ZIP 78648 · Caldwell County, TX

Six governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 78648: 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 Texas governments, the Texas Education Agency, as named under Sources and more.

Where do my taxes go in 78648?
78648 is served by the State of Texas, Caldwell County, Luling Independent School District 903, Guadalupe County, Prairie Lea Independent School District 906 and Gonzales Independent School District 901. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of Texas spent $211.3 billion (fiscal year ended August 31, 2023), Caldwell County spent $25.5 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2021), Luling Independent School District 903 spent $20.1 million (fiscal year ended August 31, 2025), Guadalupe County spent $87.3 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023), Prairie Lea Independent School District 906 spent $5.5 million (fiscal year ended August 31, 2023) and Gonzales Independent School District 901 spent $57.5 million (fiscal year ended August 31, 2025). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 78648?
Of the governments serving 78648, Guadalupe County collected $63.2 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023), Gonzales Independent School District 901 collected $26.7 million (fiscal year ended August 31, 2025), Caldwell County collected $16.4 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2021), Luling Independent School District 903 collected $7.4 million (fiscal year ended August 31, 2025) and Prairie Lea Independent School District 906 collected $2.3 million (fiscal year ended August 31, 2023) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 78648.

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: Caldwell County, Guadalupe County, Luling Independent School District 903 and Prairie Lea Independent School District 906

Why not this year? Texas governments with newer filings show school district figures from the Texas Education Agency (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 78648

Guadalupe County$63.2 million

58% of its $109 million in revenue · fiscal year ended September 30, 2023 · estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

Gonzales Independent School District 901$26.7 million

62% of its $43.2 million in revenue · fiscal year ended August 31, 2025

Caldwell County$16.4 million

68% of its $23.9 million in revenue · fiscal year ended September 30, 2021 · estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

Luling Independent School District 903$7.4 million

35% of its $21.0 million in revenue · fiscal year ended August 31, 2025

Prairie Lea Independent School District 906$2.3 million

45% of its $5.2 million in revenue · fiscal year ended August 31, 2023

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 Caldwell County and Guadalupe County provides local services like police and parks.

Caldwell County

$25.5 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended September 30, 2021. Estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

About 76% of this ZIP is in Caldwell County.

Where the money comes from

County taxes82%Fees for services6.6%State tax money6.4%Fines and other5.2%
Full Caldwell County breakdown

What stands out

68%

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

County taxes82%

Property tax
68%$16.4 million
Sales tax
8.3%$2.0 million
Other taxes
4.9%$1.2 million
What's in other taxesMotor vehicle licenses; other licenses and 2 more
  • Motor vehicle licenses$992 thousand
  • Other licenses$173 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$4 thousand
  • Amusement taxes$1 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services6.6%

Fees for services
6.6%$1.6 million
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges
  • Other service charges$1.6 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

State tax money6.4%

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

From the state
6.4%$1.5 million

Fines and other5.2%

Fines
4.1%$985 thousand
Interest, rents and other
1.1%$267 thousand
Caldwell County page →

Where the money goes

Police, fire, courts and jails53%Running the government and other costs29%Roads, transit and parking13%Social services1.9%Sent to other local governments1.4%All other spending1.9%

What stands out

53%

of Caldwell County's spending goes to police, fire, courts and jails.A typical U.S. county of under 50,000 people spends 20%.

Full Caldwell County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
53%$13.6 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPrisons and jails; courts and legal services and 3 more
  • Prisons and jails$5.1 million
  • Courts and legal services$3.9 million
  • Police$3.2 million
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$1.3 million
  • Fire protection$140 thousand
Running the government and other costs
29%$7.4 million
What's in running the government and other costsCentral staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology); other and not broken out and 2 more
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$3.1 million
  • Other and not broken out$2.1 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$1.4 million
  • Government buildings$867 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
13%$3.2 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$3.2 million
Social services
1.9%$483 thousand
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$483 thousand
Sent to other local governments
1.4%$352 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$352 thousand
Health and hospitals
1.0%$243 thousand
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$243 thousand
Interest on debt
0.5%$122 thousand
Environment and natural resources
0.5%$119 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$119 thousand
Caldwell County page →

Guadalupe County

$87.3 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended September 30, 2023. Estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

About 15% of this ZIP is in Guadalupe County.

