ZIP 68872 · Prairie Creek Township, NE

Seven governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 68872: 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 68872?
68872 is served by the State of Nebraska, Howard County, Northwest Public School District 82, Merrick County, Prairie Creek Township, Central City School District 4 and Palmer Public School District 49. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of Nebraska spent $16.3 billion (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Howard County spent $26.1 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2022), Northwest Public School District 82 spent $22.9 million (fiscal year ended August 31, 2025), Merrick County spent $21.9 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2022), Prairie Creek Township spent $45 thousand (fiscal year ended June 30, 2022), Central City School District 4 spent $15.8 million (fiscal year ended August 31, 2025) and Palmer Public School District 49 spent $6.2 million (fiscal year ended August 31, 2025). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 68872?
Of the governments serving 68872, Central City School District 4 collected $6.5 million (fiscal year ended August 31, 2025), Northwest Public School District 82 collected $4.1 million (fiscal year ended August 31, 2025), Merrick County collected $4.1 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2022), Howard County collected $2.5 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2022), Palmer Public School District 49 collected $2.1 million (fiscal year ended August 31, 2025), State of Nebraska collected $126 thousand (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024) and Prairie Creek Township collected $25 thousand (fiscal year ended June 30, 2022) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 68872.

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: Howard County, Merrick County, Prairie Creek Township and Northwest Public School District 82

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 68872

Central City School District 4$6.5 million

40% of its $16.4 million in revenue · fiscal year ended August 31, 2025

Northwest Public School District 82$4.1 million

18% of its $22.8 million in revenue · fiscal year ended August 31, 2025

Merrick County$4.1 million

16% of its $26.2 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2022 · estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

Howard County$2.5 million

8.6% of its $29.0 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2022

Palmer Public School District 49$2.1 million

31% of its $6.8 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

Prairie Creek Township$25 thousand

100% of its $25 thousand in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2022

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

Howard County

$26.1 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2022.

About 74% of this ZIP is in Howard County.

Where the money comes from

Fees for services (hospital bills)69%County taxes11%Fines and other9.4%State tax money7.1%Federal tax money3.2%

What stands out

69%

of Howard 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 Howard County breakdown

County taxes11%

Property tax
8.6%$2.5 million
Other taxes
2.9%$839 thousand
What's in other taxesEstate and gift taxes; motor vehicle licenses and 1 more
  • Estate and gift taxes$408 thousand
  • Motor vehicle licenses$370 thousand
  • Public utility taxes$61 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services69%

Fees for services
69%$20.0 million
What's in fees for servicesHospital bills
  • Hospital bills$20.0 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money3.2%

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

From the federal government
3.2%$926 thousand

State tax money7.1%

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

From the state
7.1%$2.1 million

Fines and other9.4%

Interest, rents and other
9.4%$2.7 million
Fines
<0.1%$2 thousand
Howard County page →

Where the money goes

Health and hospitals77%Roads, transit and parking11%Running the government and other costs5.5%Police, fire, courts and jails5.4%Sent to other local governments0.3%All other spending0.3%

What stands out

77%

of Howard County's spending goes to health services and hospitals.A typical U.S. county of under 50,000 people spends 4.8%.

Full Howard County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Health and hospitals
77%$20.2 million
What's in health and hospitalsHospitals
  • Hospitals$20.2 million
Roads, transit and parking
11%$2.9 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$2.9 million
Running the government and other costs
5.5%$1.4 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$910 thousand
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$303 thousand
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$214 thousand
  • Government buildings$13 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
5.4%$1.4 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; courts and legal services and 1 more
  • Police$1.1 million
  • Courts and legal services$205 thousand
  • Prisons and jails$54 thousand
Sent to other local governments
0.3%$66 thousand
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to local governments: other and not broken out and sent to the state government
  • Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$63 thousand
  • Sent to the state government$3 thousand
Interest on debt
0.2%$63 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
<0.1%$12 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$12 thousand
Howard County page →

Merrick County

$21.9 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2022. Estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

About 26% of this ZIP is in Merrick County.

Where the money comes from

Federal tax money50%Fees for services (hospital bills)22%County taxes17%State tax money9.9%Fines and other0.5%

What stands out

50%

of Merrick County's money comes from federal tax money.A typical U.S. county of under 50,000 people gets 3%.

Full Merrick County breakdown

County taxes17%

Property tax
16%$4.1 million
Other taxes
1.9%$491 thousand
What's in other taxesEstate and gift taxes and other licenses
  • Estate and gift taxes$416 thousand
  • Other licenses$75 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services22%

Fees for services
22%$5.8 million
What's in fees for servicesHospital bills and other service charges
  • Hospital bills$5.2 million
  • Other service charges$507 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money50%

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

From the federal government
50%$13.2 million

State tax money9.9%

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

From the state
9.9%$2.6 million

Fines and other0.5%

Interest, rents and other
0.5%$127 thousand
Merrick County page →

Where the money goes

Health and hospitals66%Roads, transit and parking15%Running the government and other costs12%Police, fire, courts and jails4.9%Environment and natural resources0.6%All other spending1.1%

What stands out

66%

of Merrick County's spending goes to health services and hospitals.A typical U.S. county of under 50,000 people spends 4.8%.

