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Bergen 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:

6,769.34

The expenses per resident at the local level is:

5,852.47

The outstanding debt per resident at the local level is:

3,715.51

 
BergenNew JerseyNational



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

Revenue6,514,3436,769.34100.0059,829,9606,383.74100.001.061.002,344,548,4806,947.35100.000.971.000.921.00

  General revenue6,466,1486,719.2699.2658,519,4966,243.9297.811.081.012,168,968,4006,427.0792.511.051.070.971.06

    Intergovernmental revenue1,000,0891,039.2415.3517,471,5771,864.1829.200.560.53808,559,1482,395.9234.490.430.450.780.85
      From Federal government141,717147.262.182,228,939237.823.730.620.58146,274,793433.446.240.340.350.550.60
      From State government858,372891.9713.1815,242,6381,626.3625.480.550.52662,284,3551,962.4828.250.450.470.830.90
      From local government00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

    General revenue from own sources5,466,0595,680.0283.9141,047,9194,379.7368.611.301.221,360,409,2524,031.1558.021.411.451.091.18
      Taxes4,627,1274,808.2571.0334,176,1923,646.5357.121.321.24894,124,7052,649.4638.141.811.861.381.50
        Property4,566,2374,744.9870.1033,617,2343,586.8956.191.321.25627,434,2421,859.2126.762.552.621.932.10
        Sales & gross receipts12,68113.180.19108,64211.590.181.141.07165,801,503491.307.070.030.030.020.03
          General sales00.000.0000.000.000.000.00125,994,306373.355.370.000.000.000.00
          Selective sales12,68113.180.19108,64211.590.181.141.0739,807,197117.961.700.110.110.100.11
            Motor fuel sales00.000.0000.000.000.000.001,892,6875.610.080.000.000.000.00
            Alcoholic beverage sales00.000.001120.010.000.000.00845,0352.500.040.000.000.000.01
            Tobacco product sales00.000.0000.000.000.000.00318,8170.940.010.000.000.000.00
            Public utilities8,7229.060.1364,1906.850.111.321.2515,744,64746.650.670.190.200.150.16
            Other selective sales3,9594.110.0644,3404.730.070.870.8221,006,01162.240.900.070.070.080.08
        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 taxes48,20950.100.74450,31648.050.751.040.9842,885,228127.081.830.390.400.380.41

      Charges & misc general revenue838,932871.7712.886,871,727733.2011.491.191.12466,284,5471,381.6919.890.630.650.530.58
        Current charges690,643717.6810.605,045,712538.378.431.331.26365,048,3361,081.7115.570.660.680.500.54
          Education176,565183.482.71978,310104.381.641.761.6619,143,89456.730.823.233.321.842.00
            Institution of higher education48,63750.540.75375,99340.120.631.261.197,681,25722.760.332.222.281.761.92
            School lunch sales (gross)14,71415.290.2396,21310.270.161.491.401,566,4414.640.073.293.382.212.41
          Hospitals298,375310.054.58358,69538.270.608.107.64124,953,811370.265.330.840.860.100.11
          Highways4340.450.01368,00639.270.620.010.0110,287,28930.480.440.010.021.291.40
          Air transportation (airports)00.000.0011,1641.190.020.000.0022,414,40266.420.960.000.000.020.02
          Parking facilities6,2286.470.10138,32414.760.230.440.412,924,3498.670.120.750.771.701.85
          Sea and inland port facilities00.000.0000.000.000.000.004,760,82614.110.200.000.000.000.00
          Natural resources200.020.005,7160.610.010.030.032,531,1967.500.110.000.000.080.09
          Parks and recreation22,42723.300.34197,87121.110.331.101.049,708,20828.770.410.810.830.730.80
          Housing and comm development17,06017.730.26179,76419.180.300.920.877,308,73521.660.310.820.840.890.96
          Sewerage106,897111.081.641,837,874196.103.070.570.5368,695,647203.562.930.550.560.961.05
          Solid waste management11,77012.230.18531,56356.720.890.220.2021,694,93864.290.930.190.200.880.96
          Other charges50,86752.860.78438,42546.780.731.131.0770,625,041209.283.010.250.260.220.24

