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Jefferson County – Government Finance

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Government finances play a pivotal role in shaping the local economy, influencing economic growth, stability, and the overall well-being of communities. The impact of government finances on the local economy can be analyzed through several key mechanisms, including public spending, taxation, debt management, and fiscal policies. These elements collectively determine the flow of resources, the level of economic activity, and the quality of life for residents.

  1. Public Spending and Investment One of the most direct ways government finances affect the local economy is through public spending. Governments allocate funds to infrastructure projects, education, healthcare, public safety, and social services. These investments create jobs, stimulate demand for goods and services, and enhance the productivity of the local workforce. For instance, building roads, bridges, and public transportation systems not only provides immediate employment opportunities but also improves connectivity, reducing transportation costs for businesses and facilitating trade. Similarly, investments in education and healthcare contribute to a skilled and healthy workforce, which is essential for long-term economic growth.

  2. Taxation Policies Taxation is another critical component of government finances that impacts the local economy. Taxes fund public services and infrastructure, but they also influence the behavior of individuals and businesses. High tax rates can discourage investment and consumption, potentially stifling economic growth. Conversely, low tax rates may attract businesses and stimulate spending but can lead to budget deficits if not managed properly. Progressive taxation, where higher-income individuals pay a larger share, can reduce income inequality and increase disposable income for lower-income households, boosting local demand for goods and services.

  3. Debt Management Government borrowing and debt management also have significant implications for the local economy. When governments borrow to finance deficits or invest in long-term projects, they can stimulate economic activity in the short term. However, excessive debt can lead to higher interest rates, crowding out private investment, and increasing the risk of financial instability. Effective debt management ensures that borrowing is sustainable and that funds are used efficiently to generate economic returns.

  4. Fiscal Policies Fiscal policies, including government spending and taxation, are tools used to manage economic cycles. During economic downturns, expansionary fiscal policies, such as increased spending and tax cuts, can stimulate demand and help the economy recover. Conversely, during periods of high inflation, contractionary fiscal policies, such as reduced spending and higher taxes, can help cool down the economy. The timing and effectiveness of these policies are crucial in stabilizing the local economy and maintaining public confidence.

  5. Social and Economic Equity Government finances also play a role in promoting social and economic equity. Redistributive policies, such as social welfare programs and subsidies, can reduce poverty and inequality, leading to a more inclusive economy. By providing a safety net for vulnerable populations, governments can ensure that all residents have access to basic needs, which in turn supports overall economic stability and growth.

  6. Conclusion In summary, government finances have a profound impact on the local economy through public spending, taxation, debt management, and fiscal policies. Effective management of these financial tools can stimulate economic growth, reduce inequality, and enhance the quality of life for residents. Conversely, poor financial management can lead to economic instability, reduced investment, and social unrest. Therefore, it is essential for governments to adopt prudent fiscal policies and ensure that financial resources are allocated efficiently and equitably to support sustainable economic development.

A key indicator for comparison is how much government collects, spends and and establishes debt for each resident under its perview.

The revenue per resident at the local level is:

6,407.17

The expenses per resident at the local level is:

5,603.28

The outstanding debt per resident at the local level is:

8,076.94

 
JeffersonAlabamaNational



LocalLocalLocalLocalStateState
PerContri-PerContri-PerContri-
LocalPer CentStatePer CentCapitabutionNationalPer CentCapitabutionCapitabution
Description(,000's)Per Capitato Total(,000's)Per Capitato TotalIndexIndex(,000's)Per Capitato TotalIndexIndexIndexIndex

Revenue4,320,3876,407.17100.0029,760,7085,797.75100.001.111.002,344,548,4806,947.35100.000.921.000.831.00

  General revenue3,986,7985,912.4692.2826,246,1355,113.0788.191.161.052,168,968,4006,427.0792.510.921.000.800.95

    Intergovernmental revenue1,398,2292,073.5932.3610,299,9062,006.5534.611.030.94808,559,1482,395.9234.490.870.940.841.00
      From Federal government241,989358.875.601,498,086291.855.031.231.11146,274,793433.446.240.830.900.670.81
      From State government1,156,2401,714.7126.768,801,8201,714.7029.581.000.90662,284,3551,962.4828.250.870.950.871.05
      From local government00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

