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Wilson 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:

7,023.32

The expenses per resident at the local level is:

6,593.66

The outstanding debt per resident at the local level is:

1,188.81

 
WilsonNorth 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

Revenue556,2687,023.32100.0021,7982,827.24100.002.481.0064,111,5155,934.66100.001.181.000.481.00

  General revenue382,8154,833.3468.8221,4322,779.7798.321.740.7057,832,2325,353.4090.210.900.760.521.09

    Intergovernmental revenue179,2802,263.5532.237,663993.9035.152.280.9222,350,9012,068.9734.861.090.920.481.01
      From Federal government21,234268.103.821,677217.517.691.230.503,949,586365.606.160.730.620.591.25
      From State government158,0461,995.4528.415,986776.3927.462.571.0318,401,3151,703.3728.701.170.990.460.96
      From local government00.000.0000.130.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

    General revenue from own sources203,5352,569.7936.5913,7691,785.8663.171.440.5835,481,3313,284.4355.340.780.660.541.14
      Taxes124,7861,575.5222.439,0861,178.4741.681.340.5418,271,4951,691.3528.500.930.790.701.46
        Property87,3861,103.3215.718,5961,114.9239.430.990.4012,507,0791,157.7519.510.950.810.962.02
        Sales & gross receipts33,080417.665.9500.130.003,220.171,296.285,060,019468.397.890.890.750.000.00
          General sales32,323408.105.8100.130.003,146.481,266.614,485,444415.217.000.980.830.000.00
          Selective sales7579.560.1400.130.0073.6929.66574,57553.190.900.180.150.000.00
            Motor fuel sales00.000.0000.130.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
            Alcoholic beverage sales4255.370.0800.130.0041.3716.65134,34112.440.210.430.360.000.00
            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 sales3324.190.0600.130.0032.3213.01440,23440.750.690.100.090.000.00
        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 license1,09913.880.2041353.571.890.260.10116,90810.820.181.281.084.9510.39
        Other taxes3,22140.670.58779.990.354.071.64587,48954.380.920.750.630.180.39

      Charges & misc general revenue78,749994.2714.164,683607.3921.481.640.6617,209,8361,593.0826.840.620.530.380.80
        Current charges63,591802.8911.434,215546.6919.341.470.5914,948,9981,383.7923.320.580.490.400.83
          Education2,35329.710.4228036.321.280.820.33386,96135.820.600.830.701.012.13
            Institution of higher education1,48818.790.2700.130.00144.8558.31257,06723.800.400.790.670.000.00
            School lunch sales (gross)3754.730.07222.850.101.660.6741,7193.860.071.231.040.741.55
          Hospitals3,08638.960.5500.130.00300.41120.9310,037,795929.1815.660.040.040.000.00
          Highways00.000.0000.130.000.000.003,4480.320.010.000.000.000.00
          Air transportation (airports)2,08426.310.37729.340.332.821.13599,21555.470.930.470.400.170.35
          Parking facilities430.540.0100.130.004.191.6953,9024.990.080.110.090.000.00
          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 recreation1,28316.200.23121.560.0610.414.19251,33923.270.390.700.590.070.14
          Housing and comm development1,95624.700.3500.130.00190.4176.65110,31710.210.172.422.040.000.00
          Sewerage20,462258.353.68806104.543.702.470.991,899,076175.792.961.471.240.591.25
          Solid waste management7,68597.031.383,039394.1613.940.250.10720,10266.661.121.461.235.9112.41
          Other charges24,639311.094.4360.780.03399.75160.92866,66180.221.353.883.280.010.02

        Miscellaneous general revenue15,158191.382.7246860.702.153.151.272,260,838209.283.530.910.770.290.61
          Interest earnings1571.980.0314318.550.660.110.04152,41914.110.240.140.121.312.76
          Special assessments971.220.02455.840.210.210.0817,0081.570.030.780.663.717.78
          Sale of property1,72721.800.31607.780.282.801.13114,29410.580.182.061.740.741.54
          Other general revenue13,177166.372.3722028.531.015.832.351,977,117183.023.080.910.770.160.33

