ZIP 68836 · Buffalo County, NE

Six governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 68836: 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 Nebraska governments, the Nebraska Department of Education, as named under Sources and more.

Where do my taxes go in 68836?
68836 is served by the State of Nebraska, Elm Creek Vil School District 9, Buffalo County, Phelps County, Dawson County and Holdrege City School District 44. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of Nebraska spent $16.3 billion (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Elm Creek Vil School District 9 spent $8.6 million (fiscal year ended August 31, 2025), Buffalo County spent $41.5 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2022), Phelps County spent $8.8 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2022), Dawson County spent $20.4 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2022) and Holdrege City School District 44 spent $19.2 million (fiscal year ended August 31, 2025). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 68836?
Of the governments serving 68836, Buffalo County collected $19.6 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2022), Dawson County collected $11.9 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2022), Holdrege City School District 44 collected $8.2 million (fiscal year ended August 31, 2025), Phelps County collected $6.0 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2022), Elm Creek Vil School District 9 collected $3.7 million (fiscal year ended August 31, 2025) and State of Nebraska collected $126 thousand (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 68836.

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: Buffalo County, Phelps County, Dawson County and Elm Creek Vil School District 9

Why not this year? Nebraska governments with newer filings show school district figures from the Nebraska Department of Education (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 68836

Buffalo County$19.6 million

62% of its $31.7 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2022

Dawson County$11.9 million

50% of its $23.7 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2022 · estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

Holdrege City School District 44$8.2 million

40% of its $20.2 million in revenue · fiscal year ended August 31, 2025

Phelps County$6.0 million

49% of its $12.3 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2022 · estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

Elm Creek Vil School District 9$3.7 million

47% of its $7.8 million in revenue · fiscal year ended August 31, 2025

State of Nebraska$126 thousand

<0.1% of its $17.0 billion in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 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 counties

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

Buffalo County

$41.5 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2022.

About 53% of this ZIP is in Buffalo County.

Where the money comes from

County taxes73%State tax money22%Federal tax money3.8%Local tax money1.1%Fines and other0.6%
Full Buffalo County breakdown

What stands out

62%

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

County taxes73%

Property tax
62%$19.6 million
Other taxes
11%$3.5 million
What's in other taxesMotor vehicle licenses; estate and gift taxes and 2 more
  • Motor vehicle licenses$2.1 million
  • Estate and gift taxes$1.3 million
  • Other licenses$32 thousand
  • Occupation and business licenses$3 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Federal tax money3.8%

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

From the federal government
3.8%$1.2 million

State tax money22%

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

From the state
22%$6.8 million

Local tax money1.1%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
1.1%$352 thousand

Fines and other0.6%

Interest, rents and other
0.6%$198 thousand
Buffalo County page →

Where the money goes

Running the government and other costs39%Police, fire, courts and jails27%Roads, transit and parking16%Sent to other local governments10%Health and hospitals6.3%All other spending1.7%

What stands out

10%

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

Full Buffalo County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Running the government and other costs
39%$16.3 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out and central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)
  • Other and not broken out$15.4 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$891 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
27%$11.1 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; courts and legal services and 2 more
  • Police$4.8 million
  • Courts and legal services$3.6 million
  • Prisons and jails$2.7 million
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$24 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
16%$6.5 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$6.5 million
Sent to other local governments
10%$4.2 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$4.2 million
Health and hospitals
6.3%$2.6 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$2.6 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.9%$391 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$391 thousand
Interest on debt
0.6%$247 thousand
Social services
0.2%$80 thousand
What's in social servicesWelfare institutions
  • Welfare institutions$80 thousand
Buffalo County page →

Phelps County

$8.8 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2022. Estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

About 33% of this ZIP is in Phelps County.

Where the money comes from

County taxes62%Fees for services (road charges)27%State tax money10%Fines and other1.1%

What stands out

27%

of Phelps County's money comes from fees for services such as water, sewer and parking.A typical U.S. county of under 50,000 people gets 8.4%.

Full Phelps County breakdown

County taxes62%

Property tax
49%$6.0 million
Other taxes
13%$1.6 million
What's in other taxesEstate and gift taxes; motor vehicle licenses and 1 more
  • Estate and gift taxes$1.0 million
  • Motor vehicle licenses$533 thousand
  • Other selective sales taxes$38 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services27%

Fees for services
27%$3.3 million
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges and road charges
  • Other service charges$1.8 million
  • Road charges$1.5 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

State tax money10%

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

From the state
10%$1.3 million

Fines and other1.1%

Interest, rents and other
1.1%$140 thousand
Phelps County page →

Where the money goes

Running the government and other costs37%Roads, transit and parking35%Police, fire, courts and jails22%Environment and natural resources2.4%Parks, recreation and libraries2.0%All other spending1.7%

What stands out

35%

of Phelps County's spending goes to roads, transit and parking.A typical U.S. county of under 50,000 people spends 16%.

Full Phelps County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Running the government and other costs
37%$3.2 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$2.2 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$396 thousand
  • Government buildings$330 thousand
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$306 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
35%$3.1 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$3.1 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
22%$1.9 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPrisons and jails; courts and legal services and 1 more
  • Prisons and jails$857 thousand
  • Courts and legal services$539 thousand
  • Police$500 thousand
Environment and natural resources
2.4%$212 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$212 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
2.0%$174 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesLibraries
  • Libraries$174 thousand
Social services
1.1%$99 thousand
What's in social servicesOther public welfare and welfare institutions
  • Other public welfare$66 thousand
  • Welfare institutions$33 thousand
Interest on debt
0.5%$47 thousand
Phelps County page →

Dawson County

$20.4 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2022. Estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

About 15% of this ZIP is in Dawson County.

