Welcome to RadioReference, Tom.
If you're initial budget is $1000, then you could buy one (more likely two) of the top of the line scanners available.
I have to agree with hiegtx and mmckenna.
A useful modern scanner would range from about 25Mhz to 2GHz (usually just a little above 1GHz) give or take a little on either or both ends and they most always skip things such as the broadcast TV bands. The only real issue with skipping TV is there are some devices such as wireless microphones that use that spectrum. There are some very expensive scanners and models often sold only for government use that cover more and without skipping anything. The latest models such as the TRX from Whistler will tune and decode everything that is currently available and legal in a consumer unit.
You do have to inventory what it is you want to hear. If your not really scanning but want to be able to tune to a particular frequency something like a USB dongle is a great choice. They are very inexpensive (although there are better ones for more money and some very elaborate expensive software defined radios) and can tune nearly anything.
If for example you only wanted to listen to analog VHF and UHF amateur repeaters an old 200 channel used model, available very inexpensively, will do the job very well.
On the other hand if your local police department uses encryption or some particular unsupported digital trunking system there is NO scanner that will decode it.