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Otter Tail 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:

8,841.74

The expenses per resident at the local level is:

7,609.25

The outstanding debt per resident at the local level is:

4,987.11

 
Otter TailMinnesotaNational



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

Revenue540,0098,841.74100.0041,7739,988.76100.000.891.0039,604,3936,838.08100.001.291.001.461.00

  General revenue499,3288,175.6592.4738,3099,160.4591.710.891.0136,458,9026,294.9892.061.301.001.461.00

    Intergovernmental revenue174,8272,862.5032.379,6932,317.7923.201.241.4016,641,2632,873.2842.021.000.770.810.55
      From Federal government14,179232.162.63578138.211.381.681.901,926,442332.624.860.700.540.420.28
      From State government160,6482,630.3429.759,1152,179.5821.821.211.3614,714,8212,540.6637.151.040.800.860.59
      From local government00.000.0000.240.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

    General revenue from own sources324,5015,313.1660.0928,6166,842.6668.500.780.8819,817,6393,421.7150.041.551.202.001.37
      Taxes102,2331,673.8918.9316,2793,892.6438.970.430.4911,133,7591,922.3528.110.870.672.021.39
        Property93,4511,530.1017.3114,7403,524.6335.290.430.4910,172,6131,756.4025.690.870.672.011.37
        Sales & gross receipts7,441121.831.381,244297.472.980.410.46631,524109.041.591.120.862.731.87
          General sales7,012114.811.301,060253.472.540.450.51402,51369.501.021.651.283.652.50
          Selective sales4297.020.0818444.000.440.160.18229,01139.540.580.180.141.110.76
            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 utilities1893.090.0316439.220.390.080.09160,39727.690.400.110.091.420.97
            Other selective sales2403.930.04204.780.050.820.9366,05911.410.170.340.270.420.29
        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 taxes1,34121.960.2515236.350.360.600.68316,92354.720.800.400.310.660.45

      Charges & misc general revenue222,2683,639.2641.1612,3372,950.0229.531.231.398,683,8801,499.3621.932.431.881.971.35
        Current charges179,1322,932.9833.1711,1872,675.0426.781.101.246,791,9261,172.6917.152.501.932.281.56
          Education2,54141.600.4729269.820.700.600.67431,18474.451.090.560.430.940.64
            Institution of higher education00.000.0000.240.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
            School lunch sales (gross)1923.140.04327.650.080.410.4641,1507.100.100.440.341.080.74
          Hospitals134,8832,208.4824.988,9492,139.8921.421.031.172,375,400410.146.005.384.165.223.57
          Highways1,88830.910.3515737.540.380.820.93207,98335.910.530.860.671.050.72
          Air transportation (airports)2213.620.0400.240.0015.1317.10308,76753.310.780.070.050.000.00
          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 resources2854.670.058520.330.200.230.2643,8197.570.110.620.482.691.84
          Parks and recreation65510.720.1220.480.0022.4225.33323,02155.770.820.190.150.010.01
          Housing and comm development1,49024.400.2813432.040.320.760.86334,45057.750.840.420.330.550.38
          Sewerage8,550139.991.58534127.691.281.101.241,079,457186.382.730.750.580.690.47
          Solid waste management22,611370.224.19623148.971.492.492.81396,35168.431.005.414.182.181.49
          Other charges6,00898.371.1141198.280.981.001.131,207,001208.403.050.470.370.470.32

        Miscellaneous general revenue43,136706.287.991,150274.992.752.572.901,891,954326.664.782.161.670.840.58
          Interest earnings1,20519.730.2225560.980.610.320.3781,85114.130.211.401.084.312.95
          Special assessments2,65843.520.4951.200.0136.4041.12382,33766.010.970.660.510.020.01
          Sale of property831.360.0292.150.020.630.7144,4347.670.110.180.140.280.19
          Other general revenue39,190641.677.26881210.662.113.053.441,383,332238.853.492.692.080.880.60

  Utility revenue19,907325.943.693,464828.318.290.390.442,804,416484.217.080.670.521.711.17
    Water supply8,601140.831.591,890451.944.520.310.351,019,564176.042.570.800.622.571.76
    Electric power1,11818.310.211,403335.493.360.050.061,630,259281.484.120.070.051.190.82
    Gas supply10,188166.811.8917140.890.414.084.61146,94625.370.376.575.081.611.10
    Transit00.000.0000.240.000.000.007,6471.320.020.000.000.000.00

  Liquor store revenue20,774340.143.8500.240.001,422.461,607.00341,07558.890.865.784.470.000.00

  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

Expenditure464,7357,609.25100.0041,8149,998.57100.000.761.0039,748,4776,862.96100.001.111.001.461.00

  Intergovernmental expenditure00.000.0000.240.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
  Direct expenditure464,7357,609.25100.0041,8149,998.57100.000.761.0039,748,4776,862.96100.001.111.001.461.00
    Current operation381,2406,242.1682.0336,6068,753.2387.540.710.9432,015,2065,527.7480.541.131.021.581.09
    Capital outlay73,5311,203.9515.824,7411,133.6711.341.061.406,605,0051,140.4216.621.060.950.990.68
      Construction73,5311,203.9515.824,7411,133.6711.341.061.406,605,0051,140.4216.621.060.950.990.68
    Assistance and subsidies00.000.0000.240.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
    Interest on debt9,964163.142.14467111.671.121.461.921,128,266194.812.840.840.760.570.39
    Insurance benefits and repayments00.000.0000.240.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
    Exhibit: salaries & wages101,3221,658.9821.806,1831,478.4814.791.121.479,996,4111,725.9825.150.960.870.860.59

