ZIP 80016 · Aurora, CO

Five governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 80016: 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 Colorado governments, the Colorado Department of Education, as named under Sources and more.

Where do my taxes go in 80016?
80016 is served by the State of Colorado, Cherry Creek School District 5, Arapahoe County, the City of Aurora and the City of Centennial. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of Colorado spent $48.1 billion (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Cherry Creek School District 5 spent $1.16 billion (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), Arapahoe County spent $544 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2025), City of Aurora spent $1.18 billion (fiscal year ended December 31, 2023) and City of Centennial spent $34.4 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2023). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 80016?
Of the governments serving 80016, Cherry Creek School District 5 collected $482 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), Arapahoe County collected $292 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2025), City of Aurora collected $130 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2023) and City of Centennial collected $13.0 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2023) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 80016.

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: Arapahoe County, Aurora, Centennial and Cherry Creek School District 5

Why not this year? Colorado governments with newer filings show figures from the Colorado Department of Education (for 2025). Figures for Arapahoe County come from its own audited annual financial report. 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 80016

Cherry Creek School District 5$482 million

45% of its $1.07 billion in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

Arapahoe County$292 million

48% of its $607 million in revenue · fiscal year ended December 31, 2025

City of Aurora$130 million

12% of its $1.10 billion in revenue · fiscal year ended December 31, 2023

City of Centennial$13.0 million

19% of its $69.7 million in revenue · fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 · estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

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

Arapahoe County

$544 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended December 31, 2025), from the county's own audited annual financial report.

About 95% of this ZIP is in Arapahoe County.

Where the money comes from

County taxes59%Grants from federal, state and local governments22%Fees for services13%Fines and other6.5%
Full Arapahoe County breakdown

County taxes59%

Property tax
48%$292 million
Sales tax
6.9%$41.9 million
Other taxes
4.1%$25.2 million

Fees for services13%

Fees for services
13%$77.1 million

Grants from federal, state and local governments22%

Grants from the federal government, the state and other local governments, which this government's report lists as one amount.

Grants from federal, state and local governments
22%$132 million

Fines and other6.5%

Interest, rents and other
6.4%$38.6 million
Fines
0.2%$994 thousand
Arapahoe County page →

Where the money goes

Police, fire, courts and jails32%Social services29%Running the government and other costs24%Parks, recreation and libraries7.9%Roads, transit and parking5.7%All other spending2.1%
Full Arapahoe County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
32%$173 million
Social services
29%$156 million
Running the government and other costs
24%$130 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
7.9%$43.1 million
Roads, transit and parking
5.7%$30.8 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
2.1%$11.3 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
<0.1%$118 thousand
Arapahoe County page →

Your cities and towns

City of Aurora

$1.18 billion budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended December 31, 2023.

About 64% of this ZIP is in Aurora.

Where the money comes from

City taxes57%Fees for services (water, sewer)21%Fines and other15%State tax money3.6%County and local tax money2.3%Federal tax money1.1%
Full Aurora breakdown

What stands out

36%

of Aurora's money comes from sales tax.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people gets 7.8%.

City taxes57%

Sales tax
36%$399 million
Property tax
12%$130 million
Other taxes
8.7%$95.6 million
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; public utility taxes and 6 more
  • Other selective sales taxes$47.6 million
  • Public utility taxes$17.7 million
  • Other licenses$17.7 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$11.0 million
  • Motor vehicle licenses$1.1 million
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$420 thousand
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$38 thousand
  • Amusement licenses$22 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services21%

Fees for services
21%$229 million
What's in fees for servicesWater; sewer and 3 more
  • Water$129 million
  • Sewer$82.4 million
  • Parks and recreation$12.4 million
  • Housing$4.8 million
  • Other service charges$1.1 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money1.1%

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

From the federal government
1.1%$12.6 million

State tax money3.6%

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

From the state
3.6%$39.8 million

County and local tax money2.3%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
2.3%$25.4 million

Fines and other15%

Interest, rents and other
15%$166 million
Fines
0.3%$3.8 million
Aurora page →

Where the money goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities31%Running the government and other costs21%Police, fire, courts and jails21%Roads, transit and parking12%Parks, recreation and libraries6.3%All other spending8.3%

What stands out

31%

of Aurora's spending goes to water, sewer, trash and other utilities.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people spends 20%.

