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Craven 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:

9,480.62

The expenses per resident at the local level is:

9,036.34

The outstanding debt per resident at the local level is:

1,314.62

 
CravenNorth CarolinaNational



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

Revenue973,9359,480.62100.0021,7982,827.24100.003.351.0064,111,5155,934.66100.001.601.000.481.00

  General revenue889,9608,663.1891.3821,4322,779.7798.323.120.9357,832,2325,353.4090.211.621.010.521.09

    Intergovernmental revenue198,5901,933.1420.397,663993.9035.151.950.5822,350,9012,068.9734.860.930.580.481.01
      From Federal government18,238177.541.871,677217.517.690.820.243,949,586365.606.160.490.300.591.25
      From State government180,3521,755.6118.525,986776.3927.462.260.6718,401,3151,703.3728.701.030.650.460.96
      From local government00.000.0000.130.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

    General revenue from own sources691,3706,730.0470.9913,7691,785.8663.173.771.1235,481,3313,284.4355.342.051.280.541.14
      Taxes129,8371,263.8813.339,0861,178.4741.681.070.3218,271,4951,691.3528.500.750.470.701.46
        Property85,589833.158.798,5961,114.9239.430.750.2212,507,0791,157.7519.510.720.450.962.02
        Sales & gross receipts42,816416.794.4000.130.003,213.42958.285,060,019468.397.890.890.560.000.00
          General sales39,060380.224.0100.130.002,931.52874.224,485,444415.217.000.920.570.000.00
          Selective sales3,75636.560.3900.130.00281.8984.06574,57553.190.900.690.430.000.00
            Motor fuel sales00.000.0000.130.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
            Alcoholic beverage sales1,40113.640.1400.130.00105.1531.36134,34112.440.211.100.690.000.00
            Tobacco product sales00.000.0000.130.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
            Public utilities00.000.0000.130.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
            Other selective sales2,35522.920.2400.130.00176.7552.71440,23440.750.690.560.350.000.00
        Individual income tax00.000.0000.130.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
        Corporate income tax00.000.0000.130.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
        Motor vehicle license1321.280.0141353.571.890.020.01116,90810.820.180.120.074.9510.39
        Other taxes1,30012.650.13779.990.351.270.38587,48954.380.920.230.150.180.39

      Charges & misc general revenue561,5335,466.1657.664,683607.3921.489.002.6817,209,8361,593.0826.843.432.150.380.80
        Current charges518,2565,044.8953.214,215546.6919.349.232.7514,948,9981,383.7923.323.652.280.400.83
          Education2,85227.760.2928036.321.280.760.23386,96135.820.600.780.491.012.13
            Institution of higher education2,82927.540.2900.130.00212.3263.32257,06723.800.401.160.720.000.00
            School lunch sales (gross)40.040.00222.850.100.010.0041,7193.860.070.010.010.741.55
          Hospitals475,3714,627.4348.8100.130.0035,677.4710,639.4510,037,795929.1815.664.983.120.000.00
          Highways00.000.0000.130.000.000.003,4480.320.010.000.000.000.00
          Air transportation (airports)2,13020.730.22729.340.332.220.66599,21555.470.930.370.230.170.35
          Parking facilities00.000.0000.130.000.000.0053,9024.990.080.000.000.000.00
          Sea and inland port facilities00.000.0000.130.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
          Natural resources00.000.0000.130.000.000.0020,1821.870.030.000.000.000.00
          Parks and recreation2122.060.02121.560.061.330.40251,33923.270.390.090.060.070.14
          Housing and comm development00.000.0000.130.000.000.00110,31710.210.170.000.000.000.00
          Sewerage16,881164.331.73806104.543.701.570.471,899,076175.792.960.930.590.591.25
          Solid waste management17,144166.891.763,039394.1613.940.420.13720,10266.661.122.501.575.9112.41
          Other charges3,66635.690.3860.780.0345.8613.68866,66180.221.350.440.280.010.02

        Miscellaneous general revenue43,277421.274.4446860.702.156.942.072,260,838209.283.532.011.260.290.61
          Interest earnings3683.580.0414318.550.660.190.06152,41914.110.240.250.161.312.76
          Special assessments00.000.00455.840.210.000.0017,0081.570.030.000.003.717.78
          Sale of property7547.340.08607.780.280.940.28114,29410.580.180.690.430.741.54
          Other general revenue42,155410.354.3322028.531.0114.384.291,977,117183.023.082.241.400.160.33