Where the money comes from

County taxes74%Fines and other13%State tax money6.6%Fees for services6.3%Local tax money0.1%
Full Guadalupe County breakdown

What stands out

58%

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

County taxes74%

Property tax
58%$63.2 million
Sales tax
11%$12.4 million
Other taxes
4.9%$5.3 million
What's in other taxesMotor vehicle licenses; other selective sales taxes and 3 more
  • Motor vehicle licenses$4.4 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$441 thousand
  • Other licenses$290 thousand
  • Amusement taxes$200 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$28 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services6.3%

Fees for services
6.3%$6.9 million
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges
  • Other service charges$6.9 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money<0.1%

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

From the federal government
<0.1%$19 thousand

State tax money6.6%

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

From the state
6.6%$7.2 million

Local tax money0.1%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
0.1%$156 thousand

Fines and other13%

Interest, rents and other
7.8%$8.5 million
Fines
4.7%$5.1 million
Guadalupe County page →

Where the money goes

Police, fire, courts and jails60%Running the government and other costs19%Roads, transit and parking12%Health and hospitals7.7%Environment and natural resources0.4%All other spending0.5%

What stands out

60%

of Guadalupe County's spending goes to police, fire, courts and jails.A typical U.S. county of 50,000 to 250,000 people spends 25%.

Full Guadalupe County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
60%$52.1 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; prisons and jails and 4 more
  • Police$24.8 million
  • Prisons and jails$11.8 million
  • Courts and legal services$9.2 million
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$4.3 million
  • Fire protection$2.0 million
  • Inspections and regulation$73 thousand
Running the government and other costs
19%$16.9 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$8.9 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$3.9 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$2.8 million
  • Government buildings$1.4 million
Roads, transit and parking
12%$10.8 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$10.8 million
Health and hospitals
7.7%$6.7 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$6.7 million
Environment and natural resources
0.4%$386 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$386 thousand
Interest on debt
0.3%$260 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
0.2%$174 thousand
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste
  • Garbage and solid waste$174 thousand
Social services
<0.1%$21 thousand
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$21 thousand
Guadalupe County page →

Your schools

Luling Independent School District 903

$20.1 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended August 31, 2025), from the Texas Education Agency.

About 69% of this ZIP is in Luling Independent School District 903.

Where the money comes from

State tax money52%School district taxes35%Federal tax money9.2%Fines and other2.7%Fees for services0.7%
Full Luling Independent School District 903 breakdown

School district taxes35%

Property tax
35%$7.4 million

Fees for services0.7%

Fees for services
0.7%$142 thousand

Federal tax money9.2%

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

From the federal government
9.2%$1.9 million

State tax money52%

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

From the state
52%$11.0 million

Fines and other2.7%

Interest, rents and other
2.7%$560 thousand
Luling Independent School District 903 page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges87%Debt payments (principal and interest)10%Sent to other local governments2.8%
Full Luling Independent School District 903 breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
87%$17.5 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
10%$2.1 million
Sent to other local governments
2.8%$554 thousand
Luling Independent School District 903 page →

Prairie Lea Independent School District 906

$5.5 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended August 31, 2023.

About 13% of this ZIP is in Prairie Lea Independent School District 906.

Where the money comes from

State tax money51%School district taxes45%Fines and other2.9%Fees for services (school lunches)0.6%Federal tax money0.5%
Full Prairie Lea Independent School District 906 breakdown

What stands out

45%

of Prairie Lea Independent School District 906's money comes from property tax.A typical school district with fewer than 5,000 students gets 28%.

