

What stands out

18%

of Nebraska's spending goes to schools and colleges.A typical state government spends 15%.

Full Nebraska breakdown

Spending by category100%

Social services
31%$5.03 billion
What's in social servicesOther public welfare; welfare institutions and 2 more
  • Other public welfare$4.89 billion
  • Welfare institutions$77.5 million
  • Unemployment and social insurance offices$45.4 million
  • Veterans' services$14.6 million
Sent to local governments
26%$4.22 billion
What's in sent to local governmentsSent to school districts; sent to local governments: general support and 14 more
  • Sent to school districts$2.32 billion
  • Sent to local governments: general support$1.11 billion
  • Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$449 million
  • Sent to school districts (colleges)$124 million
  • Sent to local governments: natural resources, farming and conservation$71.3 million
  • Sent to local governments: public health$66.9 million
  • Sent to local governments: roads and highways$27.2 million
  • Sent to local governments: sewer systems$16.8 million
  • Sent to local governments: airports$15.7 million
  • Sent to local governments: police$8.2 million
  • Sent to local governments: garbage and solid waste$6.8 million
  • Sent to local governments: other government administration$2.4 million
  • Sent to local governments: libraries$2.1 million
  • Sent to local governments: courts and legal services$860 thousand
  • Sent to local governments: parks and recreation$686 thousand
  • Sent to local governments: inspections and regulation$61 thousand
Schools and colleges
18%$2.93 billion
What's in schools and collegesColleges and universities; college housing, dining and bookstores and 2 more
  • Colleges and universities$1.98 billion
  • College housing, dining and bookstores$562 million
  • Scholarships and other education subsidies$271 million
  • Other education$125 million
Roads, transit and parking
7.5%$1.21 billion
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and airports
  • Roads and highways$1.21 billion
  • Airports$1.8 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
5.6%$906 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPrisons and jails; probation, parole and other corrections and 3 more
  • Prisons and jails$377 million
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$221 million
  • Police$128 million
  • Courts and legal services$119 million
  • Inspections and regulation$59.7 million
Running the government and other costs
4.9%$796 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; finance, tax collection and budgeting and 3 more
  • Other and not broken out$420 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$247 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$91.0 million
  • Other government administration$27.8 million
  • Government buildings$10.2 million
Health and hospitals
3.9%$641 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health and hospitals
  • Public health$380 million
  • Hospitals$260 million
Environment and natural resources
2.2%$354 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$354 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.5%$80.0 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$75.9 million
  • Libraries$4.0 million
Interest on debt
0.5%$79.1 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
<0.1%$5.4 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste
  • Garbage and solid waste$5.4 million
Housing and community development
<0.1%$1.1 million
Nebraska page →

Your county

Lancaster County

$198 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

Where the money comes from

County taxes55%Fines and other17%State tax money14%Fees for services (hospital bills)9.2%Federal tax money2.3%Local tax money1.7%
Full Lancaster County breakdown

What stands out

11%

of Lancaster County's money comes from taxes other than property, sales and income taxes.A typical U.S. county of 250,000+ people gets 2.5%.

County taxes55%

Property tax
44%$91.6 million
Other taxes
11%$23.6 million
What's in other taxesMotor vehicle licenses; estate and gift taxes and 4 more
  • Motor vehicle licenses$11.6 million
  • Estate and gift taxes$7.3 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$4.7 million
  • Other licenses$60 thousand
  • Occupation and business licenses$14 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$2 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services9.2%

Fees for services
9.2%$19.0 million
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges and hospital bills
  • Other service charges$17.9 million
  • Hospital bills$1.1 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money2.3%

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

From the federal government
2.3%$4.7 million

State tax money14%

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

From the state
14%$29.9 million

Local tax money1.7%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
1.7%$3.5 million

Fines and other17%

Interest, rents and other
17%$35.6 million
Lancaster County page →

Where the money goes

Police, fire, courts and jails48%Running the government and other costs20%Roads, transit and parking18%Social services7.5%Sent to other local governments3.4%All other spending2.8%

What stands out

48%

of Lancaster County's spending goes to police, fire, courts and jails.A typical U.S. county of 250,000+ people spends 24%.

