ZIP 97053 · Columbia County, OR

Four governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 97053: 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 Oregon governments, the Oregon Department of Education, as named under Sources and more.

Where do my taxes go in 97053?
97053 is served by the State of Oregon, Columbia County, Scappoose School District 1J and St. Helens School District 502. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of Oregon spent $53.8 billion (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Columbia County spent $78.8 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Scappoose School District 1J spent $42.2 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025) and St. Helens School District 502 spent $83.6 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 97053?
Of the governments serving 97053, State of Oregon collected $20.7 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Columbia County collected $18.4 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), St. Helens School District 502 collected $15.5 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025) and Scappoose School District 1J collected $15.5 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 97053.

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: Columbia County, Scappoose School District 1J and St. Helens School District 502

Why not this year? Oregon governments with newer filings show school district figures from the Oregon 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 97053

State of Oregon$20.7 million

<0.1% of its $48.5 billion in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024

Columbia County$18.4 million

26% of its $69.8 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024 · estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

St. Helens School District 502$15.5 million

30% of its $52.6 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

Scappoose School District 1J$15.5 million

37% of its $42.2 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

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

This ZIP is outside any city or town, so Columbia County provides local services like police and parks.

Columbia County

$78.8 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024. Estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

Where the money comes from

State tax money38%County taxes27%Fines and other15%Fees for services (garbage collection, parks and recreation)15%Federal tax money5.0%
Full Columbia County breakdown

What stands out

9.5%

of Columbia County's money comes from fines.Most U.S. counties of 50,000 to 250,000 people get none.

County taxes27%

Property tax
26%$18.4 million
Other taxes
0.8%$537 thousand
What's in other taxesOther licenses and public utility taxes
  • Other licenses$374 thousand
  • Public utility taxes$163 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services15%

Fees for services
15%$10.2 million
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges; garbage collection and 2 more
  • Other service charges$5.2 million
  • Garbage collection$4.1 million
  • Parks and recreation$728 thousand
  • Transit fares$127 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money5.0%

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

From the federal government
5.0%$3.5 million

State tax money38%

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

From the state
38%$26.8 million

Fines and other15%

Fines
9.5%$6.6 million
Interest, rents and other
5.5%$3.8 million
Columbia County page →

Where the money goes

Roads, transit and parking45%Police, fire, courts and jails20%Running the government and other costs12%Sent to other local governments7.8%Water, sewer, trash and utilities4.4%All other spending11%

What stands out

45%

of Columbia County's spending goes to roads, transit and parking.A typical U.S. county of 50,000 to 250,000 people spends 8.9%.

Full Columbia County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Roads, transit and parking
45%$35.5 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingPublic transit and roads and highways
  • Public transit$29.3 million
  • Roads and highways$6.2 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
20%$15.6 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPrisons and jails; police and 2 more
  • Prisons and jails$8.6 million
  • Police$3.3 million
  • Courts and legal services$2.8 million
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$961 thousand
Running the government and other costs
12%$9.3 million
What's in running the government and other costsFinance, tax collection and budgeting; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 2 more
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$4.3 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$2.5 million
  • Other and not broken out$1.7 million
  • Government buildings$828 thousand
Sent to other local governments
7.8%$6.2 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$6.2 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
4.4%$3.4 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste
  • Garbage and solid waste$3.4 million
Environment and natural resources
3.8%$3.0 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$3.0 million
Health and hospitals
3.7%$2.9 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$2.9 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
1.8%$1.5 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$1.5 million
Interest on debt
0.9%$722 thousand
Social services
0.7%$579 thousand
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$579 thousand
Columbia County page →

Your schools

Scappoose School District 1J

$42.2 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the Oregon Department of Education.

About 58% of this ZIP is in Scappoose School District 1J.

Where the money comes from

State tax money52%School district taxes37%Federal tax money4.4%Fines and other4.0%County and local tax money1.8%Fees for services1.0%
Full Scappoose School District 1J breakdown

School district taxes37%

Property tax
37%$15.5 million
Other taxes
0.3%$106 thousand

Fees for services1.0%

Fees for services
1.0%$430 thousand

Federal tax money4.4%

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

From the federal government
4.4%$1.9 million

State tax money52%

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

From the state
52%$21.9 million

County and local tax money1.8%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
1.8%$740 thousand

Fines and other4.0%

Interest, rents and other
4.0%$1.7 million
Scappoose School District 1J page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges93%Debt payments (principal and interest)7.5%
Full Scappoose School District 1J breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
93%$39.0 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
7.5%$3.1 million
Scappoose School District 1J page →

St. Helens School District 502

$83.6 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the Oregon Department of Education.

About 42% of this ZIP is in St. Helens School District 502.

Where the money comes from

State tax money59%School district taxes30%Federal tax money6.1%Fines and other3.4%County and local tax money1.5%Fees for services0.8%
Full St. Helens School District 502 breakdown

School district taxes30%

Property tax
30%$15.5 million
Other taxes
0.2%$90 thousand

Fees for services0.8%

Fees for services
0.8%$436 thousand

Federal tax money6.1%

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

From the federal government
6.1%$3.2 million

State tax money59%

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

From the state
59%$30.8 million

County and local tax money1.5%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
1.5%$770 thousand

Fines and other3.4%

Interest, rents and other
3.4%$1.8 million
St. Helens School District 502 page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges90%Debt payments (principal and interest)10%
Full St. Helens School District 502 breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
90%$75.0 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
10%$8.6 million
St. Helens School District 502 page →

Your state

State of Oregon

$53.8 billion budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

Where the money comes from

Federal tax money36%State taxes35%Fees for services (hospital bills, college tuition)19%Fines and other10%Local tax money<0.1%
Full Oregon breakdown

