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Columbia 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:

5,587.6

The expenses per resident at the local level is:

4,686.53

The outstanding debt per resident at the local level is:

3,164.11

 
ColumbiaArkansasNational



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

Revenue125,3975,587.60100.0013,124,4464,265.18100.001.311.002,344,548,4806,947.35100.000.801.000.611.00

  General revenue122,4605,456.7397.6612,021,0993,906.6191.591.401.072,168,968,4006,427.0792.510.851.060.610.99

    Intergovernmental revenue63,8122,843.4250.896,944,7232,256.8952.911.260.96808,559,1482,395.9234.491.191.480.941.53
      From Federal government18,244812.9414.551,155,541375.538.802.161.65146,274,793433.446.241.882.330.871.41
      From State government45,5682,030.4836.345,789,1821,881.3744.111.080.82662,284,3551,962.4828.251.031.290.961.56
      From local government00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

    General revenue from own sources58,6482,613.3146.775,076,3761,649.7238.681.581.211,360,409,2524,031.1558.020.650.810.410.67
      Taxes25,5391,138.0020.373,295,9401,071.1125.111.060.81894,124,7052,649.4638.140.430.530.400.66
        Property9,428420.117.521,303,153423.509.930.990.76627,434,2421,859.2126.760.230.280.230.37
        Sales & gross receipts15,970711.6112.741,941,098630.8214.791.130.86165,801,503491.307.071.451.801.282.09
          General sales14,411642.1411.491,675,070544.3612.761.180.90125,994,306373.355.371.722.141.462.37
          Selective sales1,55969.471.24266,02886.452.030.800.6139,807,197117.961.700.590.730.731.19
            Motor fuel sales00.000.0000.000.000.000.001,892,6875.610.080.000.000.000.00
            Alcoholic beverage sales00.000.008,2352.680.060.000.00845,0352.500.040.000.001.071.74
            Tobacco product sales00.000.0000.000.000.000.00318,8170.940.010.000.000.000.00
            Public utilities1,43263.811.14176,14957.241.341.110.8515,744,64746.650.671.371.701.232.00
            Other selective sales1275.660.1081,64426.530.620.210.1621,006,01162.240.900.090.110.430.69
        Individual income tax00.000.0000.000.000.000.0044,730,192132.541.910.000.000.000.00
        Corporate income tax00.000.0000.000.000.000.0011,009,92732.620.470.000.000.000.00
        Motor vehicle license00.000.0000.000.000.000.002,263,6136.710.100.000.000.000.00
        Other taxes1416.280.1151,68916.800.390.370.2942,885,228127.081.830.050.060.130.22

      Charges & misc general revenue33,1091,475.3126.401,780,436578.6113.572.551.95466,284,5471,381.6919.891.071.330.420.68
        Current charges29,3291,306.8823.391,260,554409.659.603.192.44365,048,3361,081.7115.571.211.500.380.62
          Education1,09748.880.87104,04133.810.791.451.1019,143,89456.730.820.861.070.600.97
            Institution of higher education00.000.0000.000.000.000.007,681,25722.760.330.000.000.000.00
            School lunch sales (gross)23110.290.1812,2423.980.092.591.971,566,4414.640.072.222.760.861.40
          Hospitals24,7031,100.7519.70174,49056.711.3319.4114.82124,953,811370.265.332.973.700.150.25
          Highways00.000.008370.270.010.000.0010,287,28930.480.440.000.000.010.01
          Air transportation (airports)1004.460.0880,53826.170.610.170.1322,414,40266.420.960.070.080.390.64
          Parking facilities00.000.003,9241.280.030.000.002,924,3498.670.120.000.000.150.24
          Sea and inland port facilities00.000.003,5441.150.030.000.004,760,82614.110.200.000.000.080.13
          Natural resources00.000.005,4501.770.040.000.002,531,1967.500.110.000.000.240.38
          Parks and recreation00.000.0035,89811.670.270.000.009,708,20828.770.410.000.000.410.66
          Housing and comm development82036.540.6532,75110.640.253.432.627,308,73521.660.311.692.100.490.80
          Sewerage2,09693.401.67375,624122.072.860.770.5868,695,647203.562.930.460.570.600.98
          Solid waste management632.810.05206,43667.091.570.040.0321,694,93864.290.930.040.051.041.70
          Other charges45020.050.36237,02177.031.810.260.2070,625,041209.283.010.100.120.370.60

