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Haywood 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:

5,971.85

The expenses per resident at the local level is:

5,844.13

The outstanding debt per resident at the local level is:

1,185.16

 
HaywoodNorth 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

Revenue377,4575,971.85100.0021,7982,827.24100.002.111.0064,111,5155,934.66100.001.011.000.481.00

  General revenue350,1745,540.2092.7721,4322,779.7798.321.990.9457,832,2325,353.4090.211.031.030.521.09

    Intergovernmental revenue111,8151,769.0629.627,663993.9035.151.780.8422,350,9012,068.9734.860.860.850.481.01
      From Federal government19,399306.925.141,677217.517.691.410.673,949,586365.606.160.840.830.591.25
      From State government92,4161,462.1424.485,986776.3927.461.880.8918,401,3151,703.3728.700.860.850.460.96
      From local government00.000.0000.130.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

    General revenue from own sources238,3593,771.1563.1513,7691,785.8663.172.111.0035,481,3313,284.4355.341.151.140.541.14
      Taxes191,2573,025.9350.679,0861,178.4741.682.571.2218,271,4951,691.3528.501.791.780.701.46
        Property129,7032,052.0734.368,5961,114.9239.431.840.8712,507,0791,157.7519.511.771.760.962.02
        Sales & gross receipts58,240921.4315.4300.130.007,104.243,363.345,060,019468.397.891.971.950.000.00
          General sales49,416781.8213.0900.130.006,027.872,853.764,485,444415.217.001.881.870.000.00
          Selective sales8,824139.612.3400.130.001,076.37509.58574,57553.190.902.622.610.000.00
            Motor fuel sales00.000.0000.130.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
            Alcoholic beverage sales5859.260.1500.130.0071.3633.78134,34112.440.210.740.740.000.00
            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 sales8,239130.352.1800.130.001,005.01475.80440,23440.750.693.203.180.000.00
        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 license731.150.0241353.571.890.020.01116,90810.820.180.110.114.9510.39
        Other taxes3,24151.280.86779.990.355.132.43587,48954.380.920.940.940.180.39

      Charges & misc general revenue47,102745.2112.484,683607.3921.481.230.5817,209,8361,593.0826.840.470.460.380.80
        Current charges34,618547.709.174,215546.6919.341.000.4714,948,9981,383.7923.320.400.390.400.83
          Education3,07048.570.8128036.321.281.340.63386,96135.820.601.361.351.012.13
            Institution of higher education1,98131.340.5200.130.00241.65114.40257,06723.800.401.321.310.000.00
            School lunch sales (gross)5288.350.14222.850.102.931.3941,7193.860.072.162.150.741.55
          Hospitals3,25551.500.8600.130.00397.05187.9810,037,795929.1815.660.060.060.000.00
          Highways00.000.0000.130.000.000.003,4480.320.010.000.000.000.00
          Air transportation (airports)00.000.00729.340.330.000.00599,21555.470.930.000.000.170.35
          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 recreation5078.020.13121.560.065.152.44251,33923.270.390.340.340.070.14
          Housing and comm development5699.000.1500.130.0069.4132.86110,31710.210.170.880.880.000.00
          Sewerage7,045111.461.87806104.543.701.070.501,899,076175.792.960.630.630.591.25
          Solid waste management6,964110.181.843,039394.1613.940.280.13720,10266.661.121.651.645.9112.41
          Other charges13,208208.973.5060.780.03268.52127.13866,66180.221.352.602.590.010.02

        Miscellaneous general revenue12,484197.513.3146860.702.153.251.542,260,838209.283.530.940.940.290.61
          Interest earnings85513.530.2314318.550.660.730.35152,41914.110.240.960.951.312.76
          Special assessments20.030.00455.840.210.010.0017,0081.570.030.020.023.717.78
          Sale of property3906.170.10607.780.280.790.38114,29410.580.180.580.580.741.54
          Other general revenue11,237177.782.9822028.531.016.232.951,977,117183.023.080.970.970.160.33