        Miscellaneous general revenue148,289154.092.281,826,015194.833.050.790.75101,236,211299.984.320.510.530.650.71
          Interest earnings9,81010.190.15198,11821.140.330.480.4510,227,01630.300.440.340.350.700.76
          Special assessments4330.450.016,5910.700.010.640.6015,026,42544.530.640.010.010.020.02
          Sale of property1,1551.200.02105,31511.240.180.110.103,784,73711.210.160.110.111.001.09
          Other general revenue136,891142.252.101,515,991161.752.530.880.8372,198,033213.943.080.660.680.760.82

  Utility revenue48,19550.080.741,310,464139.822.190.360.34173,592,043514.397.400.100.100.270.30
    Water supply47,18349.030.721,112,623118.711.860.410.3980,167,107237.553.420.210.210.500.54
    Electric power1,0121.050.02188,48620.110.320.050.0578,135,733231.533.330.000.000.090.09
    Gas supply00.000.0000.000.000.000.007,630,12322.610.330.000.000.000.00
    Transit00.000.009,3551.000.020.000.007,659,08022.700.330.000.000.040.05

  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

Expenditure5,632,0115,852.47100.0054,046,0265,766.61100.001.011.002,254,418,5176,680.28100.000.881.000.861.00

  Intergovernmental expenditure00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
  Direct expenditure5,632,0115,852.47100.0054,046,0265,766.61100.001.011.002,254,418,5176,680.28100.000.881.000.861.00
    Current operation5,322,6145,530.9694.5150,044,7715,339.6892.601.041.021,887,390,8875,592.7083.720.991.130.951.11
    Capital outlay223,686232.443.972,993,275319.385.540.730.72284,581,195843.2712.620.280.310.380.44
      Construction223,686232.443.972,993,275319.385.540.730.72284,581,195843.2712.620.280.310.380.44
    Assistance and subsidies-10,913-11.34-0.19-33,895-3.62-0.063.143.092,376,9447.040.11-1.61-1.84-0.51-0.59
    Interest on debt96,624100.411.721,041,875111.171.930.900.8980,069,491237.263.550.420.480.470.54
    Insurance benefits and repayments00.000.0000.000.000.000.0039,9940.120.000.000.000.000.00
    Exhibit: salaries & wages1,955,4402,031.9834.7218,310,7371,953.7233.881.041.02525,546,0041,557.2923.311.301.491.251.45

  Direct expenditure by function5,632,0115,852.47100.0054,046,0265,766.61100.001.011.002,254,418,5176,680.28100.000.881.000.861.00
    Direct general expenditure5,598,5525,817.7099.4152,957,6145,650.4897.991.031.012,024,660,7925,999.4689.810.971.110.941.09
      Capital outlay221,633230.313.942,838,172302.835.250.760.75233,677,777692.4310.370.330.380.440.51


Education services:
      Other direct general expenditure5,376,9195,587.3995.4750,119,4425,347.6592.731.041.031,790,983,0155,307.0379.441.051.201.011.17
      Education3,349,3623,480.4759.4731,910,1403,404.7559.041.021.01862,837,2522,556.7538.271.361.551.331.54
          Capital outlay191,620199.123.401,612,767172.082.981.161.1489,314,081264.653.960.750.860.650.75
        Higher education113,807118.262.021,222,124130.402.260.910.8946,067,730136.512.040.870.990.961.11
          Capital outlay3,2143.340.0679,5018.480.150.390.395,394,84215.990.240.210.240.530.61
        Elementary & Secondary education3,246,4683,373.5557.6430,721,9113,277.9756.841.031.01814,392,5782,413.2036.121.401.601.361.57
          Capital outlay188,406195.783.351,533,266163.602.841.201.1883,919,239248.673.720.790.900.660.76
        Other education-10,913-11.34-0.19-33,895-3.62-0.063.143.092,376,9447.040.11-1.61-1.84-0.51-0.59
      Libraries46,68148.510.83333,57935.590.621.361.3413,625,82240.380.601.201.370.881.02


Social services and income maintenance:
      Public welfare21,33622.170.38938,616100.151.740.220.2267,699,317200.613.000.110.130.500.58
        Other public welfare21,33622.170.38938,616100.151.740.220.2267,699,317200.613.000.110.130.500.58
      Hospitals277,992288.874.94348,28937.160.647.777.66141,312,054418.736.270.690.790.090.10
        Capital outlay00.000.00630.010.000.000.006,546,84619.400.290.000.000.000.00
      Health31,06632.280.55267,50728.540.491.131.1177,108,561228.493.420.140.160.120.14
      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:
      Highways99,504103.401.771,317,454140.572.440.740.7282,616,882244.813.660.420.480.570.67
        Capital outlay7,7448.050.14439,49746.890.810.170.1730,060,50189.081.330.090.100.530.61
      Air transportation (airports)00.000.0010,8561.160.020.000.0028,556,24984.621.270.000.000.010.02
      Parking facilities5,1505.350.0994,33310.070.170.530.522,108,1706.250.090.860.981.611.87
      Sea and inland port facilities00.000.00290.000.000.000.004,034,90811.960.180.000.000.000.00