    General revenue from own sources2,588,5693,838.8759.9215,946,2293,106.5253.581.241.121,360,409,2524,031.1558.020.951.030.770.92
      Taxes2,004,1352,972.1546.397,579,5241,476.5825.472.011.82894,124,7052,649.4638.141.121.220.560.67
        Property792,8681,175.8318.353,040,037592.2410.211.991.80627,434,2421,859.2126.760.630.690.320.38
        Sales & gross receipts921,0261,365.8921.323,645,916710.2712.251.921.74165,801,503491.307.072.783.011.451.73
          General sales847,3881,256.6819.613,105,580605.0110.442.081.88125,994,306373.355.373.373.651.621.94
          Selective sales73,638109.211.70540,336105.261.821.040.9439,807,197117.961.700.931.000.891.07
            Motor fuel sales6,0859.020.14127,94624.930.430.360.331,892,6875.610.081.611.744.445.33
            Alcoholic beverage sales13,36019.810.3151,99310.130.171.961.77845,0352.500.047.918.584.054.85
            Tobacco product sales3240.480.0128,1485.480.090.090.08318,8170.940.010.510.555.806.96
            Public utilities37,52555.650.87132,84025.880.452.151.9515,744,64746.650.671.191.290.550.66
            Other selective sales16,34424.240.38199,40938.850.670.620.5621,006,01162.240.900.390.420.620.75
        Individual income tax117,579174.372.72137,08326.710.466.535.9144,730,192132.541.911.321.430.200.24
        Corporate income tax00.000.0000.000.000.000.0011,009,92732.620.470.000.000.000.00
        Motor vehicle license5,0887.550.1219,3643.770.072.001.812,263,6136.710.101.121.220.560.67
        Other taxes167,574248.513.88737,124143.602.481.731.5742,885,228127.081.831.962.121.131.35

      Charges & misc general revenue584,434866.7213.538,366,7051,629.9428.110.530.48466,284,5471,381.6919.890.630.681.181.41
        Current charges467,237692.9210.817,271,1961,416.5224.430.490.44365,048,3361,081.7115.570.640.691.311.57
          Education40,06259.410.93290,48556.590.981.050.9519,143,89456.730.821.051.141.001.20
            Institution of higher education00.000.0000.000.000.000.007,681,25722.760.330.000.000.000.00
            School lunch sales (gross)9,07613.460.2147,5069.250.161.451.321,566,4414.640.072.903.141.992.39
          Hospitals00.000.005,301,2821,032.7517.810.000.00124,953,811370.265.330.000.002.793.34
          Highways240.040.0011,8342.310.040.020.0110,287,28930.480.440.000.000.080.09
          Air transportation (airports)55,23981.921.28129,69125.270.443.242.9322,414,40266.420.961.231.340.380.46
          Parking facilities8,07611.980.1911,9712.330.045.144.652,924,3498.670.121.381.500.270.32
          Sea and inland port facilities00.000.0000.000.000.000.004,760,82614.110.200.000.000.000.00
          Natural resources00.000.003230.060.000.000.002,531,1967.500.110.000.000.010.01
          Parks and recreation8,81413.070.2080,15015.610.270.840.769,708,20828.770.410.450.490.540.65
          Housing and comm development10,67815.840.2577,42215.080.261.050.957,308,73521.660.310.730.790.700.83
          Sewerage245,378363.905.68669,316130.392.252.792.5368,695,647203.562.931.791.940.640.77
          Solid waste management7,23610.730.17261,47250.940.880.210.1921,694,93864.290.930.170.180.790.95
          Other charges91,730136.042.12437,25085.181.471.601.4570,625,041209.283.010.650.700.410.49

        Miscellaneous general revenue117,197173.802.711,095,509213.423.680.810.74101,236,211299.984.320.580.630.710.85
          Interest earnings19,84929.440.46134,86026.270.451.121.0110,227,01630.300.440.971.050.871.04
          Special assessments1,3612.020.0340,7767.940.140.250.2315,026,42544.530.640.050.050.180.21
          Sale of property10,15415.060.24104,27420.310.350.740.673,784,73711.210.161.341.461.812.17
          Other general revenue85,833127.291.99815,599158.892.740.800.7272,198,033213.943.080.590.650.740.89

  Utility revenue333,589494.727.723,514,573684.6811.810.720.65173,592,043514.397.400.961.041.331.59
    Water supply236,464350.685.471,101,532214.593.701.631.4880,167,107237.553.421.481.600.901.08
    Electric power84,919125.941.971,950,181379.926.550.330.3078,135,733231.533.330.540.591.641.97
    Gas supply10,08914.960.23459,46289.511.540.170.157,630,12322.610.330.660.723.964.74
    Transit2,1173.140.053,3980.660.014.744.297,659,08022.700.330.140.150.030.03

