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Essex 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:

6,903.79

The expenses per resident at the local level is:

7,129.94

The outstanding debt per resident at the local level is:

2,895.7

 
EssexNew 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

Revenue5,964,4316,903.79100.0059,829,9606,383.74100.001.081.002,344,548,4806,947.35100.000.991.000.921.00

  General revenue5,829,3136,747.3997.7358,519,4966,243.9297.811.081.002,168,968,4006,427.0792.511.051.060.971.06

    Intergovernmental revenue2,519,6902,916.5242.2517,471,5771,864.1829.201.561.45808,559,1482,395.9234.491.221.220.780.85
      From Federal government321,588372.245.392,228,939237.823.731.571.45146,274,793433.446.240.860.860.550.60
      From State government2,198,1022,544.2936.8515,242,6381,626.3625.481.561.45662,284,3551,962.4828.251.301.300.830.90
      From local government00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

    General revenue from own sources3,309,6233,830.8755.4941,047,9194,379.7368.610.870.811,360,409,2524,031.1558.020.950.961.091.18
      Taxes2,718,8393,147.0445.5834,176,1923,646.5357.120.860.80894,124,7052,649.4638.141.191.201.381.50
        Property2,596,6513,005.6143.5433,617,2343,586.8956.190.840.77627,434,2421,859.2126.761.621.631.932.10
        Sales & gross receipts8,3499.660.14108,64211.590.180.830.77165,801,503491.307.070.020.020.020.03
          General sales00.000.0000.000.000.000.00125,994,306373.355.370.000.000.000.00
          Selective sales8,3499.660.14108,64211.590.180.830.7739,807,197117.961.700.080.080.100.11
            Motor fuel sales00.000.0000.000.000.000.001,892,6875.610.080.000.000.000.00
            Alcoholic beverage sales170.020.001120.010.001.651.52845,0352.500.040.010.010.000.01
            Tobacco product sales00.000.0000.000.000.000.00318,8170.940.010.000.000.000.00
            Public utilities4,1734.830.0764,1906.850.110.710.6515,744,64746.650.670.100.100.150.16
            Other selective sales4,1594.810.0744,3404.730.071.020.9421,006,01162.240.900.080.080.080.08
        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 taxes113,839131.771.91450,31648.050.752.742.5442,885,228127.081.831.041.040.380.41

      Charges & misc general revenue590,784683.839.916,871,727733.2011.490.930.86466,284,5471,381.6919.890.490.500.530.58
        Current charges476,924552.048.005,045,712538.378.431.030.95365,048,3361,081.7115.570.510.510.500.54
          Education55,81464.600.94978,310104.381.640.620.5719,143,89456.730.821.141.151.842.00
            Institution of higher education27,71932.080.46375,99340.120.630.800.747,681,25722.760.331.411.421.761.92
            School lunch sales (gross)12,04713.940.2096,21310.270.161.361.261,566,4414.640.073.003.022.212.41
          Hospitals00.000.00358,69538.270.600.000.00124,953,811370.265.330.000.000.100.11
          Highways2920.340.00368,00639.270.620.010.0110,287,28930.480.440.010.011.291.40
          Air transportation (airports)4,8485.610.0811,1641.190.024.714.3622,414,40266.420.960.080.090.020.02
          Parking facilities10,88712.600.18138,32414.760.230.850.792,924,3498.670.121.451.461.701.85
          Sea and inland port facilities00.000.0000.000.000.000.004,760,82614.110.200.000.000.000.00
          Natural resources00.000.005,7160.610.010.000.002,531,1967.500.110.000.000.080.09
          Parks and recreation22,34825.870.37197,87121.110.331.231.139,708,20828.770.410.900.900.730.80
          Housing and comm development28,51233.000.48179,76419.180.301.721.597,308,73521.660.311.521.530.890.96
          Sewerage292,850338.974.911,837,874196.103.071.731.6068,695,647203.562.931.671.680.961.05
          Solid waste management45,40952.560.76531,56356.720.890.930.8621,694,93864.290.930.820.820.880.96
          Other charges15,96418.480.27438,42546.780.730.400.3770,625,041209.283.010.090.090.220.24