  Direct expenditure by function464,7357,609.25100.0041,8149,998.57100.000.761.0039,748,4776,862.96100.001.111.001.461.00
    Direct general expenditure436,1047,140.4793.8437,5668,982.7889.840.791.0436,572,2336,314.5592.011.131.021.420.98
      Capital outlay69,2631,134.0614.902,200526.065.262.162.836,083,8211,050.4315.311.080.970.500.34


Education services:
      Other direct general expenditure366,8416,006.4078.9435,3668,456.7284.580.710.9330,488,4125,264.1276.701.141.031.611.10
      Education160,5172,628.1934.5411,5412,759.6827.600.951.2515,129,3442,612.2338.061.010.911.060.73
          Capital outlay12,965212.282.79635151.841.521.401.842,250,972388.655.660.550.490.390.27
        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 education160,5172,628.1934.5411,5412,759.6827.600.951.2515,129,3442,612.2338.061.010.911.060.73
          Capital outlay12,965212.282.79635151.841.521.401.842,250,972388.655.660.550.490.390.27
        Other education00.000.0000.240.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
      Libraries4,03866.120.8700.240.00276.49363.31263,99745.580.661.451.310.000.00


Social services and income maintenance:
      Public welfare20,856341.484.4940.960.01357.02469.121,673,056288.874.211.181.070.000.00
        Other public welfare20,856341.484.4940.960.01357.02469.121,673,056288.874.211.181.070.000.00
      Hospitals65,3711,070.3414.079,4792,266.6222.670.470.622,188,338377.845.512.832.556.004.12
        Capital outlay2,37938.950.5115035.870.361.091.4323,8594.120.069.468.538.715.98
      Health4,72877.411.021,750418.464.190.180.24945,598163.272.380.470.432.561.76
      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:
      Highways48,563795.1410.454,5051,077.2410.770.740.973,570,164616.428.981.291.161.751.20
        Capital outlay25,337414.855.45674161.171.612.573.381,980,874342.024.981.211.090.470.32
      Air transportation (airports)85714.030.1800.240.0058.6877.11477,64882.471.200.170.150.000.00
      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 protection15,270250.023.291,185283.362.830.881.162,114,205365.045.320.680.620.780.53
      Fire protection4,81578.841.0431174.370.741.061.39626,970108.251.580.730.660.690.47
      Correction5,72293.691.2300.240.00391.80514.83635,771109.771.600.850.770.000.00
        Capital outlay300.490.0100.240.002.052.7021,9133.780.060.130.120.000.00
      Protective inspection & regulation00.000.00153.590.040.000.0079,07713.650.200.000.000.260.18

Environment and housing:
      Natural resources3,95364.720.85485115.971.160.560.73335,27157.890.841.121.012.001.38
        Capital outlay00.000.0000.240.000.000.0027,1904.690.070.000.000.000.00
      Parks and recreation24,687404.215.3133780.580.815.026.591,173,688202.652.951.991.800.400.27
        Capital outlay20,068328.584.324510.760.1130.5440.12337,73658.310.855.635.080.180.13
      Housing and comm development5,47689.661.18527126.021.260.710.931,054,781182.122.650.490.440.690.47
      Sewerage8,480138.851.8229169.580.702.002.621,062,521183.452.670.760.680.380.26
        Capital outlay2,02833.210.44409.560.103.474.56281,01748.520.710.680.620.200.14
      Solid waste management23,796389.625.12798190.821.912.042.68461,07479.611.164.894.412.401.65
        Capital outlay1,41423.150.30163.830.046.057.9537,7346.520.093.553.210.590.40

Governmental administration:
      Financial administration3,04749.890.66476113.821.140.440.58517,28389.311.300.560.501.270.87
      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 administration1,83630.060.40765182.931.830.160.22393,27467.900.990.440.402.691.85
      Interest on general debt9,576156.792.0639293.740.941.672.201,039,580179.492.620.870.790.520.36

General expenditures, n.e.c.:
      Misc commercial activities140.230.0023455.950.560.000.0127,8614.810.070.050.0411.637.98
      Other and unallocable24,502401.185.272,695644.436.450.620.822,240,151386.785.641.040.941.671.14

Utility expenditures:
    Utility expenditure12,487204.452.694,2481,015.7810.160.200.262,864,754494.637.210.410.372.051.41
        Capital outlay4,10067.130.882,541607.606.080.110.15515,27188.971.300.750.686.834.69
      Water supply7,003114.661.513,122746.537.470.150.201,080,219186.512.720.610.554.002.75
      Electric power2,59742.520.561,068255.382.550.170.221,476,314254.903.710.170.151.000.69
      Gas supply2,83746.450.615813.870.143.354.40131,50922.710.332.051.850.610.42
      Transit500.820.0100.240.003.424.50176,71230.510.440.030.020.000.00

Liquor store expenditures:
    Liquor store expenditure16,144264.333.4700.240.001,105.431,452.54311,49053.780.784.914.430.000.00

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 outstanding304,5884,987.11100.0021,2895,090.63100.000.981.0033,599,1835,801.23100.000.861.000.881.00

  Short-term debt outstanding00.000.0000.240.000.000.0062,00210.710.180.000.000.000.00
  Long-term debt outstanding304,5884,987.11100.0021,2895,090.63100.000.981.0033,537,1815,790.5299.820.861.000.881.00

Long-term debt issued38,893NANA7,934NANANANA4,368,614NANANANANANA
Long-term debt retired33,090NANA890NANANANA3,137,808NANANANANANA


Sources: STI: PopStats and STI: Colossus