ZIP 80526 · Fort Collins, CO

Five governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 80526: 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 80526?
80526 is served by the State of Colorado, Larimer County, Poudre School District R-1, the City of Fort Collins and Thompson School District R-2J. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of Colorado spent $48.1 billion (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Larimer County spent $501 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2023), Poudre School District R-1 spent $645 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), City of Fort Collins spent $805 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2023) and Thompson School District R-2J spent $286 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 80526?
Of the governments serving 80526, Poudre School District R-1 collected $282 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), Larimer County collected $161 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2023), Thompson School District R-2J collected $142 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025) and City of Fort Collins collected $53.1 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2023) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 80526.

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: Larimer County, Fort Collins, Poudre School District R-1 and Thompson School District R-2J

Why not this year? Colorado governments with newer filings show figures from the Colorado 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 80526

Poudre School District R-1$282 million

49% of its $575 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

Larimer County$161 million

35% of its $457 million in revenue · fiscal year ended December 31, 2023

Thompson School District R-2J$142 million

51% of its $277 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

City of Fort Collins$53.1 million

9.0% of its $590 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

Larimer County

$501 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended December 31, 2023.

Where the money comes from

County taxes56%State tax money18%Fees for services (garbage collection, parks and recreation)16%Fines and other6.3%Federal tax money2.2%Local tax money1.5%
Full Larimer County breakdown

What stands out

16%

of Larimer County's money comes from sales tax.A typical U.S. county of 250,000+ people gets 2.7%.

County taxes56%

Property tax
35%$161 million
Sales tax
16%$75.2 million
Other taxes
3.9%$17.9 million
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; other licenses and 5 more
  • Other selective sales taxes$12.2 million
  • Other licenses$4.7 million
  • Public utility licenses$374 thousand
  • Motor vehicle licenses$337 thousand
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$95 thousand
  • Occupation and business licenses$83 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$61 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services16%

Fees for services
16%$72.3 million
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges; garbage collection and 3 more
  • Other service charges$42.6 million
  • Garbage collection$16.5 million
  • Parks and recreation$10.2 million
  • Parks, land and natural resources$2.0 million
  • Road charges$846 thousand

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%$10.2 million

State tax money18%

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

From the state
18%$84.1 million

Local tax money1.5%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
1.5%$6.9 million

Fines and other6.3%

Interest, rents and other
6.1%$27.9 million
Fines
0.2%$903 thousand
Larimer County page →

Where the money goes

Running the government and other costs33%Police, fire, courts and jails25%Social services12%Parks, recreation and libraries11%Roads, transit and parking7.2%All other spending12%

What stands out

11%

of Larimer County's spending goes to parks, recreation and libraries.A typical U.S. county of 250,000+ people spends 2.6%.

Full Larimer County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Running the government and other costs
33%$164 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; government buildings and 2 more
  • Other and not broken out$98.7 million
  • Government buildings$33.0 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$23.5 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$8.4 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
25%$126 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; prisons and jails and 3 more
  • Police$46.6 million
  • Prisons and jails$40.1 million
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$25.0 million
  • Courts and legal services$11.1 million
  • Inspections and regulation$3.6 million
Social services
12%$59.6 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$59.6 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
11%$54.9 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$54.9 million
Roads, transit and parking
7.2%$36.2 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$36.2 million
Sent to other local governments
3.7%$18.4 million
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to local governments: other and not broken out and sent to the state government
  • Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$14.4 million
  • Sent to the state government$4.0 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
3.3%$16.5 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste and sewer systems
  • Garbage and solid waste$16.5 million
  • Sewer systems$14 thousand
Health and hospitals
3.0%$15.0 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$15.0 million
Environment and natural resources
1.6%$8.1 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$8.1 million
Interest on debt
0.5%$2.7 million
Larimer County page →

Your city

City of Fort Collins

$805 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended December 31, 2023. Estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

About 46% of this ZIP is in Fort Collins.

