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Otero 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:

7,184.93

The expenses per resident at the local level is:

7,417.26

The outstanding debt per resident at the local level is:

2,763.84

 
OteroColoradoNational



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

Revenue135,2067,184.93100.0046,217,2567,833.75100.000.921.002,344,548,4806,947.35100.001.031.001.131.00

  General revenue118,5646,300.5687.6942,322,4317,173.5891.570.880.962,168,968,4006,427.0792.510.980.951.120.99

    Intergovernmental revenue75,3924,006.3855.7611,278,9981,911.7724.402.102.28808,559,1482,395.9234.491.671.620.800.71
      From Federal government3,429182.222.542,394,735405.905.180.450.49146,274,793433.446.240.420.410.940.83
      From State government71,9633,824.1653.228,884,2631,505.8719.222.542.77662,284,3551,962.4828.251.951.880.770.68
      From local government00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

    General revenue from own sources43,1722,294.1931.9331,043,4335,261.8167.170.440.481,360,409,2524,031.1558.020.570.551.311.16
      Taxes26,3561,400.5719.4920,270,8333,435.8743.860.410.44894,124,7052,649.4638.140.530.511.301.15
        Property14,945794.1911.0512,402,2662,102.1626.830.380.41627,434,2421,859.2126.760.430.411.131.00
        Sales & gross receipts10,406552.987.707,149,8141,211.8815.470.460.50165,801,503491.307.071.131.092.472.19
          General sales9,678514.297.166,562,7001,112.3714.200.460.50125,994,306373.355.371.381.332.982.64
          Selective sales72838.690.54587,11499.511.270.390.4239,807,197117.961.700.330.320.840.75
            Motor fuel sales00.000.0000.000.000.000.001,892,6875.610.080.000.000.000.00
            Alcoholic beverage sales20.110.001,2620.210.000.500.54845,0352.500.040.040.040.090.08
            Tobacco product sales00.000.0000.000.000.000.00318,8170.940.010.000.000.000.00
            Public utilities20210.730.15160,82827.260.350.390.4315,744,64746.650.670.230.220.580.52
            Other selective sales52427.850.39425,02472.040.920.390.4221,006,01162.240.900.450.431.161.03
        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 license88747.140.6679,12813.410.173.513.832,263,6136.710.107.036.792.001.77
        Other taxes1186.270.09639,625108.421.380.060.0642,885,228127.081.830.050.050.850.76

      Charges & misc general revenue16,816893.6112.4410,772,6001,825.9423.310.490.53466,284,5471,381.6919.890.650.631.321.17
        Current charges10,674567.227.897,797,0851,321.5916.870.430.47365,048,3361,081.7115.570.520.511.221.08
          Education82944.050.61437,90674.220.950.590.6519,143,89456.730.820.780.751.311.16
            Institution of higher education00.000.0041,9767.110.090.000.007,681,25722.760.330.000.000.310.28
            School lunch sales (gross)1568.290.1220,9603.550.052.332.541,566,4414.640.071.791.730.770.68
          Hospitals00.000.002,110,148357.674.570.000.00124,953,811370.265.330.000.000.970.86
          Highways00.000.00263,28744.630.570.000.0010,287,28930.480.440.000.001.461.30
          Air transportation (airports)24212.860.18979,281165.992.120.080.0822,414,40266.420.960.190.192.502.22
          Parking facilities00.000.0033,5465.690.070.000.002,924,3498.670.120.000.000.660.58
          Sea and inland port facilities00.000.0000.000.000.000.004,760,82614.110.200.000.000.000.00
          Natural resources673.560.0544,1317.480.100.480.522,531,1967.500.110.470.461.000.88
          Parks and recreation34618.390.26528,61289.601.140.210.229,708,20828.770.410.640.623.112.76
          Housing and comm development1,27567.750.94230,31039.040.501.741.897,308,73521.660.313.133.031.801.60
          Sewerage4,214223.933.121,373,231232.762.970.961.0568,695,647203.562.931.101.061.141.01
          Solid waste management1,78094.591.32155,79126.410.343.583.9121,694,93864.290.931.471.420.410.36
          Other charges1,921102.081.421,640,842278.123.550.370.4070,625,041209.283.010.490.471.331.18

