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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:

7,489.67

The expenses per resident at the local level is:

7,731.27

The outstanding debt per resident at the local level is:

1,706.9

 
WashingtonMississippiNational



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

Revenue333,1337,489.67100.0015,555,0795,177.13100.001.451.002,344,548,4806,947.35100.001.081.000.751.00

  General revenue322,9297,260.2696.9414,740,9754,906.1794.771.481.022,168,968,4006,427.0792.511.131.050.761.02

    Intergovernmental revenue107,3522,413.5432.226,383,2272,124.5041.041.140.79808,559,1482,395.9234.491.010.930.891.19
      From Federal government16,303366.534.89862,290286.995.541.280.88146,274,793433.446.240.850.780.660.89
      From State government91,0492,047.0127.335,520,9371,837.5135.491.110.77662,284,3551,962.4828.251.040.970.941.26
      From local government00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

    General revenue from own sources215,5774,846.7164.718,357,7482,781.6753.731.741.201,360,409,2524,031.1558.021.201.120.690.93
      Taxes73,1341,644.2421.953,819,1971,271.1324.551.290.89894,124,7052,649.4638.140.620.580.480.64
        Property68,8261,547.3820.663,578,7531,191.1023.011.300.90627,434,2421,859.2126.760.830.770.640.86
        Sales & gross receipts1,25028.100.38130,14643.320.840.650.45165,801,503491.307.070.060.050.090.12
          General sales00.000.0000.000.000.000.00125,994,306373.355.370.000.000.000.00
          Selective sales1,25028.100.38130,14643.320.840.650.4539,807,197117.961.700.240.220.370.49
            Motor fuel sales160.360.008,1992.730.050.130.091,892,6875.610.080.060.060.490.65
            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 utilities1,23427.740.3762,68220.860.401.330.9215,744,64746.650.670.590.550.450.60
            Other selective sales00.000.0059,26519.720.380.000.0021,006,01162.240.900.000.000.320.43
        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 license00.000.0000.000.000.000.002,263,6136.710.100.000.000.000.00
        Other taxes3,05868.750.92110,29836.710.711.871.2942,885,228127.081.830.540.500.290.39

      Charges & misc general revenue142,4433,202.4842.764,538,5511,510.5529.182.121.47466,284,5471,381.6919.892.322.151.091.47
        Current charges133,7623,007.3140.154,058,6401,350.8226.092.231.54365,048,3361,081.7115.572.782.581.251.68
          Education1,82140.940.55299,58799.711.930.410.2819,143,89456.730.820.720.671.762.36
            Institution of higher education00.000.00168,18255.981.080.000.007,681,25722.760.330.000.002.463.30
            School lunch sales (gross)912.050.039,5303.170.060.650.451,566,4414.640.070.440.410.680.92
          Hospitals116,2342,613.2334.892,892,611962.7318.602.711.88124,953,811370.265.337.066.552.603.49
          Highways00.000.001,5070.500.010.000.0010,287,28930.480.440.000.000.020.02
          Air transportation (airports)3106.970.0942,41414.120.270.490.3422,414,40266.420.960.100.100.210.29
          Parking facilities10.020.006430.210.000.110.072,924,3498.670.120.000.000.020.03
          Sea and inland port facilities81318.280.2421,7997.260.142.521.744,760,82614.110.201.301.200.510.69
          Natural resources45610.250.141,2550.420.0124.5416.972,531,1967.500.111.371.270.060.07
          Parks and recreation2886.470.0938,11712.690.250.510.359,708,20828.770.410.230.210.440.59
          Housing and comm development100.220.0038,15212.700.250.020.017,308,73521.660.310.010.010.590.79
          Sewerage6,101137.171.83333,514111.002.141.240.8568,695,647203.562.930.670.630.550.73
          Solid waste management2,91665.560.88180,94860.221.161.090.7521,694,93864.290.931.020.950.941.26
          Other charges4,812108.191.44208,09369.261.341.561.0870,625,041209.283.010.520.480.330.44

        Miscellaneous general revenue8,681195.172.61479,911159.733.091.220.84101,236,211299.984.320.650.600.530.71
          Interest earnings89920.210.2784,83828.240.550.720.4910,227,01630.300.440.670.620.931.25
          Special assessments140.310.007,0592.350.050.130.0915,026,42544.530.640.010.010.050.07
          Sale of property2585.800.0834,26411.400.220.510.353,784,73711.210.160.520.481.021.36
          Other general revenue7,510168.842.25353,750117.742.271.430.9972,198,033213.943.080.790.730.550.74