Full Aurora breakdown

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
31%$366 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply and sewer systems
  • Water supply$226 million
  • Sewer systems$140 million
Running the government and other costs
21%$253 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 1 more
  • Other and not broken out$177 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$37.7 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$37.7 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
21%$249 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 1 more
  • Police$149 million
  • Fire protection$82.7 million
  • Courts and legal services$16.8 million
Roads, transit and parking
12%$143 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$143 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
6.3%$73.9 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$66.7 million
  • Libraries$7.2 million
Sent to other local governments
2.8%$33.4 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$33.4 million
Housing and community development
2.8%$32.9 million
Interest on debt
2.7%$31.4 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$16.8 million
  • Interest on water supply debt$14.7 million
Aurora page →

City of Centennial

$34.4 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended December 31, 2023. Estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

About 17% of this ZIP is in Centennial.

Where the money comes from

City taxes91%Fines and other8.4%County and local tax money0.3%
Full Centennial breakdown

What stands out

71%

of Centennial's money comes from sales tax.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people gets 7.8%.

City taxes91%

Sales tax
71%$49.4 million
Property tax
19%$13.0 million
Other taxes
1.7%$1.2 million
What's in other taxesOther licenses; motor vehicle licenses and 1 more
  • Other licenses$809 thousand
  • Motor vehicle licenses$339 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$62 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

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%$176 thousand

Fines and other8.4%

Interest, rents and other
8.4%$5.9 million
Centennial page →

Where the money goes

Sent to other local governments98%Parks, recreation and libraries1.8%Interest on debt0.3%

What stands out

98%

of Centennial's spending goes to local governments.Most U.S. cities of 50,000+ people spend nothing on this.

Full Centennial breakdown

Spending by category100%

Sent to other local governments
98%$33.7 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$33.7 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
1.8%$619 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$619 thousand
Interest on debt
0.3%$101 thousand
Centennial page →

Your schools

Cherry Creek School District 5

$1.16 billion budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the Colorado Department of Education.

About 96% of this ZIP is in Cherry Creek School District 5.

Where the money comes from

School district taxes45%State tax money45%Fines and other6.4%Federal tax money4.0%Fees for services0.1%
Full Cherry Creek School District 5 breakdown

School district taxes45%

Property tax
45%$482 million

Fees for services0.1%

Fees for services
0.1%$1.4 million

Federal tax money4.0%

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

From the federal government
4.0%$42.6 million

State tax money45%

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

From the state
45%$480 million

Fines and other6.4%

Interest, rents and other
6.4%$68.4 million
Cherry Creek School District 5 page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges94%Debt payments (principal and interest)6.1%
Full Cherry Creek School District 5 breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
94%$1.09 billion
Debt payments (principal and interest)
6.1%$70.7 million
Cherry Creek School District 5 page →

Your state

State of Colorado

$48.1 billion budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

Where the money comes from

State taxes42%Federal tax money36%Fees for services (college tuition, hospital bills)13%Fines and other8.1%Local tax money0.2%

What stands out

13%

of Colorado's money comes from fees for services such as water, sewer and parking.A typical state government gets 10%.

Full Colorado breakdown

State taxes42%

Individual income tax
17%$7.52 billion
Sales tax
10%$4.67 billion
Other taxes
9.6%$4.38 billion
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; motor fuel taxes and 13 more
  • Other selective sales taxes$1.61 billion
  • Motor fuel taxes$719 million
  • Insurance premium taxes$548 million
  • Motor vehicle licenses$458 million
  • Tobacco taxes$332 million
  • Severance taxes$187 million
  • Amusement taxes$176 million
  • Hunting and fishing licenses$124 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$68.6 million
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$56.0 million
  • Driver's licenses$44.1 million
  • Corporation licenses$27.9 million
  • Public utility licenses$20.3 million
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$10.6 million
  • Amusement licenses$1.0 million

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Business income tax
5.7%$2.59 billion

Fees for services13%

Fees for services
13%$6.13 billion
What's in fees for servicesCollege tuition; hospital bills and 9 more
  • College tuition$2.98 billion
  • Hospital bills$1.63 billion
  • University housing and dining$807 million
  • Other service charges$305 million
  • Road charges$223 million
  • Tolls on roads and bridges$77.4 million
  • Parks, land and natural resources$71.6 million
  • Parks and recreation$25.7 million
  • Other education charges$4.2 million
  • Garbage collection$3.8 million
  • Housing$402 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money36%

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

From the federal government
36%$16.4 billion

Local tax money0.2%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From local governments
0.2%$94.6 million

Fines and other8.1%

Interest, rents and other
7.2%$3.29 billion
Fines
0.8%$380 million
Colorado page →