Where the money comes from

Fees for services (electric power, sewer)47%City taxes39%County and local tax money5.3%Federal tax money4.0%Fines and other3.4%State tax money1.0%
Full Fort Collins breakdown

What stands out

30%

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

City taxes39%

Sales tax
30%$176 million
Property tax
9.0%$53.1 million
Other taxes
0.7%$4.4 million
What's in other taxesOccupation and business licenses; other selective sales taxes and 1 more
  • Occupation and business licenses$2.7 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$1.7 million
  • Other licenses$2 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services47%

Fees for services
47%$277 million
What's in fees for servicesElectric power; sewer and 9 more
  • Electric power$154 million
  • Sewer$46.1 million
  • Water$34.3 million
  • Other service charges$11.2 million
  • Road charges$10.6 million
  • Parks and recreation$9.2 million
  • Other government-run businesses$5.0 million
  • Transit fares$4.0 million
  • Parking$1.4 million
  • Housing$810 thousand
  • Parks, land and natural resources$110 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money4.0%

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

From the federal government
4.0%$23.5 million

State tax money1.0%

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

From the state
1.0%$5.7 million

County and local tax money5.3%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
5.3%$31.5 million

Fines and other3.4%

Interest, rents and other
3.4%$19.8 million
Fort Collins page →

Where the money goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities43%Running the government and other costs14%Roads, transit and parking12%Police, fire, courts and jails11%Parks, recreation and libraries5.3%All other spending15%

What stands out

43%

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

Full Fort Collins breakdown

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
43%$345 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesElectric power; sewer systems and 1 more
  • Electric power$171 million
  • Sewer systems$93.1 million
  • Water supply$79.9 million
Running the government and other costs
14%$112 million
What's in running the government and other costsGovernment buildings; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 2 more
  • Government buildings$72.2 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$33.0 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$5.8 million
  • Other government-run businesses$877 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
12%$95.8 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingPublic transit; roads and highways and 1 more
  • Public transit$50.8 million
  • Roads and highways$41.3 million
  • Parking$3.6 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
11%$92.3 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice and fire protection
  • Police$55.9 million
  • Fire protection$36.3 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
5.3%$42.5 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$42.5 million
Sent to other local governments
4.2%$33.6 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$33.6 million
Environment and natural resources
4.0%$32.4 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$32.4 million
Housing and community development
3.4%$27.1 million
Social services
2.3%$18.4 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$18.4 million
Interest on debt
0.8%$6.5 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on electric power debt; interest on general debt and 1 more
  • Interest on electric power debt$4.5 million
  • Interest on general debt$1.9 million
  • Interest on water supply debt$32 thousand
Fort Collins page →

Your schools

Poudre School District R-1

$645 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the Colorado Department of Education.

About 82% of this ZIP is in Poudre School District R-1.

Where the money comes from

School district taxes49%State tax money36%Fines and other8.7%Federal tax money6.0%
Full Poudre School District R-1 breakdown

School district taxes49%

Property tax
49%$282 million

Fees for services<0.1%

Fees for services
<0.1%$163 thousand

Federal tax money6.0%

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

From the federal government
6.0%$34.7 million

State tax money36%

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

From the state
36%$208 million

Fines and other8.7%

Interest, rents and other
8.7%$50.0 million
Poudre School District R-1 page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges89%Debt payments (principal and interest)11%
Full Poudre School District R-1 breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
89%$572 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
11%$73.4 million
Poudre School District R-1 page →

Thompson School District R-2J

$286 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the Colorado Department of Education.

About 18% of this ZIP is in Thompson School District R-2J.

Where the money comes from

School district taxes51%State tax money31%Fines and other10%Federal tax money7.5%
Full Thompson School District R-2J breakdown

School district taxes51%

Property tax
51%$142 million

Fees for services<0.1%

Fees for services
<0.1%$67 thousand

Federal tax money7.5%

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

From the federal government
7.5%$20.7 million

State tax money31%

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

From the state
31%$86.4 million

Fines and other10%

Interest, rents and other
10%$28.1 million
Thompson School District R-2J page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges91%Debt payments (principal and interest)8.7%
Full Thompson School District R-2J breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
91%$261 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
8.7%$24.9 million
Thompson School District R-2J 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.

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

Poudre School District R-1. 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 Fort Collins. 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.

Thompson School District R-2J. 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.

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.