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Washington 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:

7,685.93

The expenses per resident at the local level is:

8,705.49

The outstanding debt per resident at the local level is:

2,112.35

 
WashingtonKansasNational



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

Revenue42,8267,685.93100.0018,279,5636,148.04100.001.251.002,344,548,4806,947.35100.001.111.000.881.00

  General revenue39,4517,080.2292.1216,487,5645,545.3390.201.281.022,168,968,4006,427.0792.511.101.000.860.97

    Intergovernmental revenue16,1082,890.8837.616,665,5512,241.8536.461.291.03808,559,1482,395.9234.491.211.090.941.06
      From Federal government1,113199.752.60644,969216.933.530.920.74146,274,793433.446.240.460.420.500.57
      From State government14,9952,691.1335.016,020,5822,024.9332.941.331.06662,284,3551,962.4828.251.371.241.031.17
      From local government00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

    General revenue from own sources23,3434,189.3454.519,822,0133,303.4853.731.271.011,360,409,2524,031.1558.021.040.940.820.93
      Taxes13,6942,457.6531.985,993,2782,015.7432.791.220.98894,124,7052,649.4638.140.930.840.760.86
        Property11,9752,149.1427.964,449,6851,496.5824.341.441.15627,434,2421,859.2126.761.161.040.800.91
        Sales & gross receipts1,627292.003.801,410,710474.477.720.620.49165,801,503491.307.070.590.540.971.09
          General sales1,511271.183.531,187,992399.566.500.680.54125,994,306373.355.370.730.661.071.21
          Selective sales11620.820.27222,71874.911.220.280.2239,807,197117.961.700.180.160.640.72
            Motor fuel sales00.000.0000.000.000.000.001,892,6875.610.080.000.000.000.00
            Alcoholic beverage sales00.000.0000.000.000.000.00845,0352.500.040.000.000.000.00
            Tobacco product sales00.000.0000.000.000.000.00318,8170.940.010.000.000.000.00
            Public utilities11420.460.27177,62259.740.970.340.2715,744,64746.650.670.440.401.281.45
            Other selective sales20.360.0045,09615.170.250.020.0221,006,01162.240.900.010.010.240.28
        Individual income tax6712.020.169920.330.0136.0428.8344,730,192132.541.910.090.080.000.00
        Corporate income tax00.000.0000.000.000.000.0011,009,92732.620.470.000.000.000.00
        Motor vehicle license00.000.0034,59711.640.190.000.002,263,6136.710.100.000.001.731.96
        Other taxes254.490.0697,29432.720.530.140.1142,885,228127.081.830.040.030.260.29

      Charges & misc general revenue9,6491,731.6922.533,828,7351,287.7320.951.341.08466,284,5471,381.6919.891.251.130.931.05
        Current charges7,0401,263.4616.442,767,731930.8815.141.361.09365,048,3361,081.7115.571.171.060.860.97
          Education26647.740.62327,939110.301.790.430.3519,143,89456.730.820.840.761.942.20
            Institution of higher education00.000.00243,54181.911.330.000.007,681,25722.760.330.000.003.604.07
            School lunch sales (gross)10719.200.2513,8484.660.084.123.301,566,4414.640.074.143.741.001.13
          Hospitals5,428974.1612.671,121,472377.196.142.582.07124,953,811370.265.332.632.381.021.15
          Highways111.970.0338,20912.850.210.150.1210,287,28930.480.440.060.060.420.48
          Air transportation (airports)00.000.0048,71416.380.270.000.0022,414,40266.420.960.000.000.250.28
          Parking facilities00.000.004,2041.410.020.000.002,924,3498.670.120.000.000.160.18
          Sea and inland port facilities00.000.0000.000.000.000.004,760,82614.110.200.000.000.000.00
          Natural resources00.000.0010,3673.490.060.000.002,531,1967.500.110.000.000.460.53
          Parks and recreation315.560.0757,25619.260.310.290.239,708,20828.770.410.190.170.670.76
          Housing and comm development28851.690.6742,13014.170.233.652.927,308,73521.660.312.392.160.650.74
          Sewerage40973.400.96565,420190.173.090.390.3168,695,647203.562.930.360.330.931.06
          Solid waste management31456.350.73183,67161.771.000.910.7321,694,93864.290.930.880.790.961.09
          Other charges29352.580.68368,349123.892.020.420.3470,625,041209.283.010.250.230.590.67