        Miscellaneous general revenue113,860131.791.911,826,015194.833.050.680.63101,236,211299.984.320.440.440.650.71
          Interest earnings12,87914.910.22198,11821.140.330.710.6510,227,01630.300.440.490.500.700.76
          Special assessments3070.360.016,5910.700.010.510.4715,026,42544.530.640.010.010.020.02
          Sale of property6930.800.01105,31511.240.180.070.073,784,73711.210.160.070.071.001.09
          Other general revenue99,981115.731.681,515,991161.752.530.720.6672,198,033213.943.080.540.540.760.82

  Utility revenue135,118156.402.271,310,464139.822.191.121.03173,592,043514.397.400.300.310.270.30
    Water supply135,114156.392.271,112,623118.711.861.321.2280,167,107237.553.420.660.660.500.54
    Electric power00.000.00188,48620.110.320.000.0078,135,733231.533.330.000.000.090.09
    Gas supply00.000.0000.000.000.000.007,630,12322.610.330.000.000.000.00
    Transit40.000.009,3551.000.020.000.007,659,08022.700.330.000.000.040.05

  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

Expenditure6,159,8147,129.94100.0054,046,0265,766.61100.001.241.002,254,418,5176,680.28100.001.071.000.861.00

  Intergovernmental expenditure00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
  Direct expenditure6,159,8147,129.94100.0054,046,0265,766.61100.001.241.002,254,418,5176,680.28100.001.071.000.861.00
    Current operation5,789,6256,701.4593.9950,044,7715,339.6892.601.261.021,887,390,8875,592.7083.721.201.120.951.11
    Capital outlay302,195349.794.912,993,275319.385.541.100.89284,581,195843.2712.620.410.390.380.44
      Construction302,195349.794.912,993,275319.385.541.100.89284,581,195843.2712.620.410.390.380.44
    Assistance and subsidies-15,158-17.55-0.25-33,895-3.62-0.064.853.922,376,9447.040.11-2.49-2.33-0.51-0.59
    Interest on debt83,15296.251.351,041,875111.171.930.870.7080,069,491237.263.550.410.380.470.54
    Insurance benefits and repayments00.000.0000.000.000.000.0039,9940.120.000.000.000.000.00
    Exhibit: salaries & wages1,969,1322,279.2631.9718,310,7371,953.7233.881.170.94525,546,0041,557.2923.311.461.371.251.45

  Direct expenditure by function6,159,8147,129.94100.0054,046,0265,766.61100.001.241.002,254,418,5176,680.28100.001.071.000.861.00
    Direct general expenditure6,029,0626,978.6097.8852,957,6145,650.4897.991.241.002,024,660,7925,999.4689.811.161.090.941.09
      Capital outlay289,970335.644.712,838,172302.835.251.110.90233,677,777692.4310.370.480.450.440.51


Education services:
      Other direct general expenditure5,739,0926,642.9693.1750,119,4425,347.6592.731.241.001,790,983,0155,307.0379.441.251.171.011.17
      Education3,426,3033,965.9255.6231,910,1403,404.7559.041.160.94862,837,2522,556.7538.271.551.451.331.54
          Capital outlay184,625213.703.001,612,767172.082.981.241.0089,314,081264.653.960.810.760.650.75
        Higher education100,324116.121.631,222,124130.402.260.890.7246,067,730136.512.040.850.800.961.11
          Capital outlay11,45913.260.1979,5018.480.151.561.265,394,84215.990.240.830.780.530.61
        Elementary & Secondary education3,341,1373,867.3454.2430,721,9113,277.9756.841.180.95814,392,5782,413.2036.121.601.501.361.57
          Capital outlay173,166200.442.811,533,266163.602.841.230.9983,919,239248.673.720.810.760.660.76
        Other education-15,158-17.55-0.25-33,895-3.62-0.064.853.922,376,9447.040.11-2.49-2.33-0.51-0.59
      Libraries34,34839.760.56333,57935.590.621.120.9013,625,82240.380.600.980.920.881.02


