ZIP 80260 · Thornton, CO

Six governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 80260: 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 80260?
80260 is served by the State of Colorado, Adams County, Adams 12 Five Star Schools District, the City of Thornton, the City of Federal Heights and the City of Northglenn. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of Colorado spent $48.1 billion (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Adams County spent $766 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2024), Adams 12 Five Star Schools District spent $695 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), City of Thornton spent $355 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2023), City of Federal Heights spent $23.0 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2023) and City of Northglenn spent $56.4 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2023). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 80260?
Of the governments serving 80260, Adams County collected $341 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2024), Adams 12 Five Star Schools District collected $258 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), City of Thornton collected $32.2 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2023), City of Northglenn collected $7.6 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2023) and City of Federal Heights collected $88 thousand (fiscal year ended December 31, 2023) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 80260.

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: Adams County, Thornton, Federal Heights and Northglenn

Why not this year? Colorado governments with newer filings show figures from the Colorado Department of Education (for 2024 and 2025, each government's newest year on file). Figures for Adams 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 80260

Adams County$341 million

44% of its $785 million in revenue · fiscal year ended December 31, 2024

Adams 12 Five Star Schools District$258 million

38% of its $679 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

City of Thornton$32.2 million

8.2% of its $395 million in revenue · fiscal year ended December 31, 2023

City of Northglenn$7.6 million

11% of its $70.1 million in revenue · fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 · estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

City of Federal Heights$88 thousand

0.3% of its $25.6 million in revenue · fiscal year ended December 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 county

Adams County

$766 million budget in fiscal year 2024 (ended December 31, 2024), from the county's own audited annual financial report.

Where the money comes from

County taxes59%Grants from federal, state and local governments28%Fees for services6.5%Fines and other6.4%

Full Adams County breakdown

County taxes59%

Property tax

44%$341 million

Sales tax

13%$98.4 million

Other taxes

2.7%$21.2 million

Fees for services6.5%

Fees for services

6.5%$50.6 million

Grants from federal, state and local governments28%

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

28%$223 million

Fines and other6.4%

Interest, rents and other

6.4%$50.0 million

Adams County page →

Where the money goes

Running the government and other costs38%Social services24%Police, fire, courts and jails21%Roads, transit and parking9.3%Environment and natural resources2.4%All other spending4.9%

Full Adams County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Running the government and other costs

38%$291 million

Social services

24%$184 million

Police, fire, courts and jails

21%$164 million

Roads, transit and parking

9.3%$71.3 million

Environment and natural resources

2.4%$18.6 million

Debt payments (principal and interest)

2.4%$18.6 million

Parks, recreation and libraries

1.9%$14.8 million

Housing and community development

0.4%$3.4 million

Water, sewer, trash and utilities

0.1%$787 thousand

Adams County page →

Your cities and towns

City of Thornton

$355 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended December 31, 2023.

About 44% of this ZIP is in Thornton.

Where the money comes from

City taxes53%Fees for services (water, sewer)24%Fines and other15%County and local tax money3.9%State tax money2.5%Federal tax money2.2%

Full Thornton breakdown

What stands out

38%

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

City taxes53%

Sales tax

38%$150 million

Property tax

8.2%$32.2 million

Other taxes

6.8%$26.7 million

What's in other taxesPublic utility taxes; other licenses and 4 more

Public utility taxes$10.9 million
Other licenses$8.8 million
Other taxes not classified elsewhere$5.7 million
Motor vehicle licenses$1.3 million
Alcoholic beverage licenses$31 thousand
Other selective sales taxes$7 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services24%

Fees for services

24%$92.9 million

What's in fees for servicesWater; sewer and 3 more

Water$53.9 million
Sewer$18.9 million
Parks and recreation$8.6 million
Garbage collection$6.1 million
Other service charges$5.4 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money2.2%

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

From the federal government

2.2%$8.6 million

State tax money2.5%

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

From the state

2.5%$9.7 million

County and local tax money3.9%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments

3.9%$15.5 million

Fines and other15%

Interest, rents and other

15%$58.0 million

Fines

0.4%$1.5 million

Thornton page →

Where the money goes

Police, fire, courts and jails29%Water, sewer, trash and utilities28%Parks, recreation and libraries15%Running the government and other costs14%Roads, transit and parking9.1%All other spending4.2%

What stands out

15%

of Thornton's spending goes to parks, recreation and libraries.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people spends 6.4%.

Full Thornton breakdown

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails

29%$104 million

What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more

Police$59.4 million
Fire protection$37.7 million
Courts and legal services$4.9 million
Inspections and regulation$2.5 million

Water, sewer, trash and utilities

28%$98.7 million

What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply; sewer systems and 1 more

Water supply$70.1 million
Sewer systems$21.4 million
Garbage and solid waste$7.2 million

Parks, recreation and libraries

15%$54.0 million

What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation

Parks and recreation$54.0 million

Running the government and other costs

14%$50.8 million

What's in running the government and other costsCentral staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology); finance, tax collection and budgeting and 1 more

Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$37.8 million
Finance, tax collection and budgeting$6.9 million
Government buildings$6.2 million

Roads, transit and parking

9.1%$32.1 million

What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways

Roads and highways$32.1 million

Interest on debt

2.2%$7.7 million

What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt

Interest on general debt$4.0 million
Interest on water supply debt$3.7 million

Sent to other local governments

1.3%$4.4 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$4.4 million

Housing and community development

0.8%$2.7 million

Thornton page →

City of Federal Heights

$23.0 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended December 31, 2023.