  Liquor store revenue00.000.0000.000.000.000.001,988,0375.890.080.000.000.000.00

  Insurance trust revenue00.000.0000.000.000.000.00162,8580.480.010.000.000.000.00
    Unemployment compensation00.000.0000.000.000.000.00162,8580.480.010.000.000.000.00
    Employee retirement00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
    Workers' compensation00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
    Other insurance trust revenue00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

Expenditure3,778,3195,603.28100.0028,336,6685,520.33100.001.021.002,254,418,5176,680.28100.000.841.000.831.00

  Intergovernmental expenditure00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
  Direct expenditure3,778,3195,603.28100.0028,336,6685,520.33100.001.021.002,254,418,5176,680.28100.000.841.000.831.00
    Current operation3,142,6324,660.5583.1824,291,3084,732.2485.720.980.971,887,390,8875,592.7083.720.830.990.851.02
    Capital outlay425,738631.3711.273,373,377657.1811.900.960.95284,581,195843.2712.620.750.890.780.94
      Construction425,738631.3711.273,373,377657.1811.900.960.95284,581,195843.2712.620.750.890.780.94
    Assistance and subsidies00.000.0000.000.000.000.002,376,9447.040.110.000.000.000.00
    Interest on debt209,949311.365.56671,983130.912.372.382.3480,069,491237.263.551.311.560.550.67
    Insurance benefits and repayments00.000.0000.000.000.000.0039,9940.120.000.000.000.000.00
    Exhibit: salaries & wages999,5211,482.3026.457,927,2071,544.3227.980.960.95525,546,0041,557.2923.310.951.130.991.20

  Direct expenditure by function3,778,3195,603.28100.0028,336,6685,520.33100.001.021.002,254,418,5176,680.28100.000.841.000.831.00
    Direct general expenditure3,413,4855,062.2390.3425,033,9214,876.9188.341.041.022,024,660,7925,999.4689.810.841.010.810.98
      Capital outlay353,313523.979.352,950,363574.7710.410.910.90233,677,777692.4310.370.760.900.831.00


Education services:
      Other direct general expenditure3,060,1724,538.2680.9922,083,5584,302.1577.931.051.041,790,983,0155,307.0379.440.861.020.810.98
      Education1,482,9682,199.2539.259,947,3331,937.8635.101.131.12862,837,2522,556.7538.270.861.030.760.92
          Capital outlay141,890210.423.76957,663186.563.381.131.1189,314,081264.653.960.800.950.700.85
        Higher education00.000.0000.000.000.000.0046,067,730136.512.040.000.000.000.00
          Capital outlay00.000.0000.000.000.000.005,394,84215.990.240.000.000.000.00
        Elementary & Secondary education1,482,9682,199.2539.259,947,3331,937.8635.101.131.12814,392,5782,413.2036.120.911.090.800.97
          Capital outlay141,890210.423.76957,663186.563.381.131.1183,919,239248.673.720.851.010.750.91
        Other education00.000.0000.000.000.000.002,376,9447.040.110.000.000.000.00
      Libraries37,37755.430.99100,70719.620.362.832.7813,625,82240.380.601.371.640.490.59


Social services and income maintenance:
      Public welfare1260.190.0052,94610.310.190.020.0267,699,317200.613.000.000.000.050.06
        Other public welfare1260.190.0052,94610.310.190.020.0267,699,317200.613.000.000.000.050.06
      Hospitals00.000.006,014,3141,171.6621.220.000.00141,312,054418.736.270.000.002.803.39
        Capital outlay00.000.00694,991135.392.450.000.006,546,84619.400.290.000.006.988.45
      Health176,225261.344.66584,908113.952.062.292.2677,108,561228.493.421.141.360.500.60
      Social insurance administration00.000.0000.000.000.000.0035,9470.110.000.000.000.000.00
      Veterans' services00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

Transportaion:
      Highways164,695244.244.36978,810190.683.451.281.2682,616,882244.813.661.001.190.780.94
        Capital outlay47,50570.451.26196,67438.310.691.841.8130,060,50189.081.330.790.940.430.52
      Air transportation (airports)37,68955.891.00142,73027.810.502.011.9828,556,24984.621.270.660.790.330.40
      Parking facilities8,02611.900.2116,8223.280.063.633.582,108,1706.250.091.912.270.520.63
      Sea and inland port facilities00.000.0000.000.000.000.004,034,90811.960.180.000.000.000.00

