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Becker 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:

6,380.53

The expenses per resident at the local level is:

6,349.68

The outstanding debt per resident at the local level is:

4,080.28

 
BeckerMinnesotaNational



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

Revenue228,5066,380.53100.0041,7739,988.76100.000.641.0039,604,3936,838.08100.000.931.001.461.00

  General revenue187,7795,243.3282.1838,3099,160.4591.710.570.9036,458,9026,294.9892.060.830.891.461.00

    Intergovernmental revenue93,9192,622.4841.109,6932,317.7923.201.131.7716,641,2632,873.2842.020.910.980.810.55
      From Federal government13,362373.105.85578138.211.382.704.231,926,442332.624.861.121.200.420.28
      From State government80,5572,249.3835.259,1152,179.5821.821.031.6214,714,8212,540.6637.150.890.950.860.59
      From local government00.000.0000.240.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

    General revenue from own sources93,8602,620.8441.0828,6166,842.6668.500.380.6019,817,6393,421.7150.040.770.822.001.37
      Taxes60,6961,694.8026.5616,2793,892.6438.970.440.6811,133,7591,922.3528.110.880.942.021.39
        Property52,5481,467.2923.0014,7403,524.6335.290.420.6510,172,6131,756.4025.690.840.902.011.37
        Sales & gross receipts6,281175.382.751,244297.472.980.590.92631,524109.041.591.611.722.731.87
          General sales5,749160.532.521,060253.472.540.630.99402,51369.501.022.312.483.652.50
          Selective sales53214.850.2318444.000.440.340.53229,01139.540.580.380.401.110.76
            Motor fuel sales00.000.0000.240.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
            Alcoholic beverage sales00.000.0000.240.000.000.002,5550.440.010.000.000.000.00
            Tobacco product sales00.000.0000.240.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
            Public utilities2446.810.1116439.220.390.170.27160,39727.690.400.250.261.420.97
            Other selective sales2888.040.13204.780.051.682.6366,05911.410.170.710.760.420.29
        Individual income tax00.000.0000.240.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
        Corporate income tax00.000.0000.240.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
        Motor vehicle license00.000.0014334.190.340.000.0012,6992.190.030.000.0015.6010.68
        Other taxes1,86752.130.8215236.350.361.432.25316,92354.720.800.951.020.660.45

      Charges & misc general revenue33,164926.0314.5112,3372,950.0229.530.310.498,683,8801,499.3621.930.620.661.971.35
        Current charges22,672633.079.9211,1872,675.0426.780.240.376,791,9261,172.6917.150.540.582.281.56
          Education1,92353.700.8429269.820.700.771.20431,18474.451.090.720.770.940.64
            Institution of higher education00.000.0000.240.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
            School lunch sales (gross)3449.610.15327.650.081.261.9741,1507.100.101.351.451.080.74
          Hospitals00.000.008,9492,139.8921.420.000.002,375,400410.146.000.000.005.223.57
          Highways1,30936.550.5715737.540.380.971.52207,98335.910.531.021.091.050.72
          Air transportation (airports)1564.360.0700.240.0018.2228.52308,76753.310.780.080.090.000.00
          Parking facilities00.000.0000.240.000.000.0060,41410.430.150.000.000.000.00
          Sea and inland port facilities00.000.0000.240.000.000.0024,0794.160.060.000.000.000.00
          Natural resources3379.410.158520.330.200.460.7243,8197.570.111.241.332.691.84
          Parks and recreation48313.490.2120.480.0028.2044.15323,02155.770.820.240.260.010.01
          Housing and comm development83423.290.3613432.040.320.731.14334,45057.750.840.400.430.550.38
          Sewerage6,925193.373.03534127.691.281.512.371,079,457186.382.731.041.110.690.47
          Solid waste management3,55299.181.55623148.971.490.671.04396,35168.431.001.451.552.181.49
          Other charges7,153199.733.1341198.280.982.033.181,207,001208.403.050.961.030.470.32

        Miscellaneous general revenue10,492292.974.591,150274.992.751.071.671,891,954326.664.780.900.960.840.58
          Interest earnings55815.580.2425560.980.610.260.4081,85114.130.211.101.184.312.95
          Special assessments3,20289.411.4051.200.0174.78117.07382,33766.010.971.351.450.020.01
          Sale of property90.250.0092.150.020.120.1844,4347.670.110.030.040.280.19
          Other general revenue6,723187.732.94881210.662.110.891.401,383,332238.853.490.790.840.880.60