  Utility revenue10,204229.413.06814,104270.955.230.850.59173,592,043514.397.400.450.410.530.71
    Water supply7,211162.122.16309,150102.891.991.581.0980,167,107237.553.420.680.630.430.58
    Electric power2,69360.550.81391,681130.362.520.460.3278,135,733231.533.330.260.240.560.76
    Gas supply3006.740.09111,99537.270.720.180.137,630,12322.610.330.300.281.652.21
    Transit00.000.001,2780.430.010.000.007,659,08022.700.330.000.000.020.03

  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

Expenditure343,8797,731.27100.0014,931,7844,969.68100.001.561.002,254,418,5176,680.28100.001.161.000.741.00

  Intergovernmental expenditure00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
  Direct expenditure343,8797,731.27100.0014,931,7844,969.68100.001.561.002,254,418,5176,680.28100.001.161.000.741.00
    Current operation308,8916,944.6589.8313,051,7154,343.9487.411.601.031,887,390,8875,592.7083.721.241.070.781.04
    Capital outlay32,520731.139.461,608,994535.5110.781.370.88284,581,195843.2712.620.870.750.640.85
      Construction32,520731.139.461,608,994535.5110.781.370.88284,581,195843.2712.620.870.750.640.85
    Assistance and subsidies00.000.00-11,336-3.77-0.08-0.00-0.002,376,9447.040.110.000.00-0.54-0.72
    Interest on debt2,46855.490.72282,41193.991.890.590.3880,069,491237.263.550.230.200.400.53
    Insurance benefits and repayments00.000.0000.000.000.000.0039,9940.120.000.000.000.000.00
    Exhibit: salaries & wages115,7252,601.7933.653,613,1771,202.5624.202.161.39525,546,0041,557.2923.311.671.440.771.04

  Direct expenditure by function343,8797,731.27100.0014,931,7844,969.68100.001.561.002,254,418,5176,680.28100.001.161.000.741.00
    Direct general expenditure337,1187,579.2698.0314,105,3044,694.6194.461.611.042,024,660,7925,999.4689.811.261.090.781.05
      Capital outlay32,448729.519.441,506,380501.3610.091.460.94233,677,777692.4310.371.050.910.720.97


Education services:
      Other direct general expenditure304,6706,849.7588.6012,598,9244,193.2484.381.631.051,790,983,0155,307.0379.441.291.120.791.06
      Education92,4982,079.5926.906,150,1692,046.9341.191.020.65862,837,2522,556.7538.270.810.700.801.08
          Capital outlay7,120160.082.07673,404224.134.510.710.4689,314,081264.653.960.600.520.851.14
        Higher education00.000.00810,680269.825.430.000.0046,067,730136.512.040.000.001.982.66
          Capital outlay00.000.00119,85139.890.800.000.005,394,84215.990.240.000.002.503.35
        Elementary & Secondary education92,4982,079.5926.905,350,8251,780.8935.841.170.75814,392,5782,413.2036.120.860.740.740.99
          Capital outlay7,120160.082.07553,553184.243.710.870.5683,919,239248.673.720.640.560.741.00
        Other education00.000.00-11,336-3.77-0.08-0.00-0.002,376,9447.040.110.000.00-0.54-0.72
      Libraries1,17726.460.3456,63718.850.381.400.9013,625,82240.380.600.660.570.470.63


Social services and income maintenance:
      Public welfare3157.080.0920,4186.800.141.040.6767,699,317200.613.000.040.030.030.05
        Other public welfare3157.080.0920,4186.800.141.040.6767,699,317200.613.000.040.030.030.05
      Hospitals133,7373,006.7438.893,073,0661,022.7920.582.941.89141,312,054418.736.277.186.202.443.28
        Capital outlay2,11247.480.6188,30829.390.591.621.046,546,84619.400.292.452.111.522.04
      Health1,31129.470.3894,46431.440.630.940.6077,108,561228.493.420.130.110.140.18
      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:
      Highways13,009292.483.78841,138279.955.631.040.6782,616,882244.813.661.191.031.141.54
        Capital outlay3,51378.981.02253,28284.301.700.940.6030,060,50189.081.330.890.770.951.27
      Air transportation (airports)6,144138.131.7980,19926.690.545.183.3328,556,24984.621.271.631.410.320.42
      Parking facilities00.000.001,5260.510.010.000.002,108,1706.250.090.000.000.080.11
      Sea and inland port facilities1,19426.840.3544,39714.780.301.821.174,034,90811.960.182.251.941.241.66