School district taxes45%

Property tax
45%$2.3 million

Fees for services0.6%

Fees for services
0.6%$29 thousand
What's in fees for servicesSchool lunches and other school charges
  • School lunches$16 thousand
  • Other school charges$13 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money0.5%

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

From the federal government
0.5%$26 thousand

State tax money51%

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

From the state
51%$2.7 million

Fines and other2.9%

Interest, rents and other
1.8%$94 thousand
Fines
1.1%$56 thousand
Prairie Lea Independent School District 906 page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges95%Interest on debt3.5%Sent to other local governments1.0%
Full Prairie Lea Independent School District 906 breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
95%$5.2 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
  • Elementary and secondary schools$5.2 million
Interest on debt
3.5%$190 thousand
Sent to other local governments
1.0%$57 thousand
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to school districts
  • Sent to school districts$57 thousand
Prairie Lea Independent School District 906 page →

Gonzales Independent School District 901

$57.5 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended August 31, 2025), from the Texas Education Agency.

About 12% of this ZIP is in Gonzales Independent School District 901.

Where the money comes from

School district taxes62%State tax money18%Federal tax money11%Fines and other7.9%Fees for services0.9%
Full Gonzales Independent School District 901 breakdown

School district taxes62%

Property tax
62%$26.7 million

Fees for services0.9%

Fees for services
0.9%$397 thousand

Federal tax money11%

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

From the federal government
11%$4.8 million

State tax money18%

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

From the state
18%$8.0 million

Fines and other7.9%

Interest, rents and other
7.9%$3.4 million
Gonzales Independent School District 901 page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges90%Debt payments (principal and interest)8.8%Sent to other local governments1.0%
Full Gonzales Independent School District 901 breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
90%$51.8 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
8.8%$5.1 million
Sent to other local governments
1.0%$577 thousand
Gonzales Independent School District 901 page →

Your state

State of Texas

$211.3 billion budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended August 31, 2023.

Where the money comes from

State taxes42%Federal tax money33%Fees for services (hospital bills, college tuition)12%Fines and other11%Local tax money2.2%
Full Texas breakdown

What stands out

26%

of Texas' money comes from sales tax.A typical state government gets 14%.

State taxes42%

Sales tax
26%$54.3 billion
Other taxes
16%$33.0 billion
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; severance taxes and 15 more
  • Other selective sales taxes$8.63 billion
  • Severance taxes$8.60 billion
  • Insurance premium taxes$4.34 billion
  • Motor fuel taxes$3.85 billion
  • Motor vehicle licenses$2.37 billion
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$1.79 billion
  • Tobacco taxes$1.10 billion
  • Public utility taxes$875 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$677 million
  • Driver's licenses$192 million
  • Other licenses$171 million
  • Corporation licenses$164 million
  • Hunting and fishing licenses$113 million
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$101 million
  • Amusement taxes$26.6 million
  • Public utility licenses$21.0 million
  • Amusement licenses$3.6 million

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services12%

Fees for services
12%$24.1 billion
What's in fees for servicesHospital bills; college tuition and 12 more
  • Hospital bills$11.5 billion
  • College tuition$8.99 billion
  • University housing and dining$1.91 billion
  • Other service charges$1.07 billion
  • Tolls on roads and bridges$430 million
  • Parks, land and natural resources$81.9 million
  • Parks and recreation$74.6 million
  • Housing$26.4 million
  • Road charges$26.2 million
  • Other education charges$24.4 million
  • School lunches$287 thousand
  • Garbage collection$166 thousand
  • Sewer$79 thousand
  • Other school charges$38 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money33%

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

From the federal government
33%$68.4 billion

Local tax money2.2%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From local governments
2.2%$4.68 billion

Fines and other11%

Interest, rents and other
11%$23.2 billion
Fines
0.1%$305 million
Texas page →

Where the money goes

Social services27%Sent to local governments23%Schools and colleges20%Health and hospitals8.9%Roads, transit and parking8.8%All other spending11%