Where the money goes

Social services29%Sent to local governments22%Schools and colleges22%Health and hospitals7.5%Police, fire, courts and jails5.8%All other spending14%

What stands out

22%

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

Full Colorado breakdown

Spending by category100%

Social services
29%$13.7 billion
What's in social servicesOther public welfare; unemployment and social insurance offices and 2 more
  • Other public welfare$13.6 billion
  • Unemployment and social insurance offices$121 million
  • Welfare institutions$62.3 million
  • Veterans' services$4.2 million
Sent to local governments
22%$10.7 billion
What's in sent to local governmentsSent to school districts; sent to local governments: other public welfare and 21 more
  • Sent to school districts$7.25 billion
  • Sent to local governments: other public welfare$1.04 billion
  • Sent to local governments: roads and highways$745 million
  • Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$441 million
  • Sent to local governments: general support$346 million
  • Sent to local governments: public health$255 million
  • Sent to local governments: other education$242 million
  • Sent to local governments: probation, parole and other corrections$172 million
  • Sent to local governments: natural resources, farming and conservation$79.9 million
  • Sent to local governments: other government administration$43.6 million
  • Sent to local governments: airports$43.4 million
  • Sent to local governments: courts and legal services$37.8 million
  • Sent to local governments: parks and recreation$16.9 million
  • Sent to school districts (colleges)$10.2 million
  • Sent to the federal government$7.7 million
  • Sent to local governments: central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$4.9 million
  • Sent to local governments: police$4.5 million
  • Sent to local governments: finance, tax collection and budgeting$3.5 million
  • Sent to local governments: housing and community development$2.7 million
  • Sent to local governments: garbage and solid waste$2.5 million
  • Sent to local governments: libraries$1.6 million
  • Sent to local governments: inspections and regulation$1.0 million
  • Sent to local governments: hospitals$538 thousand
Schools and colleges
22%$10.5 billion
What's in schools and collegesColleges and universities; scholarships and other education subsidies and 2 more
  • Colleges and universities$7.14 billion
  • Scholarships and other education subsidies$1.24 billion
  • College housing, dining and bookstores$1.15 billion
  • Other education$973 million
Health and hospitals
7.5%$3.60 billion
What's in health and hospitalsHospitals and public health
  • Hospitals$1.85 billion
  • Public health$1.75 billion
Police, fire, courts and jails
5.8%$2.78 billion
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsProbation, parole and other corrections; courts and legal services and 3 more
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$1.06 billion
  • Courts and legal services$956 million
  • Police$333 million
  • Inspections and regulation$218 million
  • Prisons and jails$209 million
Running the government and other costs
5.5%$2.66 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$1.38 billion
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$868 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$264 million
  • Other government administration$132 million
  • Government buildings$22.0 million
Roads, transit and parking
3.7%$1.76 billion
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways; toll roads and bridges and 2 more
  • Roads and highways$1.70 billion
  • Toll roads and bridges$63.7 million
  • Airports$2.5 million
  • Public transit$23 thousand
Interest on debt
2.4%$1.13 billion
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$1.13 billion
  • Interest on water supply debt$5.7 million
Environment and natural resources
1.2%$589 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$589 million
Housing and community development
0.9%$420 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.3%$159 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$150 million
  • Libraries$8.9 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
<0.1%$20.8 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste; sewer systems and 1 more
  • Garbage and solid waste$11.8 million
  • Sewer systems$4.8 million
  • Water supply$4.3 million
Colorado page →
Sources and moreEach government's source, fiscal year and how a ZIP is matched

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

Cherry Creek School District 5. Colorado Department of Education, School View Financial Transparency, fiscal year 2024-25, fiscal year ended June 30, 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 June 30, 2024.

Arapahoe County. Arapahoe County, Colorado, Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, fiscal year ended December 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 December 31, 2023.

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

City of Centennial. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended December 31, 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.

How these figures are counted. Revenue and spending are the financial data that a Colorado government reported to the Colorado Department of Education for the 2024-25 school year, ended June 30, 2025, grouped into the same categories as the Census figures. The data covers the district's general fund and its other governmental funds, such as building, bond payment, food service and grant funds, and its enterprise funds. Borrowing, transfers between the district's own funds and internal service funds are not counted. Property tax is the district's mill levies; other local money such as specific ownership tax and interest shows as other revenue.

Debt payments and construction. The "Debt payments" line includes principal as well as interest, and a few transfers out of the district's funds. The Census figures leave principal out, so spending can be higher than the Census figure for the same district. Construction and equipment costs are counted under schools and colleges, so a year with a building project 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.