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Larimer 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:

7,792.71

The expenses per resident at the local level is:

9,348.01

The outstanding debt per resident at the local level is:

7,457.45

 
LarimerColoradoNational



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

Revenue2,886,3877,792.71100.0046,217,2567,833.75100.000.991.002,344,548,4806,947.35100.001.121.001.131.00

  General revenue2,204,5385,951.8476.3842,322,4317,173.5891.570.830.832,168,968,4006,427.0792.510.930.831.120.99

    Intergovernmental revenue516,3001,393.9117.8911,278,9981,911.7724.400.730.73808,559,1482,395.9234.490.580.520.800.71
      From Federal government120,258324.674.172,394,735405.905.180.800.80146,274,793433.446.240.750.670.940.83
      From State government396,0421,069.2413.728,884,2631,505.8719.220.710.71662,284,3551,962.4828.250.540.490.770.68
      From local government00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

    General revenue from own sources1,688,2384,557.9358.4931,043,4335,261.8167.170.870.871,360,409,2524,031.1558.021.131.011.311.16
      Taxes1,133,2273,059.5039.2620,270,8333,435.8743.860.890.90894,124,7052,649.4638.141.151.031.301.15
        Property738,8301,994.7025.6012,402,2662,102.1626.830.950.95627,434,2421,859.2126.761.070.961.131.00
        Sales & gross receipts375,5871,014.0113.017,149,8141,211.8815.470.840.84165,801,503491.307.072.061.842.472.19
          General sales355,673960.2512.326,562,7001,112.3714.200.860.87125,994,306373.355.372.572.292.982.64
          Selective sales19,91453.760.69587,11499.511.270.540.5439,807,197117.961.700.460.410.840.75
            Motor fuel sales00.000.0000.000.000.000.001,892,6875.610.080.000.000.000.00
            Alcoholic beverage sales1030.280.001,2620.210.001.301.31845,0352.500.040.110.100.090.08
            Tobacco product sales00.000.0000.000.000.000.00318,8170.940.010.000.000.000.00
            Public utilities7692.080.03160,82827.260.350.080.0815,744,64746.650.670.040.040.580.52
            Other selective sales19,04251.410.66425,02472.040.920.710.7221,006,01162.240.900.830.741.161.03
        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 license4531.220.0279,12813.410.170.090.092,263,6136.710.100.180.162.001.77
        Other taxes18,35749.560.64639,625108.421.380.460.4642,885,228127.081.830.390.350.850.76

      Charges & misc general revenue555,0111,498.4319.2310,772,6001,825.9423.310.820.82466,284,5471,381.6919.891.080.971.321.17
        Current charges365,620987.1112.677,797,0851,321.5916.870.750.75365,048,3361,081.7115.570.910.811.221.08
          Education12,58633.980.44437,90674.220.950.460.4619,143,89456.730.820.600.531.311.16
            Institution of higher education00.000.0041,9767.110.090.000.007,681,25722.760.330.000.000.310.28
            School lunch sales (gross)4991.350.0220,9603.550.050.380.381,566,4414.640.070.290.260.770.68
          Hospitals54,214146.371.882,110,148357.674.570.410.41124,953,811370.265.330.400.350.970.86
          Highways15,05140.630.52263,28744.630.570.910.9210,287,28930.480.441.331.191.461.30
          Air transportation (airports)1,2363.340.04979,281165.992.120.020.0222,414,40266.420.960.050.042.502.22
          Parking facilities1,3493.640.0533,5465.690.070.640.642,924,3498.670.120.420.370.660.58
          Sea and inland port facilities00.000.0000.000.000.000.004,760,82614.110.200.000.000.000.00
          Natural resources7,25519.590.2544,1317.480.102.622.632,531,1967.500.112.612.331.000.88
          Parks and recreation32,13486.761.11528,61289.601.140.970.979,708,20828.770.413.022.693.112.76
          Housing and comm development29,07678.501.01230,31039.040.502.012.027,308,73521.660.313.623.231.801.60
          Sewerage89,114240.593.091,373,231232.762.971.031.0468,695,647203.562.931.181.051.141.01
          Solid waste management22,95261.970.80155,79126.410.342.352.3621,694,93864.290.930.960.860.410.36
          Other charges100,653271.743.491,640,842278.123.550.980.9870,625,041209.283.011.301.161.331.18