Public safety:
      Police protection394,035409.467.003,336,812356.036.171.151.13119,298,947353.515.291.161.321.011.17
      Fire protection69,52572.251.231,084,915115.762.010.620.6164,033,823189.742.840.380.430.610.71
      Correction47,87249.750.85587,53362.691.090.790.7832,595,24396.591.450.520.590.650.75
        Capital outlay00.000.003660.040.000.000.00915,2972.710.040.000.000.010.02
      Protective inspection & regulation12,20612.680.22138,64514.790.260.860.847,062,87020.930.310.610.690.710.82

Environment and housing:
      Natural resources3060.320.0128,7713.070.050.100.1013,342,66139.540.590.010.010.080.09
        Capital outlay600.060.0014,5581.550.030.040.044,485,96313.290.200.000.010.120.14
      Parks and recreation50,40752.380.90542,64657.901.000.900.8943,717,263129.541.940.400.460.450.52
        Capital outlay3140.330.0126,4602.820.050.120.1110,096,60129.920.450.010.010.090.11
      Housing and comm development90,92694.491.61938,818100.171.740.940.9358,336,344172.862.590.550.620.580.67
      Sewerage116,737121.312.071,935,765206.543.580.590.5868,504,527202.993.040.600.681.021.18
        Capital outlay16,19816.830.29355,85837.970.660.440.4423,319,98269.101.030.240.280.550.64
      Solid waste management91,16394.731.621,049,950112.031.940.850.8328,653,83084.911.271.121.271.321.53
        Capital outlay5000.520.0153,8845.750.100.090.091,863,1165.520.080.090.111.041.21

Governmental administration:
      Financial administration39,18640.720.70398,54142.520.740.960.9423,707,42470.251.050.580.660.610.70
      Judicial and legal67,22269.851.19606,55564.721.121.081.0627,887,73782.641.240.850.960.780.91
      General public buildings38,66840.180.69383,30440.900.710.980.9713,643,40540.430.610.991.131.011.17
      Other governmental administration40,65642.250.72560,02559.751.040.710.7037,267,357110.431.650.380.440.540.63
      Interest on general debt95,26298.991.69995,058106.171.840.930.9266,807,524197.962.960.500.570.540.62

General expenditures, n.e.c.:
      Misc commercial activities3950.410.011,3570.140.002.832.792,707,8798.020.120.050.060.020.02
      Other and unallocable612,895636.8910.885,148,116549.299.531.161.14137,158,796406.436.081.571.791.351.57

Utility expenditures:
    Utility expenditure33,45934.770.591,088,412116.132.010.300.29228,078,201675.8410.120.050.060.170.20
        Capital outlay2,0532.130.04155,10316.550.290.130.1350,897,505150.822.260.010.020.110.13
      Water supply33,44734.760.59884,10594.331.640.370.3682,479,587244.403.660.140.160.390.45
      Electric power00.000.00140,81815.030.260.000.0073,696,368218.383.270.000.000.070.08
      Gas supply00.000.0000.000.000.000.007,182,24421.280.320.000.000.000.00
      Transit120.010.0063,4896.770.120.000.0064,720,002191.782.870.000.000.040.04

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 outstanding3,575,5513,715.51100.0029,564,0663,154.43100.001.181.002,042,775,1706,053.14100.000.611.000.521.00

  Short-term debt outstanding240,496249.916.731,594,558170.145.391.471.2528,356,92884.031.392.974.852.023.89
  Long-term debt outstanding3,335,0553,465.6093.2727,969,5082,984.2994.611.160.992,014,418,2425,969.1198.610.580.950.500.96

Long-term debt issued558,165NANA3,608,752NANANANA264,717,314NANANANANANA
Long-term debt retired534,314NANA3,743,573NANANANA218,916,559NANANANANANA


Sources: STI: PopStats and STI: Colossus