Public safety:
      Police protection14,414324.064.19667,379222.124.471.460.94119,298,947353.515.290.920.790.630.84
      Fire protection7,820175.812.27330,115109.872.211.601.0364,033,823189.742.840.930.800.580.78
      Correction5,130115.341.49188,12162.611.261.841.1832,595,24396.591.451.191.030.650.87
        Capital outlay00.000.007570.250.010.000.00915,2972.710.040.000.000.090.12
      Protective inspection & regulation00.000.0015,5585.180.100.000.007,062,87020.930.310.000.000.250.33

Environment and housing:
      Natural resources3,36075.540.9827,3159.090.188.315.3413,342,66139.540.591.911.650.230.31
        Capital outlay731.640.023,9541.320.031.250.804,485,96313.290.200.120.110.100.13
      Parks and recreation2,17048.790.63234,92678.191.570.620.4043,717,263129.541.940.380.330.600.81
        Capital outlay370.830.0166,93122.280.450.040.0210,096,60129.920.450.030.020.741.00
      Housing and comm development12,243275.253.56298,11499.222.002.771.7858,336,344172.862.591.591.380.570.77
      Sewerage14,453324.944.20343,900114.462.302.841.8268,504,527202.993.041.601.380.560.76
        Capital outlay10,321232.043.00138,76846.190.935.023.2323,319,98269.101.033.362.900.670.90
      Solid waste management3,84986.541.12221,13473.601.481.180.7628,653,83084.911.271.020.880.871.17
        Capital outlay52411.780.159,6693.220.063.662.351,863,1165.520.082.131.840.580.78

Governmental administration:
      Financial administration5,019112.841.46206,69668.791.381.641.0523,707,42470.251.051.611.390.981.32
      Judicial and legal3,42176.910.99169,18256.311.131.370.8827,887,73782.641.240.930.800.680.92
      General public buildings4,462100.321.30104,34734.730.702.891.8613,643,40540.430.612.482.140.861.15
      Other governmental administration7,564170.062.20250,51483.381.682.041.3137,267,357110.431.651.541.330.761.01
      Interest on general debt1,81740.850.53253,93484.521.700.480.3166,807,524197.962.960.210.180.430.57

General expenditures, n.e.c.:
      Misc commercial activities00.000.009,4893.160.060.000.002,707,8798.020.120.000.000.390.53
      Other and unallocable2,01145.210.58422,566140.642.830.320.21137,158,796406.436.080.110.100.350.47

Utility expenditures:
    Utility expenditure6,761152.001.97826,480275.075.540.550.36228,078,201675.8410.120.220.190.410.55
        Capital outlay721.620.02102,61434.150.690.050.0350,897,505150.822.260.010.010.230.30
      Water supply4,475100.611.30335,814111.772.250.900.5882,479,587244.403.660.410.360.460.61
      Electric power2,28651.400.66370,173123.202.480.420.2773,696,368218.383.270.240.200.560.76
      Gas supply00.000.0093,38331.080.630.000.007,182,24421.280.320.000.001.461.96
      Transit00.000.0027,1109.020.180.000.0064,720,002191.782.870.000.000.050.06

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 outstanding75,9211,706.90100.007,204,8842,397.97100.000.711.002,042,775,1706,053.14100.000.281.000.401.00

  Short-term debt outstanding00.000.0019,1326.370.270.000.0028,356,92884.031.390.000.000.080.19
  Long-term debt outstanding75,9211,706.90100.007,185,7522,391.6099.730.711.002,014,418,2425,969.1198.610.291.010.401.01

Long-term debt issued3,738NANA953,807NANANANA264,717,314NANANANANANA
Long-term debt retired10,790NANA1,049,618NANANANA218,916,559NANANANANANA


Sources: STI: PopStats and STI: Colossus