ZIP 79721 · Big Spring, TX

Four governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 79721: 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 79721?
79721 is served by the State of Texas, Howard County, the City of Big Spring and Big Spring 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), Howard County spent $29.6 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023), City of Big Spring spent $41.9 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2021) and Big Spring Independent School District 901 spent $54.0 million (fiscal year ended August 31, 2025). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 79721?
Of the governments serving 79721, Big Spring Independent School District 901 collected $38.0 million (fiscal year ended August 31, 2025), Howard County collected $21.5 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2023) and City of Big Spring collected $6.6 million (fiscal year ended September 30, 2021) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 79721.

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, Big Spring and Big Spring Independent School District 901

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 79721

Big Spring Independent School District 901$38.0 million

73% of its $51.9 million in revenue · fiscal year ended August 31, 2025

Howard County$21.5 million

66% of its $32.6 million in revenue · fiscal year ended September 30, 2023

City of Big Spring$6.6 million

17% of its $39.8 million in revenue · fiscal year ended September 30, 2021

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 county

Howard County

$29.6 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended September 30, 2023.

Where the money comes from

County taxes68%State tax money16%Fines and other7.0%Fees for services6.5%Local tax money1.9%
Full Howard County breakdown

What stands out

66%

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

County taxes68%

Property tax
66%$21.5 million
Other taxes
2.2%$725 thousand
What's in other taxesMotor vehicle licenses and alcoholic beverage licenses
  • Motor vehicle licenses$720 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$5 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services6.5%

Fees for services
6.5%$2.1 million
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges
  • Other service charges$2.1 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

State tax money16%

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

From the state
16%$5.4 million

Local tax money1.9%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
1.9%$620 thousand

Fines and other7.0%

Interest, rents and other
5.8%$1.9 million
Fines
1.2%$396 thousand
Howard County page →

Where the money goes

Police, fire, courts and jails36%Running the government and other costs27%Roads, transit and parking26%Sent to other local governments6.7%Parks, recreation and libraries1.9%All other spending2.8%

What stands out

6.7%

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

Full Howard County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
36%$10.7 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; prisons and jails and 3 more
  • Police$4.3 million
  • Prisons and jails$3.2 million
  • Courts and legal services$3.0 million
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$110 thousand
  • Fire protection$69 thousand
Running the government and other costs
27%$7.9 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$4.8 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$1.5 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$835 thousand
  • Government buildings$750 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
26%$7.6 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$7.6 million
Sent to other local governments
6.7%$2.0 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$2.0 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
1.9%$554 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesLibraries
  • Libraries$554 thousand
Health and hospitals
1.0%$290 thousand
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$290 thousand
Interest on debt
0.8%$246 thousand
Social services
0.6%$187 thousand
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$187 thousand
Environment and natural resources
0.4%$113 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$113 thousand
Howard County page →

Your city

City of Big Spring

$41.9 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended September 30, 2021.

Where the money comes from

Fees for services (water, garbage collection)50%City taxes41%Fines and other5.8%County and local tax money1.1%Federal tax money1.0%State tax money0.8%
Full Big Spring breakdown

What stands out

20%

of Big Spring's money comes from sales tax.Most U.S. cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people get none.

City taxes41%

Sales tax
20%$7.9 million
Property tax
17%$6.6 million
Other taxes
4.3%$1.7 million
What's in other taxesPublic utility taxes; occupation and business licenses and 3 more
  • Public utility taxes$1.4 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$231 thousand
  • Amusement licenses$81 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$57 thousand
  • Other licenses$11 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services50%

Fees for services
50%$20.1 million
What's in fees for servicesWater; garbage collection and 3 more
  • Water$13.4 million
  • Garbage collection$3.6 million
  • Airport$1.5 million
  • Parks and recreation$1.0 million
  • Sewer$555 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money1.0%

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

From the federal government
1.0%$406 thousand

State tax money0.8%

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

From the state
0.8%$325 thousand

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%$450 thousand

Fines and other5.8%

Interest, rents and other
5.3%$2.1 million
Fines
0.5%$207 thousand
Big Spring page →

Where the money goes

Police, fire, courts and jails37%Roads, transit and parking25%Water, sewer, trash and utilities24%Running the government and other costs7.5%Parks, recreation and libraries4.7%All other spending2.1%

What stands out

25%

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

Full Big Spring breakdown

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
37%$15.6 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsFire protection; police and 2 more
  • Fire protection$9.3 million
  • Police$5.5 million
  • Inspections and regulation$495 thousand
  • Courts and legal services$336 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
25%$10.4 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingAirports and roads and highways
  • Airports$8.5 million
  • Roads and highways$1.9 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
24%$9.9 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste; sewer systems and 1 more
  • Garbage and solid waste$5.2 million
  • Sewer systems$2.6 million
  • Water supply$2.0 million
Running the government and other costs
7.5%$3.1 million
What's in running the government and other costsCentral staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology); finance, tax collection and budgeting and 2 more
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$1.9 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$662 thousand
  • Other and not broken out$362 thousand
  • Other government-run businesses$158 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
4.7%$2.0 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$2.0 million
Interest on debt
1.4%$582 thousand
What's in interest on debtInterest on water supply debt and interest on general debt
  • Interest on water supply debt$512 thousand
  • Interest on general debt$70 thousand
Health and hospitals
0.7%$278 thousand
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$278 thousand
Big Spring page →

Your schools

Big Spring Independent School District 901

$54.0 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended August 31, 2025), from the Texas Education Agency.

Where the money comes from

School district taxes73%State tax money11%Federal tax money10%Fines and other5.2%Fees for services0.7%
Full Big Spring Independent School District 901 breakdown

School district taxes73%

Property tax
73%$38.0 million

Fees for services0.7%

Fees for services
0.7%$357 thousand

Federal tax money10%

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

From the federal government
10%$5.2 million

State tax money11%

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

From the state
11%$5.6 million

Fines and other5.2%

Interest, rents and other
5.2%$2.7 million
Big Spring Independent School District 901 page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges86%Sent to other local governments8.1%Debt payments (principal and interest)6.0%
Full Big Spring Independent School District 901 breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
86%$46.4 million
Sent to other local governments
8.1%$4.4 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
6.0%$3.3 million
Big Spring 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.

Howard County. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended September 30, 2023.

City of Big Spring. U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments, Finance, individual unit file, fiscal year ended September 30, 2021. The Census record for this government is from the 2022 survey, the newest on file.

Big Spring 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.