        Miscellaneous general revenue3,780168.433.01519,882168.953.961.000.76101,236,211299.984.320.560.700.560.92
          Interest earnings62827.980.5065,06621.150.501.321.0110,227,01630.300.440.921.150.701.14
          Special assessments00.000.0016,5255.370.130.000.0015,026,42544.530.640.000.000.120.20
          Sale of property421.870.039,1772.980.070.630.483,784,73711.210.160.170.210.270.43
          Other general revenue3,110138.582.48429,114139.453.270.990.7672,198,033213.943.080.650.810.651.06

  Utility revenue2,937130.872.341,103,347358.578.410.360.28173,592,043514.397.400.250.320.701.14
    Water supply2,929130.512.34575,217186.934.380.700.5380,167,107237.553.420.550.680.791.28
    Electric power80.360.01524,070170.313.990.000.0078,135,733231.533.330.000.000.741.20
    Gas supply00.000.001,7860.580.010.000.007,630,12322.610.330.000.000.030.04
    Transit00.000.002,2740.740.020.000.007,659,08022.700.330.000.000.030.05

  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

Expenditure105,1754,686.53100.0012,073,9603,923.79100.001.191.002,254,418,5176,680.28100.000.701.000.591.00

  Intergovernmental expenditure00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
  Direct expenditure105,1754,686.53100.0012,073,9603,923.79100.001.191.002,254,418,5176,680.28100.000.701.000.591.00
    Current operation93,5714,169.4688.979,990,0553,246.5782.741.281.081,887,390,8875,592.7083.720.751.060.580.99
    Capital outlay9,293414.098.841,799,578584.8314.900.710.59284,581,195843.2712.620.490.700.691.18
      Construction9,293414.098.841,799,578584.8314.900.710.59284,581,195843.2712.620.490.700.691.18
    Assistance and subsidies00.000.0000.000.000.000.002,376,9447.040.110.000.000.000.00
    Interest on debt2,311102.982.20284,32792.402.351.110.9380,069,491237.263.550.430.620.390.66
    Insurance benefits and repayments00.000.0000.000.000.000.0039,9940.120.000.000.000.000.00
    Exhibit: salaries & wages37,5611,673.6935.713,669,8451,192.6330.391.401.17525,546,0041,557.2923.311.071.530.771.30

  Direct expenditure by function105,1754,686.53100.0012,073,9603,923.79100.001.191.002,254,418,5176,680.28100.000.701.000.591.00
    Direct general expenditure101,5104,523.2296.5210,847,5653,525.2489.841.281.072,024,660,7925,999.4689.810.751.070.591.00
      Capital outlay7,308325.646.951,491,190484.6112.350.670.56233,677,777692.4310.370.470.670.701.19


Education services:
      Other direct general expenditure94,2024,197.5889.579,356,3753,040.6377.491.381.161,790,983,0155,307.0379.440.791.130.570.98
      Education46,6612,079.1844.376,091,7791,979.7050.451.050.88862,837,2522,556.7538.270.811.160.771.32
          Capital outlay4,241188.984.03688,320223.695.700.840.7189,314,081264.653.960.711.020.851.44
        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 education46,6612,079.1844.376,091,7791,979.7050.451.050.88814,392,5782,413.2036.120.861.230.821.40
          Capital outlay4,241188.984.03688,320223.695.700.840.7183,919,239248.673.720.761.080.901.53
        Other education00.000.0000.000.000.000.002,376,9447.040.110.000.000.000.00
      Libraries48321.520.4691,82029.840.760.720.6013,625,82240.380.600.530.760.741.26


Social services and income maintenance:
      Public welfare482.140.0513,6514.440.110.480.4067,699,317200.613.000.010.020.020.04
        Other public welfare482.140.0513,6514.440.110.480.4067,699,317200.613.000.010.020.020.04
      Hospitals28,6291,275.6927.22219,23071.251.8217.9114.99141,312,054418.736.273.054.340.170.29
        Capital outlay3,027134.882.8829,8139.690.2513.9211.666,546,84619.400.296.959.910.500.85
      Health58526.070.5690,36829.370.750.890.7477,108,561228.493.420.110.160.130.22
      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:
      Highways3,743166.793.56581,019188.824.810.880.7482,616,882244.813.660.680.970.771.31
        Capital outlay20.090.00150,24548.831.240.000.0030,060,50189.081.330.000.000.550.93
      Air transportation (airports)2169.620.21128,28841.691.060.230.1928,556,24984.621.270.110.160.490.84
      Parking facilities00.000.002,4990.810.020.000.002,108,1706.250.090.000.000.130.22
      Sea and inland port facilities00.000.004,2371.380.040.000.004,034,90811.960.180.000.000.120.20