        Miscellaneous general revenue189,391511.326.562,975,515504.346.441.011.02101,236,211299.984.321.701.521.681.49
          Interest earnings9,31325.140.32230,29639.030.500.640.6510,227,01630.300.440.830.741.291.14
          Special assessments88,091237.833.05809,462137.201.751.731.7415,026,42544.530.645.344.763.082.73
          Sale of property6,48417.510.22125,23121.230.270.820.833,784,73711.210.161.561.391.891.68
          Other general revenue85,503230.842.961,810,526306.883.920.750.7672,198,033213.943.081.080.961.431.27

  Utility revenue681,8491,840.8623.623,894,825660.178.432.792.80173,592,043514.397.403.583.191.281.14
    Water supply161,120434.995.582,216,951375.774.801.161.1680,167,107237.553.421.831.631.581.40
    Electric power515,9621,393.0017.881,298,197220.042.816.336.3678,135,733231.533.336.025.360.950.84
    Gas supply00.000.00266,38545.150.580.000.007,630,12322.610.330.000.002.001.77
    Transit4,76712.870.17113,29219.200.250.670.677,659,08022.700.330.570.510.850.75

  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

Expenditure3,462,4659,348.01100.0045,245,5067,669.04100.001.221.002,254,418,5176,680.28100.001.401.001.151.00

  Intergovernmental expenditure00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
  Direct expenditure3,462,4659,348.01100.0045,245,5067,669.04100.001.221.002,254,418,5176,680.28100.001.401.001.151.00
    Current operation2,422,0046,538.9669.9533,196,8335,626.8173.371.160.951,887,390,8875,592.7083.721.170.841.010.88
    Capital outlay917,6352,477.4426.509,771,3931,656.2321.601.501.23284,581,195843.2712.622.942.101.961.71
      Construction917,6352,477.4426.509,771,3931,656.2321.601.501.23284,581,195843.2712.622.942.101.961.71
    Assistance and subsidies00.000.0011,7291.990.030.000.002,376,9447.040.110.000.000.280.25
    Interest on debt122,826331.613.552,265,551384.015.010.860.7180,069,491237.263.551.401.001.621.41
    Insurance benefits and repayments00.000.0000.000.000.000.0039,9940.120.000.000.000.000.00
    Exhibit: salaries & wages709,1041,914.4520.4811,702,3911,983.5425.860.970.79525,546,0041,557.2923.311.230.881.271.11

  Direct expenditure by function3,462,4659,348.01100.0045,245,5067,669.04100.001.221.002,254,418,5176,680.28100.001.401.001.151.00
    Direct general expenditure2,395,8726,468.4169.2039,355,5446,670.7086.980.970.802,024,660,7925,999.4689.811.080.771.110.97
      Capital outlay483,9191,306.4913.987,943,1041,346.3417.560.970.80233,677,777692.4310.371.891.351.941.69


Education services:
      Other direct general expenditure1,911,9535,161.9255.2231,412,4405,324.3569.430.970.801,790,983,0155,307.0379.440.970.701.000.87
      Education754,5342,037.1021.7913,772,9472,334.4930.440.870.72862,837,2522,556.7538.270.800.570.910.80
          Capital outlay119,739323.273.462,069,391350.764.570.920.7689,314,081264.653.961.220.871.331.15
        Higher education00.000.00282,88947.950.630.000.0046,067,730136.512.040.000.000.350.31
          Capital outlay00.000.0051,9908.810.110.000.005,394,84215.990.240.000.000.550.48
        Elementary & Secondary education754,5342,037.1021.7913,478,3292,284.5529.790.890.73814,392,5782,413.2036.120.840.600.950.82
          Capital outlay119,739323.273.462,017,401341.954.460.950.7883,919,239248.673.721.300.931.381.20
        Other education00.000.0011,7291.990.030.000.002,376,9447.040.110.000.000.280.25
      Libraries6,71118.120.19362,20061.390.800.300.2413,625,82240.380.600.450.321.521.32


Social services and income maintenance:
      Public welfare59,575160.841.721,102,559186.882.440.860.7167,699,317200.613.000.800.570.930.81
        Other public welfare59,575160.841.721,102,559186.882.440.860.7167,699,317200.613.000.800.570.930.81
      Hospitals68,817185.791.992,338,918396.445.170.470.38141,312,054418.736.270.440.320.950.82
        Capital outlay3,92810.600.11147,18624.950.330.430.356,546,84619.400.290.550.391.291.12
      Health24,20965.360.70550,64793.331.220.700.5777,108,561228.493.420.290.200.410.36
      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:
      Highways103,182278.572.981,732,854293.723.830.950.7882,616,882244.813.661.140.811.201.05
        Capital outlay15,68742.350.45783,624132.821.730.320.2630,060,50189.081.330.480.341.491.30
      Air transportation (airports)4,77812.900.141,585,715268.783.500.050.0428,556,24984.621.270.150.113.182.77
      Parking facilities3,93110.610.1131,9415.410.071.961.612,108,1706.250.091.701.210.870.75
      Sea and inland port facilities00.000.0000.000.000.000.004,034,90811.960.180.000.000.000.00