Social services and income maintenance:
      Public welfare115,922134.181.88938,616100.151.741.341.0867,699,317200.613.000.670.630.500.58
        Other public welfare115,922134.181.88938,616100.151.741.341.0867,699,317200.613.000.670.630.500.58
      Hospitals27,65232.010.45348,28937.160.640.860.70141,312,054418.736.270.080.070.090.10
        Capital outlay00.000.00630.010.000.000.006,546,84619.400.290.000.000.000.00
      Health22,43725.970.36267,50728.540.490.910.7477,108,561228.493.420.110.110.120.14
      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:
      Highways78,18790.501.271,317,454140.572.440.640.5282,616,882244.813.660.370.350.570.67
        Capital outlay2,3602.730.04439,49746.890.810.060.0530,060,50189.081.330.030.030.530.61
      Air transportation (airports)3,9964.630.0610,8561.160.023.993.2328,556,24984.621.270.050.050.010.02
      Parking facilities6,9668.060.1194,33310.070.170.800.652,108,1706.250.091.291.211.611.87
      Sea and inland port facilities00.000.00290.000.000.000.004,034,90811.960.180.000.000.000.00

Public safety:
      Police protection410,563475.226.673,336,812356.036.171.331.08119,298,947353.515.291.341.261.011.17
      Fire protection177,899205.922.891,084,915115.762.011.781.4464,033,823189.742.841.091.020.610.71
      Correction99,630115.321.62587,53362.691.091.841.4932,595,24396.591.451.191.120.650.75
        Capital outlay00.000.003660.040.000.000.00915,2972.710.040.000.000.010.02
      Protective inspection & regulation10,27011.890.17138,64514.790.260.800.657,062,87020.930.310.570.530.710.82

Environment and housing:
      Natural resources7730.890.0128,7713.070.050.290.2413,342,66139.540.590.020.020.080.09
        Capital outlay00.000.0014,5581.550.030.000.004,485,96313.290.200.000.000.120.14
      Parks and recreation51,51859.630.84542,64657.901.001.030.8343,717,263129.541.940.460.430.450.52
        Capital outlay5,7176.620.0926,4602.820.052.341.9010,096,60129.920.450.220.210.090.11
      Housing and comm development240,363278.223.90938,818100.171.742.782.2558,336,344172.862.591.611.510.580.67
      Sewerage314,130363.605.101,935,765206.543.581.761.4268,504,527202.993.041.791.681.021.18
        Capital outlay60,37669.880.98355,85837.970.661.841.4923,319,98269.101.031.010.950.550.64
      Solid waste management96,565111.771.571,049,950112.031.941.000.8128,653,83084.911.271.321.231.321.53
        Capital outlay00.000.0053,8845.750.100.000.001,863,1165.520.080.000.001.041.21

Governmental administration:
      Financial administration47,66155.170.77398,54142.520.741.301.0523,707,42470.251.050.790.740.610.70
      Judicial and legal70,74981.891.15606,55564.721.121.271.0227,887,73782.641.240.990.930.780.91
      General public buildings49,04956.770.80383,30440.900.711.391.1213,643,40540.430.611.401.321.011.17
      Other governmental administration57,65066.730.94560,02559.751.041.120.9037,267,357110.431.650.600.570.540.63
      Interest on general debt76,42288.461.24995,058106.171.840.830.6766,807,524197.962.960.450.420.540.62

General expenditures, n.e.c.:
      Misc commercial activities00.000.001,3570.140.000.000.002,707,8798.020.120.000.000.020.02
      Other and unallocable610,009706.089.905,148,116549.299.531.291.04137,158,796406.436.081.741.631.351.57

Utility expenditures:
    Utility expenditure130,752151.342.121,088,412116.132.011.301.05228,078,201675.8410.120.220.210.170.20
        Capital outlay12,22514.150.20155,10316.550.290.860.6950,897,505150.822.260.090.090.110.13
      Water supply129,302149.672.10884,10594.331.641.591.2882,479,587244.403.660.610.570.390.45
      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
      Transit1,4501.680.0263,4896.770.120.250.2064,720,002191.782.870.010.010.040.04

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 outstanding2,501,6962,895.70100.0029,564,0663,154.43100.000.921.002,042,775,1706,053.14100.000.481.000.521.00

  Short-term debt outstanding99,409115.073.971,594,558170.145.390.680.7428,356,92884.031.391.372.862.023.89
  Long-term debt outstanding2,402,2872,780.6396.0327,969,5082,984.2994.610.931.022,014,418,2425,969.1198.610.470.970.500.96

Long-term debt issued352,292NANA3,608,752NANANANA264,717,314NANANANANANA
Long-term debt retired312,672NANA3,743,573NANANANA218,916,559NANANANANANA


Sources: STI: PopStats and STI: Colossus