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Clayton 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:

4,491.14

The expenses per resident at the local level is:

4,208.94

The outstanding debt per resident at the local level is:

2,796

 
ClaytonGeorgiaNational



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

Revenue1,347,2404,491.14100.002,723,3464,702.61100.000.961.0063,974,2805,803.10100.000.771.000.811.00

  General revenue1,279,1944,264.3194.952,567,2304,433.0394.270.961.0159,081,1025,359.2492.350.801.030.831.02

    Intergovernmental revenue552,9591,843.3441.041,169,0172,018.6342.930.910.9619,525,1571,771.1230.521.041.341.141.41
      From Federal government17,78159.271.3264,226110.902.360.530.562,761,441250.494.320.240.310.440.55
      From State government535,1781,784.0639.721,104,7911,907.7340.570.940.9816,763,7161,520.6326.201.171.521.251.55
      From local government00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

    General revenue from own sources726,2352,420.9753.911,398,2132,414.4051.341.001.0539,555,9453,588.1161.830.670.870.670.83
      Taxes572,5341,908.5942.50954,2971,647.8635.041.161.2123,225,3132,106.7636.300.911.170.780.97
        Property355,7731,186.0026.41766,2421,323.1328.140.900.9415,157,4351,374.9323.690.861.110.961.19
        Sales & gross receipts198,608662.0814.7411,72720.250.4332.7034.237,362,197667.8211.510.991.280.030.04
          General sales164,808549.4012.2300.000.00318,166.46333,147.185,663,677513.758.851.071.380.000.00
          Selective sales33,800112.682.5111,72720.250.435.565.831,698,520154.072.660.730.940.130.16
            Motor fuel sales00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
            Alcoholic beverage sales3,59611.990.2700.000.006,942.187,269.05182,27616.530.280.730.940.000.00
            Tobacco product sales00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
            Public utilities6,38221.270.471,2652.180.059.7410.20416,12337.750.650.560.730.060.07
            Other selective sales23,82279.411.7710,46218.070.384.404.601,100,12199.791.720.801.030.180.22
        Individual income tax00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
        Corporate income tax00.000.008,58814.830.320.000.0000.000.000.000.00163,483.35201,741.21
        Motor vehicle license00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
        Other taxes18,15360.511.35167,740289.656.160.210.22705,68164.011.100.951.224.525.58

      Charges & misc general revenue153,701512.3811.41443,916766.5416.300.670.7016,330,6321,481.3525.530.350.450.520.64
        Current charges91,910306.396.82402,518695.0614.780.440.4613,763,5311,248.4921.510.250.320.560.69
          Education6322.110.053,5586.140.130.340.36492,44644.670.770.050.060.140.17
            Institution of higher education00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
            School lunch sales (gross)360.120.001,5292.640.060.050.0536,1353.280.060.040.050.810.99
          Hospitals00.000.0000.000.000.000.007,446,794675.5011.640.000.000.000.00
          Highways2630.880.02150,395259.705.520.000.0044,3724.020.070.220.2864.5279.62
          Air transportation (airports)00.000.007,35812.710.270.000.00490,71144.510.770.000.000.290.35
          Parking facilities00.000.009,54316.480.350.000.0022,1482.010.030.000.008.2010.12
          Sea and inland port facilities00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
          Natural resources1440.480.0100.000.00278.00291.091,2530.110.004.225.460.000.00
          Parks and recreation2,3237.740.171,6102.780.062.792.92156,57514.200.240.550.700.200.24
          Housing and comm development940.310.017,41912.810.270.020.03110,98810.070.170.030.041.271.57
          Sewerage47,989159.983.56128,685222.214.730.720.752,498,384226.633.910.710.910.981.21
          Solid waste management10,23334.110.762,4394.210.098.108.48758,29568.781.190.500.640.060.08
          Other charges30,232100.782.2491,511158.023.360.640.671,741,565157.982.720.640.821.001.23