Full Lancaster County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
48%$95.0 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPrisons and jails; courts and legal services and 2 more
  • Prisons and jails$41.5 million
  • Courts and legal services$26.8 million
  • Police$20.1 million
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$6.5 million
Running the government and other costs
20%$39.6 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$23.2 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$11.4 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$3.0 million
  • Government buildings$2.0 million
Roads, transit and parking
18%$36.6 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$36.6 million
Social services
7.5%$14.8 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare and welfare institutions
  • Other public welfare$14.7 million
  • Welfare institutions$144 thousand
Sent to other local governments
3.4%$6.8 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$6.8 million
Health and hospitals
2.3%$4.6 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$4.6 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.5%$998 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesLibraries
  • Libraries$998 thousand
Lancaster County page →

Your city

City of Lincoln

$538 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended August 31, 2023.

About 94% of this ZIP is in Lincoln.

Where the money comes from

City taxes56%Fees for services (sewer, water)19%Fines and other9.8%Federal tax money8.7%State tax money6.1%County and local tax money0.4%
Full Lincoln breakdown

What stands out

20%

of Lincoln's money comes from sales tax.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people gets 7.8%.

City taxes56%

Sales tax
20%$100 million
Property tax
19%$96.0 million
Other taxes
17%$84.3 million
What's in other taxesOther licenses; occupation and business licenses and 1 more
  • Other licenses$47.3 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$30.0 million
  • Motor vehicle licenses$7.1 million

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services19%

Fees for services
19%$95.4 million
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges; sewer and 5 more
  • Other service charges$22.8 million
  • Sewer$22.3 million
  • Water$21.8 million
  • Gas$17.7 million
  • Parks and recreation$6.3 million
  • Transit fares$2.7 million
  • Garbage collection$1.7 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money8.7%

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

From the federal government
8.7%$43.6 million

State tax money6.1%

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

From the state
6.1%$30.7 million

County and local tax money0.4%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
0.4%$2.2 million

Fines and other9.8%

Interest, rents and other
9.8%$49.4 million
Lincoln page →

Where the money goes

Roads, transit and parking26%Police, fire, courts and jails22%Water, sewer, trash and utilities21%Running the government and other costs14%Parks, recreation and libraries9.7%All other spending7.1%

What stands out

26%

of Lincoln's spending goes to roads, transit and parking.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people spends 10%.

Full Lincoln breakdown

Spending by category100%

Roads, transit and parking
26%$142 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and public transit
  • Roads and highways$120 million
  • Public transit$21.4 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
22%$120 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 1 more
  • Police$63.2 million
  • Fire protection$40.4 million
  • Inspections and regulation$16.6 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
21%$112 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply; sewer systems and 2 more
  • Water supply$49.3 million
  • Sewer systems$34.2 million
  • Gas supply$15.3 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$13.7 million
Running the government and other costs
14%$73.0 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$33.3 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$23.9 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$11.1 million
  • Government buildings$4.8 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
9.7%$52.1 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$39.1 million
  • Libraries$13.0 million
Social services
2.7%$14.7 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$14.7 million
Housing and community development
2.4%$12.8 million
Health and hospitals
1.9%$10.2 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$10.2 million
Interest on debt
0.1%$670 thousand
Lincoln page →

Your schools

Lincoln Public School District 1

$650 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended August 31, 2023.

About 98% of this ZIP is in Lincoln Public School District 1.

Where the money comes from

School district taxes52%State tax money41%Fines and other3.9%Fees for services (school lunches)1.8%Federal tax money0.8%County and local tax money0.3%
Full Lincoln Public School District 1 breakdown

What stands out

4.8%

of Lincoln Public School District 1's money comes from taxes other than property, sales and income taxes.Most school districts with 25,000+ students get none.

School district taxes52%

Property tax
47%$333 million
Other taxes
4.8%$33.7 million
What's in other taxesOther taxes not classified elsewhere and public utility taxes
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$25.0 million
  • Public utility taxes$8.8 million

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services1.8%

Fees for services
1.8%$12.5 million
What's in fees for servicesSchool lunches and other school charges
  • School lunches$7.1 million
  • Other school charges$5.4 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money0.8%

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

From the federal government
0.8%$5.7 million

State tax money41%

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

From the state
41%$287 million

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%$2.3 million

Fines and other3.9%

Interest, rents and other
3.7%$25.8 million
Fines
0.2%$1.6 million
Lincoln Public School District 1 page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges97%Interest on debt2.8%
Full Lincoln Public School District 1 breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
97%$632 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
  • Elementary and secondary schools$632 million
Interest on debt
2.8%$17.9 million
Sent to other local governments
<0.1%$6 thousand
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to the state government
  • Sent to the state government$6 thousand
Lincoln Public School District 1 page →
Sources and moreEach government's source, fiscal year and how a ZIP is matched

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

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

Lincoln Public School District 1. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended August 31, 2023.

City of Lincoln. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended August 31, 2023.

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.