        Miscellaneous general revenue2,609468.236.091,061,004356.855.801.311.05101,236,211299.984.321.561.411.191.34
          Interest earnings8515.250.2088,60929.800.480.510.4110,227,01630.300.440.500.460.981.11
          Special assessments00.000.00126,50842.550.690.000.0015,026,42544.530.640.000.000.961.08
          Sale of property132.330.0311,8804.000.060.580.473,784,73711.210.160.210.190.360.40
          Other general revenue2,511450.655.86834,007280.514.561.611.2972,198,033213.943.082.111.901.311.48

  Utility revenue3,375605.717.881,791,999602.719.801.000.80173,592,043514.397.401.181.061.171.32
    Water supply1,722309.054.02782,184263.084.281.170.9480,167,107237.553.421.301.181.111.25
    Electric power1,595286.253.72913,830307.355.000.930.7478,135,733231.533.331.241.121.331.50
    Gas supply5810.410.1493,32031.390.510.330.277,630,12322.610.330.460.421.391.57
    Transit00.000.002,6650.900.010.000.007,659,08022.700.330.000.000.040.04

  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

Expenditure48,5078,705.49100.0017,808,4505,989.59100.001.451.002,254,418,5176,680.28100.001.301.000.901.00

  Intergovernmental expenditure00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
  Direct expenditure48,5078,705.49100.0017,808,4505,989.59100.001.451.002,254,418,5176,680.28100.001.301.000.901.00
    Current operation45,6388,190.6094.0915,077,7725,071.1784.671.621.111,887,390,8875,592.7083.721.461.120.911.01
    Capital outlay2,134382.994.402,168,394729.3112.180.530.36284,581,195843.2712.620.450.350.860.96
      Construction2,134382.994.402,168,394729.3112.180.530.36284,581,195843.2712.620.450.350.860.96
    Assistance and subsidies00.000.0035,64711.990.200.000.002,376,9447.040.110.000.001.701.90
    Interest on debt735131.911.52526,637177.132.960.740.5180,069,491237.263.550.560.430.750.83
    Insurance benefits and repayments00.000.0000.000.000.000.0039,9940.120.000.000.000.000.00
    Exhibit: salaries & wages15,1642,721.4631.265,885,0401,979.3433.051.370.95525,546,0041,557.2923.311.751.341.271.42

  Direct expenditure by function48,5078,705.49100.0017,808,4505,989.59100.001.451.002,254,418,5176,680.28100.001.301.000.901.00
    Direct general expenditure45,3268,134.6093.4416,219,7255,455.2591.081.491.032,024,660,7925,999.4689.811.361.040.911.01
      Capital outlay2,128381.914.392,010,289676.1311.290.560.39233,677,777692.4310.370.550.420.981.09


Education services:
      Other direct general expenditure43,1987,752.6989.0614,209,4364,779.1279.791.621.121,790,983,0155,307.0379.441.461.120.901.00
      Education18,0083,231.8737.128,260,8112,778.3946.391.160.80862,837,2522,556.7538.271.260.971.091.21
          Capital outlay1,812325.203.74989,768332.895.560.980.6789,314,081264.653.961.230.941.261.40
        Higher education00.000.00868,040291.954.870.000.0046,067,730136.512.040.000.002.142.39
          Capital outlay00.000.00100,23833.710.560.000.005,394,84215.990.240.000.002.112.35
        Elementary & Secondary education18,0083,231.8737.127,357,1242,474.4541.311.310.90814,392,5782,413.2036.121.341.031.031.14
          Capital outlay1,812325.203.74889,530299.184.991.090.7583,919,239248.673.721.311.001.201.34
        Other education00.000.0035,64711.990.200.000.002,376,9447.040.110.000.001.701.90
      Libraries7313.100.15139,01846.760.780.280.1913,625,82240.380.600.320.251.161.29