        Miscellaneous general revenue61,791205.994.5941,39871.491.522.883.022,567,101232.864.010.881.140.310.38
          Interest earnings13,82446.081.038,54814.760.313.123.27404,22336.670.631.261.620.400.50
          Special assessments9,15030.500.68440.080.00401.46420.36134,13512.170.212.513.240.010.01
          Sale of property8932.980.071,6362.830.061.051.10161,47714.650.250.200.260.190.24
          Other general revenue37,924126.422.8131,17053.821.142.352.461,867,266169.382.920.750.960.320.39

  Utility revenue68,046226.845.05156,116269.585.730.840.884,893,178443.867.650.510.660.610.75
    Water supply68,046226.845.0570,959122.532.611.851.941,919,611174.133.001.301.680.700.87
    Electric power00.000.0085,157147.053.130.000.001,928,737174.963.010.000.000.841.04
    Gas supply00.000.0000.000.000.000.00958,09386.911.500.000.000.000.00
    Transit00.000.0000.000.000.000.0086,7377.870.140.000.000.000.00

  Liquor store revenue00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

  Insurance trust revenue00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
    Unemployment compensation00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
    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 trust revenue00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

Expenditure1,262,5844,208.94100.002,439,6064,212.65100.001.001.0059,877,2995,431.46100.000.771.000.781.00

  Intergovernmental expenditure00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
  Direct expenditure1,262,5844,208.94100.002,439,6064,212.65100.001.001.0059,877,2995,431.46100.000.771.000.781.00
    Current operation1,085,9403,620.0886.012,138,2813,692.3387.650.980.9851,610,0144,681.5486.190.771.000.791.02
    Capital outlay146,074486.9511.57248,207428.6010.171.141.146,455,130585.5410.780.831.070.730.94
      Construction146,074486.9511.57248,207428.6010.171.141.146,455,130585.5410.780.831.070.730.94
    Assistance and subsidies00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
    Interest on debt30,570101.912.4253,11891.722.181.111.111,812,155164.383.030.620.800.560.72
    Insurance benefits and repayments00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
    Exhibit: salaries & wages393,8021,312.7731.19903,3841,559.9437.030.840.8415,271,8021,385.3025.510.951.221.131.45

  Direct expenditure by function1,262,5844,208.94100.002,439,6064,212.65100.001.001.0059,877,2995,431.46100.000.771.000.781.00
    Direct general expenditure1,216,5554,055.4996.352,301,2243,973.7094.331.021.0253,108,2594,817.4488.700.841.090.821.06
      Capital outlay131,373437.9410.41235,946407.439.671.071.085,284,523479.368.830.911.180.851.10


Education services:
      Other direct general expenditure1,085,1823,617.5585.952,065,2783,566.2784.661.011.0247,823,7364,338.0879.870.831.080.821.06
      Education693,0362,310.3054.891,452,4302,508.0259.540.920.9225,391,7702,303.2842.411.001.291.091.40
          Capital outlay58,194193.994.6181,957141.523.361.371.372,232,978202.553.730.961.240.700.90
        Higher education00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
          Capital outlay00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
        Elementary & Secondary education693,0362,310.3054.891,452,4302,508.0259.540.920.9225,391,7702,303.2842.411.001.291.091.40
          Capital outlay58,194193.994.6181,957141.523.361.371.372,232,978202.553.730.961.240.700.90
        Other education00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
      Libraries4,69615.650.3716,36828.260.670.550.55187,30316.990.310.921.191.662.14


Social services and income maintenance:
      Public welfare2,3998.000.192860.490.0116.1916.21136,54912.390.230.650.830.040.05
        Other public welfare2,3998.000.192860.490.0116.1916.21136,54912.390.230.650.830.040.05
      Hospitals00.000.0000.000.000.000.006,588,810597.6711.000.000.000.000.00
        Capital outlay00.000.0000.000.000.000.00237,98921.590.400.000.000.000.00
      Health24,93783.131.9819,01832.840.782.532.531,232,964111.842.060.740.960.290.38
      Social insurance administration00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
      Veterans' services00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