What stands out

2.8%

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

State taxes35%

Individual income tax
20%$9.54 billion
Other taxes
9.0%$4.37 billion
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; motor fuel taxes and 18 more
  • Other selective sales taxes$1.28 billion
  • Motor fuel taxes$719 million
  • Motor vehicle licenses$650 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$381 million
  • Tobacco taxes$378 million
  • Estate and gift taxes$340 million
  • Insurance premium taxes$187 million
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$139 million
  • Public utility licenses$80.6 million
  • Hunting and fishing licenses$55.4 million
  • Corporation licenses$54.8 million
  • Driver's licenses$31.1 million
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$22.5 million
  • Severance taxes$20.4 million
  • Public utility taxes$15.6 million
  • Other licenses$9.5 million
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$4.5 million
  • Amusement licenses$2.7 million
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$2.5 million
  • Amusement taxes$47 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Business income tax
3.5%$1.69 billion
Sales tax
2.8%$1.34 billion
Property tax
<0.1%$20.7 million

Fees for services19%

Fees for services
19%$8.98 billion
What's in fees for servicesHospital bills; other service charges and 9 more
  • Hospital bills$3.92 billion
  • Other service charges$2.03 billion
  • College tuition$1.26 billion
  • Liquor stores$832 million
  • University housing and dining$635 million
  • Parks, land and natural resources$196 million
  • Road charges$53.7 million
  • Parks and recreation$33.2 million
  • Housing$19.7 million
  • Other education charges$3.9 million
  • Airport$15 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%$17.6 billion

Local tax money<0.1%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From local governments
<0.1%$29.8 million

Fines and other10%

Interest, rents and other
10%$4.87 billion
Fines
0.1%$62.7 million
Oregon page →

Where the money goes

Social services38%Sent to local governments18%Schools and colleges14%Health and hospitals11%Running the government and other costs6.5%All other spending12%

What stands out

11%

of Oregon's spending goes to health services and hospitals.A typical state government spends 5.7%.

Full Oregon breakdown

Spending by category100%

Social services
38%$20.6 billion
What's in social servicesOther public welfare; welfare institutions and 2 more
  • Other public welfare$20.3 billion
  • Welfare institutions$147 million
  • Unemployment and social insurance offices$80.8 million
  • Veterans' services$8.0 million
Sent to local governments
18%$9.70 billion
What's in sent to local governmentsSent to school districts; sent to school districts (colleges) and 21 more
  • Sent to school districts$7.35 billion
  • Sent to school districts (colleges)$564 million
  • Sent to local governments: other public welfare$459 million
  • Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$450 million
  • Sent to local governments: public health$348 million
  • Sent to local governments: prisons and jails$141 million
  • Sent to local governments: general support$115 million
  • Sent to local governments: courts and legal services$67.3 million
  • Sent to local governments: natural resources, farming and conservation$56.3 million
  • Sent to local governments: central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$36.2 million
  • Sent to local governments: parks and recreation$23.7 million
  • Sent to local governments: roads and highways$23.3 million
  • Sent to local governments: inspections and regulation$22.5 million
  • Sent to local governments: housing and community development$18.2 million
  • Sent to local governments: other education$16.8 million
  • Sent to local governments: police$3.8 million
  • Sent to local governments: finance, tax collection and budgeting$1.4 million
  • Sent to local governments: libraries$1.2 million
  • Sent to local governments: other government administration$907 thousand
  • Sent to local governments: probation, parole and other corrections$846 thousand
  • Sent to local governments: airports$188 thousand
  • Sent to local governments: garbage and solid waste$9 thousand
  • Sent to local governments: colleges and universities$5 thousand
Schools and colleges
14%$7.67 billion
What's in schools and collegesColleges and universities; other education and 2 more
  • Colleges and universities$5.03 billion
  • Other education$1.27 billion
  • College housing, dining and bookstores$859 million
  • Scholarships and other education subsidies$505 million
Health and hospitals
11%$5.90 billion
What's in health and hospitalsHospitals and public health
  • Hospitals$4.38 billion
  • Public health$1.52 billion
Running the government and other costs
6.5%$3.50 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$2.05 billion
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$1.02 billion
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$255 million
  • Other government administration$167 million
  • Government buildings$9.8 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
4.7%$2.55 billion
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPrisons and jails; courts and legal services and 3 more
  • Prisons and jails$1.21 billion
  • Courts and legal services$548 million
  • Inspections and regulation$435 million
  • Police$349 million
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$8.8 million
Roads, transit and parking
3.4%$1.85 billion
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways; public transit and 1 more
  • Roads and highways$1.81 billion
  • Public transit$32.2 million
  • Airports$1.4 million
Environment and natural resources
1.7%$905 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$905 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
1.1%$586 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesLiquor stores; garbage and solid waste and 1 more
  • Liquor stores$578 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$4.3 million
  • Sewer systems$3.8 million
Housing and community development
0.5%$263 million
Interest on debt
0.4%$192 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.3%$136 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$128 million
  • Libraries$7.7 million
Oregon page →
Sources and moreEach government's source, fiscal year and how a ZIP is matched

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

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

Scappoose School District 1J. Oregon Department of Education, School Finance Accountability and Transparency, actual revenue and expenditure data, school 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.

St. Helens School District 502. Oregon Department of Education, School Finance Accountability and Transparency, actual revenue and expenditure data, school 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. Oregon school district and education service district figures are the actual revenue and spending each one reported to the Oregon Department of Education for the school year ended June 30, 2025 (2024-25). They cover all of the district's funds except internal service and trust funds, and include construction spending. Transfers between funds, debt proceeds and beginning balances are left out. Spending is grouped as education and debt payments.

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.