  Utility revenue27,797776.1712.163,464828.318.290.941.472,804,416484.217.081.601.721.711.17
    Water supply3,998111.641.751,890451.944.520.250.391,019,564176.042.570.630.682.571.76
    Electric power23,664660.7710.361,403335.493.361.973.081,630,259281.484.122.352.521.190.82
    Gas supply00.000.0017140.890.410.000.00146,94625.370.370.000.001.611.10
    Transit1353.770.0600.240.0015.7624.687,6471.320.022.863.060.000.00

  Liquor store revenue12,930361.045.6600.240.001,509.882,363.72341,07558.890.866.136.570.000.00

  Insurance trust revenue00.000.0000.240.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
    Unemployment compensation00.000.0000.240.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
    Employee retirement00.000.0000.240.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
    Workers' compensation00.000.0000.240.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
    Other insurance trust revenue00.000.0000.240.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

Expenditure227,4016,349.68100.0041,8149,998.57100.000.641.0039,748,4776,862.96100.000.931.001.461.00

  Intergovernmental expenditure00.000.0000.240.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
  Direct expenditure227,4016,349.68100.0041,8149,998.57100.000.641.0039,748,4776,862.96100.000.931.001.461.00
    Current operation172,2744,810.3875.7636,6068,753.2387.540.550.8732,015,2065,527.7480.540.870.941.581.09
    Capital outlay50,7431,416.8922.314,7411,133.6711.341.251.976,605,0051,140.4216.621.241.340.990.68
      Construction50,7431,416.8922.314,7411,133.6711.341.251.976,605,0051,140.4216.621.241.340.990.68
    Assistance and subsidies00.000.0000.240.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
    Interest on debt4,384122.411.93467111.671.121.101.731,128,266194.812.840.630.680.570.39
    Insurance benefits and repayments00.000.0000.240.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
    Exhibit: salaries & wages40,7601,138.1317.926,1831,478.4814.790.771.219,996,4111,725.9825.150.660.710.860.59

  Direct expenditure by function227,4016,349.68100.0041,8149,998.57100.000.641.0039,748,4776,862.96100.000.931.001.461.00
    Direct general expenditure191,0005,333.2683.9937,5668,982.7889.840.590.9336,572,2336,314.5592.010.840.911.420.98
      Capital outlay44,9441,254.9619.762,200526.065.262.393.766,083,8211,050.4315.311.191.290.500.34


Education services:
      Other direct general expenditure146,0564,078.3064.2335,3668,456.7284.580.480.7630,488,4125,264.1276.700.770.841.611.10
      Education86,0172,401.8437.8311,5412,759.6827.600.871.3715,129,3442,612.2338.060.920.991.060.73
          Capital outlay20,167563.128.87635151.841.523.715.842,250,972388.655.661.451.570.390.27
        Higher education00.000.0000.240.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
          Capital outlay00.000.0000.240.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
        Elementary & Secondary education86,0172,401.8437.8311,5412,759.6827.600.871.3715,129,3442,612.2338.060.920.991.060.73
          Capital outlay20,167563.128.87635151.841.523.715.842,250,972388.655.661.451.570.390.27
        Other education00.000.0000.240.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
      Libraries1,01428.310.4500.240.00118.41186.45263,99745.580.660.620.670.000.00


Social services and income maintenance:
      Public welfare16,956473.467.4640.960.01495.00779.461,673,056288.874.211.641.770.000.00
        Other public welfare16,956473.467.4640.960.01495.00779.461,673,056288.874.211.641.770.000.00
      Hospitals00.000.009,4792,266.6222.670.000.002,188,338377.845.510.000.006.004.12
        Capital outlay00.000.0015035.870.360.000.0023,8594.120.060.000.008.715.98
      Health2,03956.930.901,750418.464.190.140.21945,598163.272.380.350.382.561.76
      Social insurance administration00.000.0000.240.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
      Veterans' services00.000.0000.240.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