About 36% of this ZIP is in Federal Heights.

Where the money comes from

City taxes55%Fees for services (water, sewer)27%Fines and other11%State tax money3.5%County and local tax money3.3%

Full Federal Heights breakdown

What stands out

53%

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

City taxes55%

Sales tax

53%$13.4 million

Other taxes

2.3%$591 thousand

What's in other taxesPublic utility taxes; occupation and business licenses and 1 more

Public utility taxes$443 thousand
Occupation and business licenses$142 thousand
Alcoholic beverage licenses$6 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Property tax

0.3%$88 thousand

Fees for services27%

Fees for services

27%$7.0 million

What's in fees for servicesWater; sewer and 1 more

Water$4.2 million
Sewer$1.8 million
Other service charges$983 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

State tax money3.5%

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

From the state

3.5%$894 thousand

County and local tax money3.3%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments

3.3%$833 thousand

Fines and other11%

Interest, rents and other

10%$2.6 million

Fines

0.7%$176 thousand

Federal Heights page →

Where the money goes

Police, fire, courts and jails35%Running the government and other costs29%Water, sewer, trash and utilities26%Housing and community development6.8%Roads, transit and parking2.7%All other spending0.8%

What stands out

6.8%

of Federal Heights' spending goes to housing and community development.Most U.S. cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people spend nothing on this.

Full Federal Heights breakdown

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails

35%$8.1 million

What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 1 more

Police$5.2 million
Fire protection$2.5 million
Courts and legal services$409 thousand

Running the government and other costs

29%$6.6 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$4.5 million
Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$901 thousand
Government buildings$728 thousand
Finance, tax collection and budgeting$483 thousand

Water, sewer, trash and utilities

26%$5.9 million

What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply; sewer systems and 1 more

Water supply$4.2 million
Sewer systems$1.6 million
Garbage and solid waste$43 thousand

Housing and community development

6.8%$1.6 million

Roads, transit and parking

2.7%$625 thousand

What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways

Roads and highways$625 thousand

Sent to other local governments

0.7%$171 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$171 thousand

Health and hospitals

<0.1%$4 thousand

What's in health and hospitalsPublic health

Public health$4 thousand

Federal Heights page →

City of Northglenn

$56.4 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended December 31, 2023. Estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

About 16% of this ZIP is in Northglenn.

Where the money comes from

City taxes57%Fees for services (water, sewer)30%State tax money6.4%Federal tax money2.9%Fines and other2.9%County and local tax money0.4%

Full Northglenn breakdown

What stands out

47%

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

City taxes57%

Sales tax

47%$32.7 million

Property tax

11%$7.6 million

Fees for services30%

Fees for services

30%$21.0 million

What's in fees for servicesWater; sewer and 3 more

Water$7.8 million
Sewer$5.5 million
Other service charges$4.5 million
Garbage collection$1.8 million
Parks and recreation$1.4 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money2.9%

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

From the federal government

2.9%$2.1 million

State tax money6.4%

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

From the state

6.4%$4.5 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%$267 thousand

Fines and other2.9%

Fines

1.7%$1.2 million

Interest, rents and other

1.2%$845 thousand

Northglenn page →

Where the money goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities46%Police, fire, courts and jails24%Parks, recreation and libraries14%Running the government and other costs11%Housing and community development3.5%Interest on debt0.7%

What stands out

46%

of Northglenn's spending goes to water, sewer, trash and other utilities.A typical U.S. city of 10,000 to 50,000 people spends 24%.

Full Northglenn breakdown

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities

46%$26.0 million

What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems; water supply and 1 more

Sewer systems$12.1 million
Water supply$11.3 million
Garbage and solid waste$2.6 million

Police, fire, courts and jails

24%$13.8 million

What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice and courts and legal services

Police$13.2 million
Courts and legal services$624 thousand

Parks, recreation and libraries

14%$7.9 million

What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation

Parks and recreation$7.9 million

Running the government and other costs

11%$6.3 million

What's in running the government and other costsCentral staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and finance, tax collection and budgeting

Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$4.6 million
Finance, tax collection and budgeting$1.7 million

Housing and community development

3.5%$2.0 million

Interest on debt

0.7%$400 thousand

Northglenn page →

Your schools

Adams 12 Five Star Schools District

$695 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the Colorado Department of Education.

About 93% of this ZIP is in Adams 12 Five Star Schools District.

Where the money comes from

State tax money47%School district taxes38%Fines and other8.9%Federal tax money5.9%Fees for services<0.1%

Full Adams 12 Five Star Schools District breakdown

School district taxes38%

Property tax

38%$258 million

Fees for services<0.1%

Fees for services

<0.1%$628 thousand

Federal tax money5.9%

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

From the federal government

5.9%$39.8 million

State tax money47%

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

From the state

47%$320 million

Fines and other8.9%

Interest, rents and other

8.9%$60.4 million

Adams 12 Five Star Schools District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges87%Debt payments (principal and interest)13%

Full Adams 12 Five Star Schools District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges

87%$607 million

Debt payments (principal and interest)

13%$88.5 million

Adams 12 Five Star Schools District 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.

Adams County. Adams County, Colorado, Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. 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.

Adams 12 Five Star Schools District. 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.

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

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

City of Northglenn. 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.