Where the money comes from

County taxes51%State tax money38%Fees for services (parks, land and natural resources)6.4%Fines and other4.3%
Full Dawson County breakdown

What stands out

50%

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

County taxes51%

Property tax
50%$11.9 million
Other taxes
0.4%$98 thousand
What's in other taxesOther licenses
  • Other licenses$98 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services6.4%

Fees for services
6.4%$1.5 million
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges and parks, land and natural resources
  • Other service charges$1.4 million
  • Parks, land and natural resources$71 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

State tax money38%

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

From the state
38%$9.1 million

Fines and other4.3%

Interest, rents and other
4.3%$1.0 million
Dawson County page →

Where the money goes

Running the government and other costs39%Police, fire, courts and jails32%Roads, transit and parking23%Environment and natural resources1.7%Health and hospitals1.3%All other spending2.4%

What stands out

39%

of Dawson County's spending goes to running the government and other costs.A typical U.S. county of under 50,000 people spends 23%.

Full Dawson County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Running the government and other costs
39%$8.0 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$5.8 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$979 thousand
  • Government buildings$717 thousand
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$504 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
32%$6.6 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice and courts and legal services
  • Police$4.3 million
  • Courts and legal services$2.3 million
Roads, transit and parking
23%$4.7 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$4.7 million
Environment and natural resources
1.7%$356 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$356 thousand
Health and hospitals
1.3%$270 thousand
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$270 thousand
Social services
1.2%$245 thousand
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$245 thousand
Sent to other local governments
0.8%$166 thousand
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$166 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.4%$86 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$86 thousand
Dawson County page →

Your schools

Elm Creek Vil School District 9

$8.6 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended August 31, 2025), from the Nebraska Department of Education.

About 71% of this ZIP is in Elm Creek Vil School District 9.

Where the money comes from

School district taxes51%State tax money38%Fees for services5.5%Federal tax money4.5%Fines and other1.2%County and local tax money0.3%
Full Elm Creek Vil School District 9 breakdown

School district taxes51%

Property tax
47%$3.7 million
Other taxes
3.5%$271 thousand

Fees for services5.5%

Fees for services
5.5%$431 thousand

Federal tax money4.5%

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

From the federal government
4.5%$350 thousand

State tax money38%

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

From the state
38%$3.0 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%$25 thousand

Fines and other1.2%

Interest, rents and other
1.2%$92 thousand
Elm Creek Vil School District 9 page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges92%Debt payments (principal and interest)8.5%
Full Elm Creek Vil School District 9 breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
92%$7.9 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
8.5%$726 thousand
Elm Creek Vil School District 9 page →

Holdrege City School District 44

$19.2 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended August 31, 2025), from the Nebraska Department of Education.

About 11% of this ZIP is in Holdrege City School District 44.

Where the money comes from

School district taxes45%State tax money42%Federal tax money5.4%Fees for services4.7%Fines and other2.5%County and local tax money0.2%
Full Holdrege City School District 44 breakdown

School district taxes45%

Property tax
40%$8.2 million
Other taxes
4.6%$939 thousand

Fees for services4.7%

Fees for services
4.7%$941 thousand

Federal tax money5.4%

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

From the federal government
5.4%$1.1 million

State tax money42%

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

From the state
42%$8.5 million

County and local tax money0.2%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
0.2%$42 thousand

Fines and other2.5%

Interest, rents and other
2.5%$514 thousand
Holdrege City School District 44 page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges94%Debt payments (principal and interest)5.4%Sent to other local governments0.3%
Full Holdrege City School District 44 breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
94%$18.1 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
5.4%$1.0 million
Sent to other local governments
0.3%$63 thousand
Holdrege City School District 44 page →

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 →
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.

Elm Creek Vil School District 9. Nebraska Department of Education, School District Annual Financial Report, school year 2024/25, fiscal year ended August 31, 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 August 31, 2023.

Buffalo County. U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments, Finance, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2022. The Census record for this government is from the 2022 survey, the newest on file.

Phelps 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.

Dawson 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.

Holdrege City School District 44. Nebraska Department of Education, School District Annual Financial Report, school year 2024/25, fiscal year ended August 31, 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 August 31, 2023.

How these figures are counted. Revenue and spending are the Annual Financial Report figures that a Nebraska government filed with the Nebraska Department of Education for the 2024-25 school year, ended August 31, 2025, grouped into the same categories as the Census figures. The report covers all of the district's funds, such as the general, building, bond, employee benefit, school nutrition and activities funds. Borrowing, transfers between the district's own funds and loans between funds are not counted.

Debt payments. Debt payments include principal as well as interest. The Census figures leave principal out, so spending can be higher than the Census figure for the same district.

Federal and state money. Federal money passed through the state counts as federal here, so Nebraska school pages show more federal and less state money than the earlier Census figures did.

Cash basis. Elm Creek Vil School District 9 and Holdrege City School District 44 report on a cash basis, so these are money received and paid out during the year, and a year with a big construction project or loan repayment can show more spending than revenue.

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.