Social services and income maintenance:
      Public welfare40.720.0140,95913.780.230.050.0467,699,317200.613.000.000.000.070.08
        Other public welfare40.720.0140,95913.780.230.050.0467,699,317200.613.000.000.000.070.08
      Hospitals6,3431,138.3713.081,217,853409.616.842.781.91141,312,054418.736.272.722.090.981.09
        Capital outlay00.000.0047,50315.980.270.000.006,546,84619.400.290.000.000.820.92
      Health658118.091.36344,355115.821.931.020.7077,108,561228.493.420.520.400.510.57
      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:
      Highways4,028722.908.30873,091293.654.902.461.6982,616,882244.813.662.952.271.201.34
        Capital outlay91.620.02208,56270.151.170.020.0230,060,50189.081.330.020.010.790.88
      Air transportation (airports)50.900.0165,46522.020.370.040.0328,556,24984.621.270.010.010.260.29
      Parking facilities00.000.005,9932.020.030.000.002,108,1706.250.090.000.000.320.36
      Sea and inland port facilities00.000.0000.000.000.000.004,034,90811.960.180.000.000.000.00

Public safety:
      Police protection615110.371.27941,792316.765.290.350.24119,298,947353.515.290.310.240.901.00
      Fire protection305.380.06445,554149.862.500.040.0264,033,823189.742.840.030.020.790.88
      Correction711127.601.47219,03273.671.231.731.1932,595,24396.591.451.321.010.760.85
        Capital outlay10.180.0013,3174.480.070.040.03915,2972.710.040.070.051.651.84
      Protective inspection & regulation00.000.0020,3706.850.110.000.007,062,87020.930.310.000.000.330.37

Environment and housing:
      Natural resources356.280.0750,43616.960.280.370.2513,342,66139.540.590.160.120.430.48
        Capital outlay00.000.007,4992.520.040.000.004,485,96313.290.200.000.000.190.21
      Parks and recreation11320.280.23281,63294.721.580.210.1543,717,263129.541.940.160.120.730.82
        Capital outlay00.000.0030,03210.100.170.000.0010,096,60129.920.450.000.000.340.38
      Housing and comm development43578.070.90132,05444.410.741.761.2158,336,344172.862.590.450.350.260.29
      Sewerage15127.100.31483,029162.462.710.170.1168,504,527202.993.040.130.100.800.89
        Capital outlay00.000.00119,86940.320.670.000.0023,319,98269.101.030.000.000.580.65
      Solid waste management756135.681.56184,75962.141.042.181.5028,653,83084.911.271.601.230.730.82
        Capital outlay00.000.0013,8704.660.080.000.001,863,1165.520.080.000.000.840.94

Governmental administration:
      Financial administration24343.610.50247,30283.181.390.520.3623,707,42470.251.050.620.481.181.32
      Judicial and legal25044.870.52174,68058.750.980.760.5327,887,73782.641.240.540.420.710.79
      General public buildings00.000.00153,05551.480.860.000.0013,643,40540.430.610.000.001.271.42
      Other governmental administration28250.610.58459,117154.422.580.330.2337,267,357110.431.650.460.351.401.56
      Interest on general debt50690.811.04437,508147.152.460.620.4266,807,524197.962.960.460.350.740.83

General expenditures, n.e.c.:
      Misc commercial activities28350.790.5828,0359.430.165.393.712,707,8798.020.126.334.861.181.31
      Other and unallocable11,7972,117.1924.321,013,825340.985.696.214.27137,158,796406.436.085.214.000.840.94

Utility expenditures:
    Utility expenditure3,181570.896.561,588,725534.348.921.070.74228,078,201675.8410.120.840.650.790.88
        Capital outlay61.080.01158,10553.180.890.020.0150,897,505150.822.260.010.010.350.39
      Water supply1,346241.562.77641,547215.773.601.120.7782,479,587244.403.660.990.760.880.98
      Electric power1,783319.993.68804,191270.484.521.180.8173,696,368218.383.271.471.121.241.38
      Gas supply529.330.11100,74733.880.570.280.197,182,24421.280.320.440.341.591.78
      Transit00.000.0042,24014.210.240.000.0064,720,002191.782.870.000.000.070.08

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 outstanding11,7702,112.35100.0015,473,3165,204.21100.000.411.002,042,775,1706,053.14100.000.351.000.861.00

  Short-term debt outstanding20837.331.77451,786151.952.920.250.6128,356,92884.031.390.441.271.812.10
  Long-term debt outstanding11,5622,075.0298.2315,021,5305,052.2597.080.411.012,014,418,2425,969.1198.610.351.000.850.98

Long-term debt issued1,840NANA1,624,007NANANANA264,717,314NANANANANANA
Long-term debt retired155NANA1,548,396NANANANA218,916,559NANANANANANA


Sources: STI: PopStats and STI: Colossus