Public safety:
      Police protection121,673328.493.512,257,879382.714.990.860.70119,298,947353.515.290.930.661.080.94
      Fire protection98,644266.322.851,386,409234.993.061.130.9364,033,823189.742.841.401.001.241.08
      Correction47,743128.901.38489,69583.001.081.551.2732,595,24396.591.451.330.950.860.75
        Capital outlay00.000.005,1780.880.010.000.00915,2972.710.040.000.000.320.28
      Protective inspection & regulation3,96510.700.1164,58010.950.140.980.807,062,87020.930.310.510.370.520.46

Environment and housing:
      Natural resources65,542176.951.89329,40855.830.733.172.6013,342,66139.540.594.483.201.411.23
        Capital outlay1,9715.320.06116,88519.810.260.270.224,485,96313.290.200.400.291.491.30
      Parks and recreation105,643285.223.051,683,922285.423.721.000.8243,717,263129.541.942.201.572.201.92
        Capital outlay19,74953.320.57383,61365.020.850.820.6710,096,60129.920.451.781.272.171.89
      Housing and comm development100,481271.282.901,530,306259.383.381.050.8658,336,344172.862.591.571.121.501.31
      Sewerage130,121351.303.761,562,836264.903.451.331.0968,504,527202.993.041.731.241.301.14
        Capital outlay21,29257.480.61621,914105.411.370.550.4523,319,98269.101.030.830.591.531.33
      Solid waste management26,08270.420.75169,14428.670.372.462.0128,653,83084.911.270.830.590.340.29
        Capital outlay6,69718.080.1928,2144.780.063.783.101,863,1165.520.083.282.340.870.75

Governmental administration:
      Financial administration16,41544.320.47568,24396.321.260.460.3823,707,42470.251.050.630.451.371.19
      Judicial and legal11,65531.470.34350,11559.340.770.530.4427,887,73782.641.240.380.270.720.63
      General public buildings129,411349.393.74606,082102.731.343.402.7913,643,40540.430.618.646.182.542.21
      Other governmental administration72,936196.912.111,061,121179.862.351.090.9037,267,357110.431.651.781.271.631.42
      Interest on general debt105,474284.763.051,878,867318.464.150.890.7366,807,524197.962.961.441.031.611.40

General expenditures, n.e.c.:
      Misc commercial activities31,17284.160.9098,53416.700.225.044.132,707,8798.020.1210.497.502.081.81
      Other and unallocable303,178818.528.763,840,622650.988.491.261.03137,158,796406.436.082.011.441.601.40

Utility expenditures:
    Utility expenditure1,066,5932,879.6030.805,889,962998.3413.022.882.37228,078,201675.8410.124.263.041.481.29
        Capital outlay433,7161,170.9512.531,828,289309.894.043.783.1050,897,505150.822.267.765.552.051.79
      Water supply440,1301,188.2712.713,338,182565.827.382.101.7282,479,587244.403.664.863.472.322.02
      Electric power574,4541,550.9216.591,225,564207.732.717.476.1373,696,368218.383.277.105.080.950.83
      Gas supply00.000.00315,92753.550.700.000.007,182,24421.280.320.000.002.522.19
      Transit52,009140.411.501,010,289171.242.230.820.6764,720,002191.782.870.730.520.890.78

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 outstanding2,762,2117,457.45100.0053,761,7819,112.53100.000.821.002,042,775,1706,053.14100.001.231.001.511.00

  Short-term debt outstanding1,2273.310.04128,42721.770.240.150.1928,356,92884.031.390.040.030.260.17
  Long-term debt outstanding2,760,9847,454.1499.9653,633,3549,090.7699.760.821.002,014,418,2425,969.1198.611.251.011.521.01

Long-term debt issued469,519NANA8,772,312NANANANA264,717,314NANANANANANA
Long-term debt retired188,572NANA5,518,144NANANANA218,916,559NANANANANANA


Sources: STI: PopStats and STI: Colossus