        Miscellaneous general revenue6,142326.394.542,975,515504.346.440.650.71101,236,211299.984.321.091.051.681.49
          Interest earnings37920.140.28230,29639.030.500.520.5610,227,01630.300.440.660.641.291.14
          Special assessments70.370.01809,462137.201.750.000.0015,026,42544.530.640.010.013.082.73
          Sale of property97451.760.72125,23121.230.272.442.663,784,73711.210.164.624.461.891.68
          Other general revenue4,782254.123.541,810,526306.883.920.830.9072,198,033213.943.081.191.151.431.27

  Utility revenue16,642884.3712.313,894,825660.178.431.341.46173,592,043514.397.401.721.661.281.14
    Water supply5,050268.363.742,216,951375.774.800.710.7880,167,107237.553.421.131.091.581.40
    Electric power11,537613.088.531,298,197220.042.812.793.0478,135,733231.533.332.652.560.950.84
    Gas supply432.290.03266,38545.150.580.050.067,630,12322.610.330.100.102.001.77
    Transit120.640.01113,29219.200.250.030.047,659,08022.700.330.030.030.850.75

  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

Expenditure139,5787,417.26100.0045,245,5067,669.04100.000.971.002,254,418,5176,680.28100.001.111.001.151.00

  Intergovernmental expenditure00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
  Direct expenditure139,5787,417.26100.0045,245,5067,669.04100.000.971.002,254,418,5176,680.28100.001.111.001.151.00
    Current operation112,1645,960.4680.3633,196,8335,626.8173.371.061.101,887,390,8875,592.7083.721.070.961.010.88
    Capital outlay25,6231,361.6218.369,771,3931,656.2321.600.820.85284,581,195843.2712.621.611.451.961.71
      Construction25,6231,361.6218.369,771,3931,656.2321.600.820.85284,581,195843.2712.621.611.451.961.71
    Assistance and subsidies00.000.0011,7291.990.030.000.002,376,9447.040.110.000.000.280.25
    Interest on debt1,79195.171.282,265,551384.015.010.250.2680,069,491237.263.550.400.361.621.41
    Insurance benefits and repayments00.000.0000.000.000.000.0039,9940.120.000.000.000.000.00
    Exhibit: salaries & wages40,1542,133.8128.7711,702,3911,983.5425.861.081.11525,546,0041,557.2923.311.371.231.271.11

  Direct expenditure by function139,5787,417.26100.0045,245,5067,669.04100.000.971.002,254,418,5176,680.28100.001.111.001.151.00
    Direct general expenditure120,9866,429.2786.6839,355,5446,670.7086.980.961.002,024,660,7925,999.4689.811.070.971.110.97
      Capital outlay24,4951,301.6817.557,943,1041,346.3417.560.971.00233,677,777692.4310.371.881.691.941.69


Education services:
      Other direct general expenditure96,4915,127.5969.1331,412,4405,324.3569.430.961.001,790,983,0155,307.0379.440.970.871.000.87
      Education65,1503,462.1146.6813,772,9472,334.4930.441.481.53862,837,2522,556.7538.271.351.220.910.80
          Capital outlay17,594934.9612.612,069,391350.764.572.672.7689,314,081264.653.963.533.181.331.15
        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 education65,1503,462.1146.6813,478,3292,284.5529.791.521.57814,392,5782,413.2036.121.431.290.950.82
          Capital outlay17,594934.9612.612,017,401341.954.462.732.8383,919,239248.673.723.763.391.381.20
        Other education00.000.0011,7291.990.030.000.002,376,9447.040.110.000.000.280.25
      Libraries74439.540.53362,20061.390.800.640.6713,625,82240.380.600.980.881.521.32


Social services and income maintenance:
      Public welfare5,439289.033.901,102,559186.882.441.551.6067,699,317200.613.001.441.300.930.81
        Other public welfare5,439289.033.901,102,559186.882.441.551.6067,699,317200.613.001.441.300.930.81
      Hospitals3,058162.502.192,338,918396.445.170.410.42141,312,054418.736.270.390.350.950.82
        Capital outlay2,001106.331.43147,18624.950.334.264.416,546,84619.400.295.484.941.291.12
      Health4,534240.943.25550,64793.331.222.582.6777,108,561228.493.421.050.950.410.36
      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:
      Highways4,747252.263.401,732,854293.723.830.860.8982,616,882244.813.661.030.931.201.05
        Capital outlay1487.860.11783,624132.821.730.060.0630,060,50189.081.330.090.081.491.30
      Air transportation (airports)37319.820.271,585,715268.783.500.070.0828,556,24984.621.270.230.213.182.77
      Parking facilities00.000.0031,9415.410.070.000.002,108,1706.250.090.000.000.870.75
      Sea and inland port facilities00.000.0000.000.000.000.004,034,90811.960.180.000.000.000.00