  Utility revenue72,207702.897.4136647.471.6814.814.424,997,179462.587.791.520.950.100.22
    Water supply19,471189.542.0036647.471.683.991.191,913,317177.112.981.070.670.270.56
    Electric power52,736513.355.4100.130.003,957.931,180.302,885,932267.144.501.921.200.000.00
    Gas supply00.000.0000.130.000.000.00154,72414.320.240.000.000.000.00
    Transit00.000.0000.130.000.000.0043,2064.000.070.000.000.000.00

  Liquor store revenue11,768114.551.2100.130.00883.21263.381,282,104118.682.000.970.600.000.00

  Insurance trust revenue00.000.0000.130.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
    Unemployment compensation00.000.0000.130.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
    Employee retirement00.000.0000.130.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
    Workers' compensation00.000.0000.130.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
    Other insurance trust revenue00.000.0000.130.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

Expenditure928,2949,036.34100.0029,6103,840.47100.002.351.0062,722,8515,806.11100.001.561.000.661.00

  Intergovernmental expenditure00.000.0000.130.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
  Direct expenditure928,2949,036.34100.0029,6103,840.47100.002.351.0062,722,8515,806.11100.001.561.000.661.00
    Current operation860,1918,373.4092.6617,6622,290.7959.653.661.5553,847,0114,984.5085.851.681.080.460.69
    Capital outlay59,890582.996.4511,0381,431.6537.280.410.177,267,518672.7411.590.870.562.133.22
      Construction59,890582.996.4511,0381,431.6537.280.410.177,267,518672.7411.590.870.562.133.22
    Assistance and subsidies2,78227.080.3000.130.00208.7988.74144,03613.330.232.031.310.000.00
    Interest on debt5,43152.870.59910118.033.070.450.191,464,286135.552.330.390.250.871.32
    Insurance benefits and repayments00.000.0000.130.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
    Exhibit: salaries & wages269,0742,619.2628.997,9031,025.0326.692.561.0911,963,0181,107.3919.072.371.520.931.40

  Direct expenditure by function928,2949,036.34100.0029,6103,840.47100.002.351.0062,722,8515,806.11100.001.561.000.661.00
    Direct general expenditure859,9088,370.6592.6328,5443,702.2096.402.260.9656,028,7025,186.4589.331.611.040.711.08
      Capital outlay56,686551.806.1110,4581,356.4235.320.410.176,113,334565.909.750.980.632.403.62


Education services:
      Other direct general expenditure803,2227,818.8486.5318,0862,345.7861.083.331.4249,915,3684,620.5579.581.691.090.510.77
      Education186,0861,811.4320.0518,3642,381.8462.020.760.3221,177,5191,960.3533.760.920.591.221.84
          Capital outlay6,25860.920.6710,1521,316.7334.290.050.021,950,260180.533.110.340.227.2911.03
        Higher education29,260284.833.1500.130.002,196.02933.312,231,472206.563.561.380.890.000.00
          Capital outlay1,11010.810.1200.130.0083.3135.41330,41130.590.530.350.230.000.00
        Elementary & Secondary education154,0441,499.5216.5918,3642,381.8462.020.630.2718,802,0111,740.4629.980.860.551.372.07
          Capital outlay5,14850.110.5510,1521,316.7334.290.040.021,619,849149.952.580.330.218.7813.28
        Other education2,78227.080.3000.130.00208.7988.74144,03613.330.232.031.310.000.00
      Libraries4,00939.030.43719.210.244.241.80289,82226.830.461.450.930.340.52


Social services and income maintenance:
      Public welfare20,842202.882.2500.130.001,564.23664.801,939,534179.543.091.130.730.000.00
        Other public welfare20,842202.882.2500.130.001,564.23664.801,939,534179.543.091.130.730.000.00
      Hospitals474,9554,623.3851.1681.040.034,455.781,893.7210,497,061971.6916.744.763.060.000.00
        Capital outlay27,800270.612.9900.130.002,086.44886.74826,52276.511.323.542.270.000.00
      Health15,683152.661.6957975.101.962.030.864,194,344388.266.690.390.250.190.29
      Social insurance administration00.000.0000.130.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
      Veterans' services00.000.0000.130.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