Transportaion:
      Highways25,723718.2611.314,5051,077.2410.770.671.053,570,164616.428.981.171.261.751.20
        Capital outlay13,646381.036.00674161.171.612.363.721,980,874342.024.981.111.200.470.32
      Air transportation (airports)2,66074.271.1700.240.00310.62489.11477,64882.471.200.900.970.000.00
      Parking facilities00.000.0000.240.000.000.0087,14615.050.220.000.000.000.00
      Sea and inland port facilities00.000.0000.240.000.000.0024,8424.290.060.000.000.000.00

Public safety:
      Police protection11,008307.374.841,185283.362.831.081.712,114,205365.045.320.840.910.780.53
      Fire protection3,08886.231.3631174.370.741.161.83626,970108.251.580.800.860.690.47
      Correction4,385122.441.9300.240.00512.05806.30635,771109.771.601.121.210.000.00
        Capital outlay110.310.0000.240.001.282.0221,9133.780.060.080.090.000.00
      Protective inspection & regulation00.000.00153.590.040.000.0079,07713.650.200.000.000.260.18

Environment and housing:
      Natural resources4,523126.291.99485115.971.161.091.71335,27157.890.842.182.362.001.38
        Capital outlay110.310.0000.240.001.282.0227,1904.690.070.070.070.000.00
      Parks and recreation2,63073.441.1633780.580.810.911.441,173,688202.652.950.360.390.400.27
        Capital outlay76921.470.344510.760.112.003.14337,73658.310.850.370.400.180.13
      Housing and comm development2,54371.011.12527126.021.260.560.891,054,781182.122.650.390.420.690.47
      Sewerage5,602156.422.4629169.580.702.253.541,062,521183.452.670.850.920.380.26
        Capital outlay2,05557.380.90409.560.106.009.45281,01748.520.711.181.280.200.14
      Solid waste management5,303148.072.33798190.821.910.781.22461,07479.611.161.862.012.401.65
        Capital outlay38110.640.17163.830.042.784.3837,7346.520.091.631.760.590.40

Governmental administration:
      Financial administration1,78349.790.78476113.821.140.440.69517,28389.311.300.560.601.270.87
      Judicial and legal00.000.001,166278.812.790.000.00233,61940.340.590.000.006.914.74
      General public buildings00.000.00610145.861.460.000.00216,97437.460.550.000.003.892.67
      Other governmental administration1,19433.340.53765182.931.830.180.29393,27467.900.990.490.532.691.85
      Interest on general debt4,253118.761.8739293.740.941.271.991,039,580179.492.620.660.720.520.36

General expenditures, n.e.c.:
      Misc commercial activities70.200.0023455.950.560.000.0127,8614.810.070.040.0411.637.98
      Other and unallocable10,272286.824.522,695644.436.450.450.702,240,151386.785.640.740.801.671.14

Utility expenditures:
    Utility expenditure26,344735.6011.584,2481,015.7810.160.721.142,864,754494.637.211.491.612.051.41
        Capital outlay5,767161.032.542,541607.606.080.270.42515,27188.971.301.811.966.834.69
      Water supply3,616100.971.593,122746.537.470.140.211,080,219186.512.720.540.594.002.75
      Electric power22,191619.649.761,068255.382.552.433.821,476,314254.903.712.432.631.000.69
      Gas supply00.000.005813.870.140.000.00131,50922.710.330.000.000.610.42
      Transit53714.990.2400.240.0062.7198.74176,71230.510.440.490.530.000.00

Liquor store expenditures:
    Liquor store expenditure10,057280.824.4200.240.001,174.391,849.26311,49053.780.785.225.640.000.00

Insurance trust expenditures:
    Insurance trust expenditure00.000.0000.240.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
      Unemployment compensation00.000.0000.240.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
      Employee retirement00.000.0000.240.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
      Workers' compensation00.000.0000.240.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
      Other insurance trust00.000.0000.240.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

Debt outstanding146,1274,080.28100.0021,2895,090.63100.000.801.0033,599,1835,801.23100.000.701.000.881.00

  Short-term debt outstanding00.000.0000.240.000.000.0062,00210.710.180.000.000.000.00
  Long-term debt outstanding146,1274,080.28100.0021,2895,090.63100.000.801.0033,537,1815,790.5299.820.701.000.881.00

Long-term debt issued41,114NANA7,934NANANANA4,368,614NANANANANANA
Long-term debt retired15,193NANA890NANANANA3,137,808NANANANANANA


Sources: STI: PopStats and STI: Colossus