Public safety:
      Police protection263,875391.336.981,320,870257.324.661.521.50119,298,947353.515.291.111.320.730.88
      Fire protection174,488258.774.62602,373117.352.132.212.1764,033,823189.742.841.361.630.620.75
      Correction13,25219.650.35195,79338.140.690.520.5132,595,24396.591.450.200.240.390.48
        Capital outlay2050.300.011,5860.310.010.980.97915,2972.710.040.110.130.110.14
      Protective inspection & regulation25,13437.270.6752,71210.270.193.633.587,062,87020.930.311.782.120.490.59

Environment and housing:
      Natural resources2500.370.0117,4443.400.060.110.1113,342,66139.540.590.010.010.090.10
        Capital outlay1300.190.008,9951.750.030.110.114,485,96313.290.200.010.020.130.16
      Parks and recreation84,178124.842.23454,03788.451.601.411.3943,717,263129.541.940.961.150.680.83
        Capital outlay5,6388.360.1540,2977.850.141.071.0510,096,60129.920.450.280.330.260.32
      Housing and comm development201,269298.485.33647,046126.052.282.372.3358,336,344172.862.591.732.060.730.88
      Sewerage138,725205.733.67513,590100.051.812.062.0368,504,527202.993.041.011.210.490.60
        Capital outlay41,78561.971.11154,17730.040.542.062.0323,319,98269.101.030.901.070.430.53
      Solid waste management33,48949.660.89358,72369.881.270.710.7028,653,83084.911.270.580.700.821.00
        Capital outlay1,4762.190.0427,5755.370.100.410.401,863,1165.520.080.400.470.971.18

Governmental administration:
      Financial administration76,405113.312.02331,88964.661.171.751.7323,707,42470.251.051.611.920.921.11
      Judicial and legal42,32562.771.12187,40436.510.661.721.6927,887,73782.641.240.760.910.440.53
      General public buildings6,6429.850.18111,81021.780.390.450.4513,643,40540.430.610.240.290.540.65
      Other governmental administration87,916130.382.33548,299106.821.931.221.2037,267,357110.431.651.181.410.971.17
      Interest on general debt167,267248.064.43549,311107.011.942.322.2866,807,524197.962.961.251.490.540.65

General expenditures, n.e.c.:
      Misc commercial activities9051.340.0215,0482.930.050.460.452,707,8798.020.120.170.200.370.44
      Other and unallocable190,259282.165.041,289,002251.114.551.121.11137,158,796406.436.080.690.830.620.75

Utility expenditures:
    Utility expenditure364,834541.059.663,302,747643.4211.660.840.83228,078,201675.8410.120.800.950.951.15
        Capital outlay72,425107.411.92423,01482.411.491.301.2850,897,505150.822.260.710.850.550.66
      Water supply234,024347.066.191,061,343206.763.751.681.6582,479,587244.403.661.421.690.851.02
      Electric power78,097115.822.071,752,771341.466.190.340.3373,696,368218.383.270.530.631.561.89
      Gas supply7,56911.220.20409,69379.811.450.140.147,182,24421.280.320.530.633.754.54
      Transit45,14466.951.1978,94015.380.284.354.2964,720,002191.782.870.350.420.080.10

Liquor store expenditures:
    Liquor store expenditure00.000.0000.000.000.000.001,679,5244.980.070.000.000.000.00

Insurance trust expenditures:
    Insurance trust expenditure00.000.0000.000.000.000.0039,9940.120.000.000.000.000.00
      Unemployment compensation00.000.0000.000.000.000.0039,9940.120.000.000.000.000.00
      Employee retirement00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
      Workers' compensation00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
      Other insurance trust00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

Debt outstanding5,446,3218,076.94100.0020,063,8883,908.69100.002.071.002,042,775,1706,053.14100.001.331.000.651.00

  Short-term debt outstanding3,3024.900.06343,97467.011.710.070.0428,356,92884.031.390.060.040.801.24
  Long-term debt outstanding5,443,0198,072.0499.9419,719,9143,841.6898.292.101.022,014,418,2425,969.1198.611.351.010.641.00

Long-term debt issued706,174NANA2,661,454NANANANA264,717,314NANANANANANA
Long-term debt retired610,662NANA2,514,404NANANANA218,916,559NANANANANANA


Sources: STI: PopStats and STI: Colossus