Public safety:
      Police protection3,862205.232.772,257,879382.714.990.540.55119,298,947353.515.290.580.521.080.94
      Fire protection3,103164.902.221,386,409234.993.060.700.7364,033,823189.742.840.870.781.241.08
      Correction1,21564.570.87489,69583.001.080.780.8032,595,24396.591.450.670.600.860.75
        Capital outlay00.000.005,1780.880.010.000.00915,2972.710.040.000.000.320.28
      Protective inspection & regulation00.000.0064,58010.950.140.000.007,062,87020.930.310.000.000.520.46

Environment and housing:
      Natural resources2,619139.181.88329,40855.830.732.492.5813,342,66139.540.593.523.171.411.23
        Capital outlay191.010.01116,88519.810.260.050.054,485,96313.290.200.080.071.491.30
      Parks and recreation2,249119.511.611,683,922285.423.720.420.4343,717,263129.541.940.920.832.201.92
        Capital outlay76540.650.55383,61365.020.850.630.6510,096,60129.920.451.361.222.171.89
      Housing and comm development3,970210.972.841,530,306259.383.380.810.8458,336,344172.862.591.221.101.501.31
      Sewerage7,174381.235.141,562,836264.903.451.441.4968,504,527202.993.041.881.691.301.14
        Capital outlay2,355125.151.69621,914105.411.371.191.2323,319,98269.101.031.811.631.531.33
      Solid waste management1,14460.790.82169,14428.670.372.122.1928,653,83084.911.270.720.640.340.29
        Capital outlay00.000.0028,2144.780.060.000.001,863,1165.520.080.000.000.870.75

Governmental administration:
      Financial administration2,287121.531.64568,24396.321.261.261.3023,707,42470.251.051.731.561.371.19
      Judicial and legal37219.770.27350,11559.340.770.330.3427,887,73782.641.240.240.220.720.63
      General public buildings2,076110.321.49606,082102.731.341.071.1113,643,40540.430.612.732.462.542.21
      Other governmental administration2,776147.521.991,061,121179.862.350.820.8537,267,357110.431.651.341.201.631.42
      Interest on general debt1,75793.371.261,878,867318.464.150.290.3066,807,524197.962.960.470.421.611.40

General expenditures, n.e.c.:
      Misc commercial activities83144.160.6098,53416.700.222.642.732,707,8798.020.125.504.962.081.81
      Other and unallocable1,50680.031.083,840,622650.988.490.120.13137,158,796406.436.080.200.181.601.40

Utility expenditures:
    Utility expenditure18,592987.9913.325,889,962998.3413.020.991.02228,078,201675.8410.121.461.321.481.29
        Capital outlay1,12859.940.811,828,289309.894.040.190.2050,897,505150.822.260.400.362.051.79
      Water supply5,610298.124.023,338,182565.827.380.530.5482,479,587244.403.661.221.102.322.02
      Electric power11,667619.998.361,225,564207.732.712.983.0973,696,368218.383.272.842.560.950.83
      Gas supply97451.760.70315,92753.550.700.971.007,182,24421.280.322.432.192.522.19
      Transit34118.120.241,010,289171.242.230.110.1164,720,002191.782.870.090.090.890.78

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 outstanding52,0102,763.84100.0053,761,7819,112.53100.000.301.002,042,775,1706,053.14100.000.461.001.511.00

  Short-term debt outstanding3,907207.627.51128,42721.770.249.5431.4528,356,92884.031.392.475.410.260.17
  Long-term debt outstanding48,1032,556.2292.4953,633,3549,090.7699.760.280.932,014,418,2425,969.1198.610.430.941.521.01

Long-term debt issued7,356NANA8,772,312NANANANA264,717,314NANANANANANA
Long-term debt retired2,578NANA5,518,144NANANANA218,916,559NANANANANANA


Sources: STI: PopStats and STI: Colossus