Parents pay a maximum fee for kindergarten only (between 15.8% and 22.5% of total costs in 2011, depending on whether the kindergarten is public or private). Counties are responsible for upper secondary education, which they finance through taxes and block grants. Costs in this sector vary considerably from one region to another. Additional state subsidies and provisions are given to avoid regional disparities. Private kindergartens (50% of all kindergartens) are also financed by the state through the block grants to municipalities.