  Utility revenue162,4142,050.6029.2036647.471.6843.2017.394,997,179462.587.794.433.750.100.22
    Water supply16,890213.253.0436647.471.684.491.811,913,317177.112.981.201.020.270.56
    Electric power124,5841,572.9722.4000.130.0012,127.604,881.972,885,932267.144.505.894.980.000.00
    Gas supply20,917264.093.7600.130.002,036.16819.66154,72414.320.2418.4415.580.000.00
    Transit230.290.0000.130.002.240.9043,2064.000.070.070.060.000.00

  Liquor store revenue11,039139.381.9800.130.001,074.59432.581,282,104118.682.001.170.990.000.00

  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

Expenditure522,2386,593.66100.0029,6103,840.47100.001.721.0062,722,8515,806.11100.001.141.000.661.00

  Intergovernmental expenditure00.000.0000.130.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
  Direct expenditure522,2386,593.66100.0029,6103,840.47100.001.721.0062,722,8515,806.11100.001.141.000.661.00
    Current operation463,8485,856.4488.8217,6622,290.7959.652.561.4953,847,0114,984.5085.851.171.030.460.69
    Capital outlay54,767691.4810.4911,0381,431.6537.280.480.287,267,518672.7411.591.030.912.133.22
      Construction54,767691.4810.4911,0381,431.6537.280.480.287,267,518672.7411.591.030.912.133.22
    Assistance and subsidies7459.410.1400.130.0072.5242.24144,03613.330.230.710.620.000.00
    Interest on debt2,87836.340.55910118.033.070.310.181,464,286135.552.330.270.240.871.32
    Insurance benefits and repayments00.000.0000.130.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
    Exhibit: salaries & wages75,715955.9614.507,9031,025.0326.690.930.5411,963,0181,107.3919.070.860.760.931.40

  Direct expenditure by function522,2386,593.66100.0029,6103,840.47100.001.721.0062,722,8515,806.11100.001.141.000.661.00
    Direct general expenditure349,0904,407.5466.8528,5443,702.2096.401.190.6956,028,7025,186.4589.330.850.750.711.08
      Capital outlay41,567524.827.9610,4581,356.4235.320.390.236,113,334565.909.750.930.822.403.62


Education services:
      Other direct general expenditure307,5233,882.7258.8918,0862,345.7861.081.660.9649,915,3684,620.5579.580.840.740.510.77
      Education160,9922,032.6530.8318,3642,381.8462.020.850.5021,177,5191,960.3533.761.040.911.221.84
          Capital outlay17,427220.033.3410,1521,316.7334.290.170.101,950,260180.533.111.221.077.2911.03
        Higher education17,355219.123.3200.130.001,689.42984.002,231,472206.563.561.060.930.000.00
          Capital outlay5747.250.1100.130.0055.8832.54330,41130.590.530.240.210.000.00
        Elementary & Secondary education142,8921,804.1227.3618,3642,381.8462.020.760.4418,802,0111,740.4629.981.040.911.372.07
          Capital outlay16,853212.783.2310,1521,316.7334.290.160.091,619,849149.952.581.421.258.7813.28
        Other education7459.410.1400.130.0072.5242.24144,03613.330.230.710.620.000.00
      Libraries2,12926.880.41719.210.242.921.70289,82226.830.461.000.880.340.52


Social services and income maintenance:
      Public welfare25,820326.004.9400.130.002,513.441,463.951,939,534179.543.091.821.600.000.00
        Other public welfare25,820326.004.9400.130.002,513.441,463.951,939,534179.543.091.821.600.000.00
      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
      Health14,573184.002.7957975.101.962.451.434,194,344388.266.690.470.420.190.29
      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:
      Highways3,89449.160.7560278.082.030.630.37733,88267.931.170.720.641.151.74
        Capital outlay4105.180.0800.130.0039.9123.25296,36827.430.470.190.170.000.00
      Air transportation (airports)3,18640.230.6115820.490.531.961.14797,02273.781.270.550.480.280.42
      Parking facilities10,332130.451.9800.130.001,005.77585.8167,3836.240.1120.9118.420.000.00
      Sea and inland port facilities00.000.0000.130.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