Transportaion:
      Highways46,486154.973.6899,828172.384.090.900.902,011,913182.503.360.851.100.941.22
        Capital outlay21,17070.571.6833,94958.621.391.201.20866,72678.621.450.901.160.750.96
      Air transportation (airports)00.000.006,32610.920.260.000.00488,65044.330.820.000.000.250.32
      Parking facilities00.000.009,90717.110.410.000.007,6460.690.010.000.0024.6731.80
      Sea and inland port facilities00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

Public safety:
      Police protection94,888316.327.52169,272292.296.941.081.082,827,188256.454.721.231.591.141.47
      Fire protection45,186150.633.5835,51261.321.462.462.461,491,841135.322.491.111.440.450.58
      Correction23,93379.781.9000.000.0046,203.3346,244.12956,80486.791.600.921.190.000.00
        Capital outlay1,0323.440.0800.000.001,992.301,994.0635,8413.250.061.061.370.000.00
      Protective inspection & regulation00.000.0017,48330.190.720.000.00100,8699.150.170.000.003.304.25

Environment and housing:
      Natural resources2410.800.027,05512.180.290.070.0736,2503.290.060.240.323.704.78
        Capital outlay00.000.005,2669.090.220.000.005730.050.000.000.00174.95225.56
      Parks and recreation18,76062.541.4933,75258.281.381.071.07872,68679.161.460.791.020.740.95
        Capital outlay6,14720.490.499,39316.220.391.261.26266,01724.130.440.851.100.670.87
      Housing and comm development19,26264.211.5366,800115.352.740.560.56921,58983.601.540.770.991.381.78
      Sewerage50,639168.814.01109,500189.084.490.890.891,514,098137.342.531.231.591.381.78
        Capital outlay12,58241.941.0021,62437.340.891.121.12230,02020.870.382.012.591.792.31
      Solid waste management9,90033.000.7823,44740.490.960.820.82859,44377.961.440.420.550.520.67
        Capital outlay110.040.002,7214.700.110.010.0111,2411.020.020.040.054.615.94

Governmental administration:
      Financial administration33,939113.142.6926,07545.031.072.512.51952,16086.371.591.311.690.520.67
      Judicial and legal37,368124.572.967,63813.190.319.449.451,250,552113.442.091.101.420.120.15
      General public buildings1,9776.590.1633,51657.871.370.110.11704,78963.931.180.100.130.911.17
      Other governmental administration23,51578.391.8645,47278.521.861.001.00918,69483.331.530.941.210.941.21
      Interest on general debt28,17193.912.2347,00981.171.931.161.161,032,22293.631.721.001.290.871.12

General expenditures, n.e.c.:
      Misc commercial activities2410.800.0200.000.00465.26465.67108,2839.820.180.080.110.000.00
      Other and unallocable56,981189.954.5174,530128.703.061.481.482,515,186228.154.200.831.070.560.73

Utility expenditures:
    Utility expenditure46,029153.443.65138,382238.955.670.640.646,769,040614.0211.300.250.320.390.50
        Capital outlay14,70149.011.1612,26121.170.502.312.321,170,607106.191.960.460.600.200.26
      Water supply46,003153.363.6478,039134.763.201.141.142,297,736208.433.840.740.950.650.83
      Electric power220.070.0060,089103.762.460.000.002,673,060242.474.460.000.000.430.55
      Gas supply40.010.0000.000.007.727.73920,07983.461.540.000.000.000.00
      Transit00.000.002540.440.010.000.00878,16579.661.470.000.000.010.01

Liquor store expenditures:
    Liquor store expenditure00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

Insurance trust expenditures:
    Insurance trust expenditure00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
      Unemployment compensation00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
      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 outstanding838,7352,796.00100.002,103,8653,632.90100.000.771.0046,847,2834,249.51100.000.661.000.851.00

  Short-term debt outstanding3511.170.0416,35928.250.780.040.05956,96386.812.040.010.020.330.38
  Long-term debt outstanding838,3842,794.8399.962,087,5063,604.6599.220.781.0145,890,3204,162.7097.960.671.020.871.01

Long-term debt issued116,817NANA445,479NANANANA7,728,049NANANANANANA
Long-term debt retired51,635NANA282,895NANANANA5,086,145NANANANANANA


Sources: STI: PopStats and STI: Colossus