What stands out

20%

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

Full Texas breakdown

Spending by category100%

Social services
27%$58.0 billion
What's in social servicesOther public welfare; veterans' services and 2 more
  • Other public welfare$57.2 billion
  • Veterans' services$514 million
  • Welfare institutions$157 million
  • Unemployment and social insurance offices$119 million
Sent to local governments
23%$49.0 billion
What's in sent to local governmentsSent to school districts; sent to local governments: other and not broken out and 18 more
  • Sent to school districts$41.9 billion
  • Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$1.99 billion
  • Sent to school districts (colleges)$1.65 billion
  • Sent to local governments: other public welfare$1.09 billion
  • Sent to local governments: public health$563 million
  • Sent to local governments: prisons and jails$523 million
  • Sent to local governments: general support$360 million
  • Sent to local governments: natural resources, farming and conservation$181 million
  • Sent to local governments: courts and legal services$153 million
  • Sent to local governments: roads and highways$127 million
  • Sent to local governments: police$126 million
  • Sent to local governments: other government administration$112 million
  • Sent to local governments: airports$106 million
  • Sent to local governments: parks and recreation$60.2 million
  • Sent to local governments: hospitals$23.2 million
  • Sent to local governments: housing and community development$17.4 million
  • Sent to local governments: garbage and solid waste$6.2 million
  • Sent to local governments: other education$5.6 million
  • Sent to local governments: inspections and regulation$2.1 million
  • Sent to local governments: libraries$1.7 million
Schools and colleges
20%$42.7 billion
What's in schools and collegesColleges and universities; college housing, dining and bookstores and 3 more
  • Colleges and universities$35.7 billion
  • College housing, dining and bookstores$2.81 billion
  • Scholarships and other education subsidies$2.73 billion
  • Other education$1.28 billion
  • Elementary and secondary schools$124 million
Health and hospitals
8.9%$18.8 billion
What's in health and hospitalsHospitals and public health
  • Hospitals$14.7 billion
  • Public health$4.09 billion
Roads, transit and parking
8.8%$18.7 billion
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways; toll roads and bridges and 3 more
  • Roads and highways$18.4 billion
  • Toll roads and bridges$179 million
  • Public transit$59.6 million
  • Airports$16.0 million
  • Ports and harbors$15.0 million
Running the government and other costs
5.4%$11.3 billion
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$6.05 billion
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$4.68 billion
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$277 million
  • Government buildings$238 million
  • Other government administration$90.9 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
4.1%$8.70 billion
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPrisons and jails; police and 3 more
  • Prisons and jails$4.75 billion
  • Police$1.87 billion
  • Courts and legal services$1.07 billion
  • Inspections and regulation$850 million
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$170 million
Interest on debt
0.9%$1.81 billion
Environment and natural resources
0.7%$1.42 billion
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$1.42 billion
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.3%$543 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$499 million
  • Libraries$44.2 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
<0.1%$207 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems and garbage and solid waste
  • Sewer systems$120 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$87.6 million
Housing and community development
<0.1%$107 million
Texas page →
Sources and moreEach government's source, fiscal year and how a ZIP is matched

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

Caldwell County. U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments, Finance, individual unit file, fiscal year ended September 30, 2021. 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.

Luling Independent School District 903. Texas Education Agency, PEIMS financial actual data, 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.

Guadalupe County. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended September 30, 2023. Most of this government's figures were estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau from a sample; the government did not report them itself.

Prairie Lea Independent School District 906. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended August 31, 2023.

Gonzales Independent School District 901. Texas Education Agency, PEIMS financial actual data, 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. Texas school district figures are the audited annual financial data that districts report to the Texas Education Agency (PEIMS) for the 2024-25 school year, grouped into the same categories as the Census figures. They cover all governmental funds plus food service and other enterprise funds, and leave out bond proceeds, transfers between a district's own funds and internal service funds. The "Debt payments" line includes principal as well as interest, so spending can be higher than the Census figure for the same district.

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.