Full Merrick County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Health and hospitals
66%$14.5 million
What's in health and hospitalsHospitals and public health
  • Hospitals$14.3 million
  • Public health$187 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
15%$3.4 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$3.4 million
Running the government and other costs
12%$2.6 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 2 more
  • Other and not broken out$1.7 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$367 thousand
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$342 thousand
  • Government buildings$166 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
4.9%$1.1 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; courts and legal services and 1 more
  • Police$639 thousand
  • Courts and legal services$317 thousand
  • Prisons and jails$110 thousand
Environment and natural resources
0.6%$127 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$127 thousand
Social services
0.6%$122 thousand
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$122 thousand
Interest on debt
0.3%$70 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.2%$54 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$54 thousand
Merrick County page →

Your town

Prairie Creek Township

$45 thousand budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2022.

About 26% of this ZIP is in Prairie Creek Township.

Where the money comes from

Township taxes100%
Full Prairie Creek Township breakdown

What stands out

100%

of Prairie Creek Township's money comes from property tax.A typical U.S. township or town of under 10,000 people gets 52%.

Township taxes100%

Property tax
100%$25 thousand
Prairie Creek Township page →

Where the money goes

Roads, transit and parking100%

What stands out

100%

of Prairie Creek Township's spending goes to roads, transit and parking.A typical U.S. township or town of under 10,000 people spends 53%.

Full Prairie Creek Township breakdown

Spending by category100%

Roads, transit and parking
100%$45 thousand
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$45 thousand
Prairie Creek Township page →

Your schools

Northwest Public School District 82

$22.9 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended August 31, 2025), from the Nebraska Department of Education.

About 72% of this ZIP is in Northwest Public School District 82.

Where the money comes from

State tax money64%School district taxes21%Fees for services9.9%Federal tax money3.2%Fines and other1.3%County and local tax money0.2%
Full Northwest Public School District 82 breakdown

School district taxes21%

Property tax
18%$4.1 million
Other taxes
2.7%$607 thousand

Fees for services9.9%

Fees for services
9.9%$2.3 million

Federal tax money3.2%

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

From the federal government
3.2%$740 thousand

State tax money64%

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

From the state
64%$14.7 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%$53 thousand

Fines and other1.3%

Interest, rents and other
1.3%$303 thousand
Northwest Public School District 82 page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges98%Debt payments (principal and interest)1.9%Sent to other local governments0.4%
Full Northwest Public School District 82 breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
98%$22.3 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
1.9%$437 thousand
Sent to other local governments
0.4%$96 thousand
Northwest Public School District 82 page →

Central City School District 4

$15.8 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended August 31, 2025), from the Nebraska Department of Education.

About 16% of this ZIP is in Central City School District 4.

Where the money comes from

School district taxes44%State tax money42%Federal tax money5.9%Fees for services5.5%Fines and other2.0%County and local tax money0.5%
Full Central City School District 4 breakdown

School district taxes44%

Property tax
40%$6.5 million
Other taxes
3.7%$603 thousand

Fees for services5.5%

Fees for services
5.5%$899 thousand

Federal tax money5.9%

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

From the federal government
5.9%$971 thousand

State tax money42%

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

From the state
42%$7.0 million

County and local tax money0.5%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
0.5%$82 thousand

Fines and other2.0%

Interest, rents and other
2.0%$324 thousand
Central City School District 4 page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges95%Debt payments (principal and interest)5.3%
Full Central City School District 4 breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
95%$14.9 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
5.3%$837 thousand
Central City School District 4 page →

Palmer Public School District 49

$6.2 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended August 31, 2025), from the Nebraska Department of Education.

About 11% of this ZIP is in Palmer Public School District 49.

Where the money comes from

State tax money52%School district taxes33%Federal tax money7.4%Fees for services6.8%County and local tax money1.1%Fines and other0.6%
Full Palmer Public School District 49 breakdown

School district taxes33%

Property tax
31%$2.1 million
Other taxes
2.0%$133 thousand

Fees for services6.8%

Fees for services
6.8%$456 thousand

Federal tax money7.4%

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

From the federal government
7.4%$502 thousand

State tax money52%

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

From the state
52%$3.5 million

County and local tax money1.1%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
1.1%$74 thousand

Fines and other0.6%

Interest, rents and other
0.6%$40 thousand
Palmer Public School District 49 page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges99%Debt payments (principal and interest)1.0%
Full Palmer Public School District 49 breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
99%$6.1 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
1.0%$62 thousand
Sent to other local governments
<0.1%$80
Palmer Public School District 49 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.

Howard 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.

Northwest Public School District 82. 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.

Merrick 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.

Prairie Creek Township. 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.

Central City School District 4. 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.

Palmer Public School District 49. 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. Northwest Public School District 82, Central City School District 4 and Palmer Public School District 49 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.