  Utility revenue19,233304.295.1036647.471.686.413.034,997,179462.587.790.660.650.100.22
    Water supply9,885156.392.6236647.471.683.291.561,913,317177.112.980.880.880.270.56
    Electric power9,348147.902.4800.130.001,140.29539.842,885,932267.144.500.550.550.000.00
    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 revenue8,050127.362.1300.130.00981.96464.881,282,104118.682.001.071.070.000.00

  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

Expenditure369,3845,844.13100.0029,6103,840.47100.001.521.0062,722,8515,806.11100.001.011.000.661.00

  Intergovernmental expenditure00.000.0000.130.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
  Direct expenditure369,3845,844.13100.0029,6103,840.47100.001.521.0062,722,8515,806.11100.001.011.000.661.00
    Current operation349,2295,525.2594.5417,6622,290.7959.652.411.5953,847,0114,984.5085.851.111.100.460.69
    Capital outlay16,147255.474.3711,0381,431.6537.280.180.127,267,518672.7411.590.380.382.133.22
      Construction16,147255.474.3711,0381,431.6537.280.180.127,267,518672.7411.590.380.382.133.22
    Assistance and subsidies1,39922.130.3800.130.00170.65112.14144,03613.330.231.661.650.000.00
    Interest on debt2,60941.280.71910118.033.070.350.231,464,286135.552.330.300.300.871.32
    Insurance benefits and repayments00.000.0000.130.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
    Exhibit: salaries & wages81,8011,294.2022.157,9031,025.0326.691.260.8311,963,0181,107.3919.071.171.160.931.40

  Direct expenditure by function369,3845,844.13100.0029,6103,840.47100.001.521.0062,722,8515,806.11100.001.011.000.661.00
    Direct general expenditure344,7225,453.9493.3228,5443,702.2096.401.470.9756,028,7025,186.4589.331.051.040.711.08
      Capital outlay15,493245.124.1910,4581,356.4235.320.180.126,113,334565.909.750.430.432.403.62


Education services:
      Other direct general expenditure329,2295,208.8389.1318,0862,345.7861.082.221.4649,915,3684,620.5579.581.131.120.510.77
      Education111,3641,761.9230.1518,3642,381.8462.020.740.4921,177,5191,960.3533.760.900.891.221.84
          Capital outlay9,242146.222.5010,1521,316.7334.290.110.071,950,260180.533.110.810.807.2911.03
        Higher education20,731327.995.6100.130.002,528.811,661.812,231,472206.563.561.591.580.000.00
          Capital outlay4,95278.351.3400.130.00604.06396.95330,41130.590.532.562.540.000.00
        Elementary & Secondary education89,2341,411.8024.1618,3642,381.8462.020.590.3918,802,0111,740.4629.980.810.811.372.07
          Capital outlay4,29067.871.1610,1521,316.7334.290.050.031,619,849149.952.580.450.458.7813.28
        Other education1,39922.130.3800.130.00170.65112.14144,03613.330.231.661.650.000.00
      Libraries1,60425.380.43719.210.242.761.81289,82226.830.460.950.940.340.52


Social services and income maintenance:
      Public welfare16,392259.344.4400.130.001,999.531,313.991,939,534179.543.091.441.440.000.00
        Other public welfare16,392259.344.4400.130.001,999.531,313.991,939,534179.543.091.441.440.000.00
      Hospitals00.000.0081.040.030.000.0010,497,061971.6916.740.000.000.000.00
        Capital outlay00.000.0000.130.000.000.00826,52276.511.320.000.000.000.00
      Health13,497213.543.6557975.101.962.841.874,194,344388.266.690.550.550.190.29
      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:
      Highways5,72790.611.5560278.082.031.160.76733,88267.931.171.331.331.151.74
        Capital outlay68010.760.1800.130.0082.9554.51296,36827.430.470.390.390.000.00
      Air transportation (airports)00.000.0015820.490.530.000.00797,02273.781.270.000.000.280.42
      Parking facilities00.000.0000.130.000.000.0067,3836.240.110.000.000.000.00
      Sea and inland port facilities00.000.0000.130.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

