ZIP 69166 · Thomas County, NE

Five governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 69166: 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 69166?
69166 is served by the State of Nebraska, Thedford Rural High School District 1, Thomas County, Cherry County and Valentine Rural High School District 6. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of Nebraska spent $16.3 billion (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Thedford Rural High School District 1 spent $3.4 million (fiscal year ended August 31, 2025), Thomas County spent $1.1 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2022), Cherry County spent $43.4 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024) and Valentine Rural High School District 6 spent $14.0 million (fiscal year ended August 31, 2025). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 69166?
Of the governments serving 69166, Valentine Rural High School District 6 collected $5.0 million (fiscal year ended August 31, 2025), Cherry County collected $3.9 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Thedford Rural High School District 1 collected $1.6 million (fiscal year ended August 31, 2025), Thomas County collected $789 thousand (fiscal year ended June 30, 2022) 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 69166.

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: Thomas County, Cherry County, Thedford Rural High School District 1 and Valentine Rural High School District 6

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 69166

Valentine Rural High School District 6$5.0 million

36% of its $14.0 million in revenue · fiscal year ended August 31, 2025

Cherry County$3.9 million

8.8% of its $44.3 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024

Thedford Rural High School District 1$1.6 million

45% of its $3.5 million in revenue · fiscal year ended August 31, 2025

Thomas County$789 thousand

50% of its $1.6 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2022

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 Thomas County and Cherry County provides local services like police and parks.

Thomas County

$1.1 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2022.

About 52% of this ZIP is in Thomas County.

Where the money comes from

County taxes55%State tax money25%Federal tax money16%Local tax money3.8%Fines and other0.9%

What stands out

16%

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

Full Thomas County breakdown

County taxes55%

Property tax
50%$789 thousand
Other taxes
5.2%$82 thousand
What's in other taxesMotor vehicle licenses; estate and gift taxes and 2 more
  • Motor vehicle licenses$48 thousand
  • Estate and gift taxes$26 thousand
  • Public utility taxes$4 thousand
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$4 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Federal tax money16%

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

From the federal government
16%$253 thousand

State tax money25%

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

From the state
25%$391 thousand

Local tax money3.8%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
3.8%$61 thousand

Fines and other0.9%

Interest, rents and other
0.9%$15 thousand
Thomas County page →

Where the money goes

Roads, transit and parking48%Running the government and other costs27%Police, fire, courts and jails16%Parks, recreation and libraries7.0%Interest on debt1.1%

What stands out

48%

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

Full Thomas County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Roads, transit and parking
48%$540 thousand
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$540 thousand
Running the government and other costs
27%$302 thousand
What's in running the government and other costsFinance, tax collection and budgeting and central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$196 thousand
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$106 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
16%$183 thousand
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice and courts and legal services
  • Police$109 thousand
  • Courts and legal services$74 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
7.0%$78 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$56 thousand
  • Libraries$22 thousand
Interest on debt
1.1%$12 thousand
Thomas County page →

Cherry County

$43.4 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

About 48% of this ZIP is in Cherry County.

Where the money comes from

Fees for services (hospital bills)75%County taxes13%State tax money9.0%Fines and other3.2%

What stands out

75%

of Cherry 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 Cherry County breakdown

County taxes13%

Property tax
8.8%$3.9 million
Other taxes
4.1%$1.8 million
What's in other taxesEstate and gift taxes; other selective sales taxes and 1 more
  • Estate and gift taxes$1.1 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$398 thousand
  • Motor vehicle licenses$324 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Sales tax
<0.1%$2 thousand

Fees for services75%

Fees for services
75%$33.1 million
What's in fees for servicesHospital bills and other service charges
  • Hospital bills$32.5 million
  • Other service charges$690 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

State tax money9.0%

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

From the state
9.0%$4.0 million

Local tax money<0.1%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
<0.1%$21 thousand

Fines and other3.2%

Interest, rents and other
3.2%$1.4 million
Cherry County page →

Where the money goes

Health and hospitals78%Roads, transit and parking9.9%Running the government and other costs6.0%Police, fire, courts and jails3.5%Parks, recreation and libraries1.4%All other spending1.3%

What stands out

78%

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

Full Cherry County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Health and hospitals
78%$33.8 million
What's in health and hospitalsHospitals
  • Hospitals$33.8 million
Roads, transit and parking
9.9%$4.3 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$4.3 million
Running the government and other costs
6.0%$2.6 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$1.7 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$527 thousand
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$270 thousand
  • Government buildings$154 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
3.5%$1.5 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPrisons and jails; courts and legal services and 1 more
  • Prisons and jails$580 thousand
  • Courts and legal services$562 thousand
  • Police$394 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
1.4%$619 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$619 thousand
Interest on debt
0.7%$304 thousand
Environment and natural resources
0.4%$163 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$163 thousand
Social services
0.2%$88 thousand
What's in social servicesOther public welfare and welfare institutions
  • Other public welfare$56 thousand
  • Welfare institutions$32 thousand
Cherry County page →

Your schools

Thedford Rural High School District 1

$3.4 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended August 31, 2025), from the Nebraska Department of Education.

About 68% of this ZIP is in Thedford Rural High School District 1.

Where the money comes from

School district taxes47%State tax money42%Federal tax money5.0%Fees for services4.5%Fines and other1.2%County and local tax money0.7%
Full Thedford Rural High School District 1 breakdown

School district taxes47%

Property tax
45%$1.6 million
Other taxes
2.5%$87 thousand

Fees for services4.5%

Fees for services
4.5%$158 thousand

Federal tax money5.0%

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

From the federal government
5.0%$176 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 money0.7%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
0.7%$23 thousand

Fines and other1.2%

Interest, rents and other
1.2%$44 thousand
Thedford Rural High School District 1 page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges96%Debt payments (principal and interest)3.3%Sent to other local governments0.6%
Full Thedford Rural High School District 1 breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
96%$3.2 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
3.3%$112 thousand
Sent to other local governments
0.6%$19 thousand
Thedford Rural High School District 1 page →

Valentine Rural High School District 6

$14.0 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended August 31, 2025), from the Nebraska Department of Education.

About 32% of this ZIP is in Valentine Rural High School District 6.

Where the money comes from

State tax money45%School district taxes40%Federal tax money8.5%Fees for services5.2%Fines and other1.3%County and local tax money0.4%
Full Valentine Rural High School District 6 breakdown

School district taxes40%

Property tax
36%$5.0 million
Other taxes
3.8%$534 thousand

Fees for services5.2%

Fees for services
5.2%$731 thousand

Federal tax money8.5%

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

From the federal government
8.5%$1.2 million

State tax money45%

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

From the state
45%$6.3 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%$52 thousand

Fines and other1.3%

Interest, rents and other
1.3%$188 thousand
Valentine Rural High School District 6 page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges99%Debt payments (principal and interest)1.1%
Full Valentine Rural High School District 6 breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
99%$13.9 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
1.1%$155 thousand
Valentine Rural High School District 6 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.

Thedford Rural High School District 1. 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.

Thomas 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.

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

Valentine Rural High School District 6. 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. Thedford Rural High School District 1 and Valentine Rural High School District 6 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.