Transportaion:
      Highways4,72646.000.5160278.082.030.590.25733,88267.931.170.680.441.151.74
        Capital outlay1,0109.830.1100.130.0075.8032.22296,36827.430.470.360.230.000.00
      Air transportation (airports)9,58093.261.0315820.490.534.551.93797,02273.781.271.260.810.280.42
      Parking facilities4514.390.0500.130.0033.8514.3967,3836.240.110.700.450.000.00
      Sea and inland port facilities00.000.0000.130.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

Public safety:
      Police protection32,098312.453.461,597207.135.391.510.643,313,854306.765.281.020.650.681.02
      Fire protection11,405111.021.2313116.990.446.532.781,379,966127.742.200.870.560.130.20
      Correction5,39052.470.5872794.292.460.560.24674,67062.451.080.840.541.512.28
        Capital outlay300.290.0000.130.002.250.9636,7583.400.060.090.060.000.00
      Protective inspection & regulation6676.490.0700.130.0050.0621.28144,04313.330.230.490.310.000.00

Environment and housing:
      Natural resources1471.430.0223830.870.800.050.02210,56819.490.340.070.051.582.39
        Capital outlay540.530.018811.410.300.050.0237,4143.460.060.150.103.304.98
      Parks and recreation7,35771.620.7900.130.00552.16234.671,232,047114.051.960.630.400.000.00
        Capital outlay1,97919.260.2100.130.00148.5363.12343,94431.840.550.610.390.000.00
      Housing and comm development9,86195.991.0600.130.00740.09314.541,825,874169.022.910.570.360.000.00
      Sewerage16,307158.741.7600.130.001,223.87520.151,709,529158.252.731.000.640.000.00
        Capital outlay1,85918.100.2000.130.00139.5259.30806,70374.671.290.240.160.000.00
      Solid waste management23,000223.892.482,827366.679.550.610.26928,85385.981.482.601.674.266.45
        Capital outlay2,31322.520.258911.540.301.950.8369,4136.430.113.502.251.802.72

Governmental administration:
      Financial administration5,28151.410.5745258.631.530.880.37563,15752.130.900.990.631.121.70
      Judicial and legal1,94118.890.2145759.271.540.320.14172,85616.000.281.180.763.705.60
      General public buildings2,26622.060.2422529.180.760.760.32576,25653.340.920.410.270.550.83
      Other governmental administration6,35061.810.68859111.412.900.550.24794,09373.511.270.840.541.522.29
      Interest on general debt4,76846.410.51910118.033.070.390.171,282,705118.742.050.390.250.991.50

General expenditures, n.e.c.:
      Misc commercial activities130.130.0060.780.020.160.0715,3111.420.020.090.060.550.83
      Other and unallocable16,725162.811.8033343.191.123.771.601,508,353139.622.401.170.750.310.47

Utility expenditures:
    Utility expenditure58,258567.106.281,066138.263.604.101.745,632,063521.358.981.090.700.270.40
        Capital outlay3,20431.190.3558075.231.960.410.181,154,184106.841.840.290.190.701.06
      Water supply5,01048.770.541,066138.263.600.350.152,026,286187.573.230.260.170.741.11
      Electric power53,004515.965.7100.130.003,978.051,690.682,541,405235.254.052.191.410.000.00
      Gas supply00.000.0000.130.000.000.00131,06112.130.210.000.000.000.00
      Transit2442.380.0300.130.0018.317.78933,31186.391.490.030.020.000.00

Liquor store expenditures:
    Liquor store expenditure10,12898.591.0900.130.00760.12323.061,062,08698.311.691.000.640.000.00

Insurance trust expenditures:
    Insurance trust expenditure00.000.0000.130.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
      Unemployment compensation00.000.0000.130.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
      Employee retirement00.000.0000.130.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
      Workers' compensation00.000.0000.130.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
      Other insurance trust00.000.0000.130.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

Debt outstanding135,0501,314.62100.0027,5063,567.57100.000.371.0031,805,4102,944.15100.000.451.001.211.00

  Short-term debt outstanding00.000.0000.130.000.000.0011,4751.060.040.000.000.000.00
  Long-term debt outstanding135,0501,314.62100.0027,5063,567.57100.000.371.0031,793,9352,943.0999.960.451.001.211.00

Long-term debt issued4,030NANA0NANANANA4,470,821NANANANANANA
Long-term debt retired16,902NANA2,348NANANANA4,012,492NANANANANANA


Sources: STI: PopStats and STI: Colossus