Public safety:
      Police protection19,943315.525.401,597207.135.391.521.003,313,854306.765.281.031.020.681.02
      Fire protection9,257146.462.5113116.990.448.625.661,379,966127.742.201.151.140.130.20
      Correction4,93878.131.3472794.292.460.830.54674,67062.451.081.251.241.512.28
        Capital outlay00.000.0000.130.000.000.0036,7583.400.060.000.000.000.00
      Protective inspection & regulation5759.100.1600.130.0070.1446.09144,04313.330.230.680.680.000.00

Environment and housing:
      Natural resources1,16618.450.3223830.870.800.600.39210,56819.490.340.950.941.582.39
        Capital outlay00.000.008811.410.300.000.0037,4143.460.060.000.003.304.98
      Parks and recreation3,70558.621.0000.130.00451.94296.991,232,047114.051.960.510.510.000.00
        Capital outlay84013.290.2300.130.00102.4667.33343,94431.840.550.420.410.000.00
      Housing and comm development9,736154.042.6400.130.001,187.62780.441,825,874169.022.910.910.910.000.00
      Sewerage4,62073.091.2500.130.00563.56370.341,709,529158.252.730.460.460.000.00
        Capital outlay290.460.0100.130.003.542.32806,70374.671.290.010.010.000.00
      Solid waste management5,09080.531.382,827366.679.550.220.14928,85385.981.480.940.934.266.45
        Capital outlay1782.820.058911.540.300.240.1669,4136.430.110.440.441.802.72

Governmental administration:
      Financial administration3,99663.221.0845258.631.531.080.71563,15752.130.901.211.201.121.70
      Judicial and legal2764.370.0745759.271.540.070.05172,85616.000.280.270.273.705.60
      General public buildings2,73443.260.7422529.180.761.480.97576,25653.340.920.810.810.550.83
      Other governmental administration3,36753.270.91859111.412.900.480.31794,09373.511.270.720.721.522.29
      Interest on general debt2,46539.000.67910118.033.070.330.221,282,705118.742.050.330.330.991.50

General expenditures, n.e.c.:
      Misc commercial activities2684.240.0760.780.025.453.5815,3111.420.022.992.970.550.83
      Other and unallocable124,0021,961.8733.5733343.191.1245.4229.851,508,353139.622.4014.0513.960.310.47

Utility expenditures:
    Utility expenditure17,678279.694.791,066138.263.602.021.335,632,063521.358.980.540.530.270.40
        Capital outlay65410.350.1858075.231.960.140.091,154,184106.841.840.100.100.701.06
      Water supply9,401148.742.551,066138.263.601.080.712,026,286187.573.230.790.790.741.11
      Electric power7,799123.392.1100.130.00951.34625.172,541,405235.254.050.520.520.000.00
      Gas supply00.000.0000.130.000.000.00131,06112.130.210.000.000.000.00
      Transit4787.560.1300.130.0058.3138.32933,31186.391.490.090.090.000.00

Liquor store expenditures:
    Liquor store expenditure6,984110.501.8900.130.00851.92559.841,062,08698.311.691.121.120.000.00

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 outstanding74,9091,185.16100.0027,5063,567.57100.000.331.0031,805,4102,944.15100.000.401.001.211.00

  Short-term debt outstanding00.000.0000.130.000.000.0011,4751.060.040.000.000.000.00
  Long-term debt outstanding74,9091,185.16100.0027,5063,567.57100.000.331.0031,793,9352,943.0999.960.401.001.211.00

Long-term debt issued8,492NANA0NANANANA4,470,821NANANANANANA
Long-term debt retired12,272NANA2,348NANANANA4,012,492NANANANANANA


Sources: STI: PopStats and STI: Colossus