Public safety:
      Police protection28,059354.275.371,597207.135.391.711.003,313,854306.765.281.151.020.681.02
      Fire protection14,290180.422.7413116.990.4410.626.181,379,966127.742.201.411.240.130.20
      Correction4,11851.990.7972794.292.460.550.32674,67062.451.080.830.731.512.28
        Capital outlay2713.420.0500.130.0026.3815.3736,7583.400.061.010.890.000.00
      Protective inspection & regulation84210.630.1600.130.0081.9647.74144,04313.330.230.800.700.000.00

Environment and housing:
      Natural resources3574.510.0723830.870.800.150.09210,56819.490.340.230.201.582.39
        Capital outlay00.000.008811.410.300.000.0037,4143.460.060.000.003.304.98
      Parks and recreation6,30979.661.2100.130.00614.15357.711,232,047114.051.960.700.620.000.00
        Capital outlay5006.310.1000.130.0048.6728.35343,94431.840.550.200.170.000.00
      Housing and comm development21,496271.404.1200.130.002,092.521,218.791,825,874169.022.911.611.410.000.00
      Sewerage3,56044.950.6800.130.00346.55201.851,709,529158.252.730.280.250.000.00
        Capital outlay7078.930.1400.130.0068.8240.09806,70374.671.290.120.110.000.00
      Solid waste management11,073139.812.122,827366.679.550.380.22928,85385.981.481.631.434.266.45
        Capital outlay2,05926.000.398911.540.302.251.3169,4136.430.114.053.561.802.72

Governmental administration:
      Financial administration4,25053.660.8145258.631.530.920.53563,15752.130.901.030.911.121.70
      Judicial and legal4125.200.0845759.271.540.090.05172,85616.000.280.330.293.705.60
      General public buildings3,55744.910.6822529.180.761.540.90576,25653.340.920.840.740.550.83
      Other governmental administration5,34467.471.02859111.412.900.610.35794,09373.511.270.920.811.522.29
      Interest on general debt1,85223.380.35910118.033.070.200.121,282,705118.742.050.200.170.991.50

General expenditures, n.e.c.:
      Misc commercial activities1,72021.720.3360.780.0227.9116.2515,3111.420.0215.3213.490.550.83
      Other and unallocable20,925264.194.0133343.191.126.123.561,508,353139.622.401.891.670.310.47

Utility expenditures:
    Utility expenditure163,4872,064.1531.311,066138.263.6014.938.705,632,063521.358.983.963.490.270.40
        Capital outlay13,200166.662.5358075.231.962.221.291,154,184106.841.841.561.370.701.06
      Water supply25,964327.824.971,066138.263.602.371.382,026,286187.573.231.751.540.741.11
      Electric power114,7051,448.2421.9600.130.0011,165.946,503.582,541,405235.254.056.165.420.000.00
      Gas supply19,101241.173.6600.130.001,859.381,082.99131,06112.130.2119.8817.500.000.00
      Transit3,71746.930.7100.130.00361.83210.75933,31186.391.490.540.480.000.00

Liquor store expenditures:
    Liquor store expenditure9,661121.981.8500.130.00940.45547.761,062,08698.311.691.241.090.000.00

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 outstanding94,1571,188.81100.0027,5063,567.57100.000.331.0031,805,4102,944.15100.000.401.001.211.00

  Short-term debt outstanding00.000.0000.130.000.000.0011,4751.060.040.000.000.000.00
  Long-term debt outstanding94,1571,188.81100.0027,5063,567.57100.000.331.0031,793,9352,943.0999.960.401.001.211.00

Long-term debt issued14,268NANA0NANANANA4,470,821NANANANANANA
Long-term debt retired11,708NANA2,348NANANANA4,012,492NANANANANANA


Sources: STI: PopStats and STI: Colossus