Public safety:
      Police protection4,197187.023.99687,821223.535.700.840.70119,298,947353.515.290.530.750.631.08
      Fire protection1,05446.971.00361,561117.502.990.400.3364,033,823189.742.840.250.350.621.05
      Correction1,53368.311.46208,46467.751.731.010.8432,595,24396.591.450.711.010.701.19
        Capital outlay00.000.0020,8826.790.170.000.00915,2972.710.040.000.002.504.26
      Protective inspection & regulation00.000.0014,1334.590.120.000.007,062,87020.930.310.000.000.220.37

Environment and housing:
      Natural resources31914.210.3019,8816.460.162.201.8413,342,66139.540.590.360.510.160.28
        Capital outlay00.000.004,6001.490.040.000.004,485,96313.290.200.000.000.110.19
      Parks and recreation1938.600.18272,99788.722.260.100.0843,717,263129.541.940.070.090.681.17
        Capital outlay00.000.00109,77335.670.910.000.0010,096,60129.920.450.000.001.192.03
      Housing and comm development1,97387.921.88228,01474.101.891.190.9958,336,344172.862.590.510.720.430.73
      Sewerage97543.450.93356,766115.942.950.370.3168,504,527202.993.040.210.310.570.97
        Capital outlay00.000.00141,69246.051.170.000.0023,319,98269.101.030.000.000.671.13
      Solid waste management3,708165.233.53232,60575.591.932.191.8328,653,83084.911.271.952.770.891.52
        Capital outlay00.000.0011,1393.620.090.000.001,863,1165.520.080.000.000.661.12

Governmental administration:
      Financial administration1,41663.101.35171,45255.721.421.130.9523,707,42470.251.050.901.280.791.35
      Judicial and legal44819.960.43140,79945.761.170.440.3727,887,73782.641.240.240.340.550.94
      General public buildings23010.250.2235,00111.370.290.900.7513,643,40540.430.610.250.360.280.48
      Other governmental administration1,57170.001.49197,88564.311.641.090.9137,267,357110.431.650.630.900.580.99
      Interest on general debt2,10393.712.00238,78677.601.981.211.0166,807,524197.962.960.470.670.390.67

General expenditures, n.e.c.:
      Misc commercial activities100.450.0150,93816.550.420.030.022,707,8798.020.120.060.082.063.51
      Other and unallocable1,41563.051.35407,571132.453.380.480.40137,158,796406.436.080.160.220.330.55

Utility expenditures:
    Utility expenditure3,665163.313.481,226,395398.5510.160.410.34228,078,201675.8410.120.240.340.591.00
        Capital outlay1,98588.451.89308,388100.222.550.880.7450,897,505150.822.260.590.840.661.13
      Water supply3,626161.573.45605,743196.855.020.820.6982,479,587244.403.660.660.940.811.37
      Electric power341.520.03578,035187.854.790.010.0173,696,368218.383.270.010.010.861.46
      Gas supply50.220.001,5390.500.010.450.377,182,24421.280.320.010.010.020.04
      Transit00.000.0041,07813.350.340.000.0064,720,002191.782.870.000.000.070.12

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 outstanding71,0093,164.11100.0010,105,5773,284.11100.000.961.002,042,775,1706,053.14100.000.521.000.541.00

  Short-term debt outstanding60026.740.846,1562.000.0613.3613.8728,356,92884.031.390.320.610.020.04
  Long-term debt outstanding70,4093,137.3899.1610,099,4213,282.1199.940.960.992,014,418,2425,969.1198.610.531.010.551.01

Long-term debt issued11,742NANA1,990,372NANANANA264,717,314NANANANANANA
Long-term debt retired15,127NANA1,633,337NANANANA218,916,559NANANANANANA


Sources: STI: PopStats and STI: Colossus