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Geauga 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:

4,060.26

The expenses per resident at the local level is:

4,117.33

The outstanding debt per resident at the local level is:

1,625.85

 
GeaugaOhioNational



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

Revenue391,5764,060.26100.0050,6714,578.57100.000.891.0069,621,5015,860.07100.000.691.000.781.00

  General revenue388,0184,023.3799.0948,7794,407.6196.270.911.0366,240,3705,575.4895.140.721.040.791.01

    Intergovernmental revenue102,4541,062.3526.1619,8011,789.1939.080.590.6722,295,5961,876.6332.020.570.820.951.22
      From Federal government8,74290.652.232,936265.295.790.340.393,674,613309.295.280.290.420.861.10
      From State government93,712971.7023.9316,8651,523.9033.280.640.7218,620,9831,567.3426.750.620.890.971.24
      From local government00.000.0000.090.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

    General revenue from own sources285,5642,961.0272.9328,9782,618.4257.191.131.2843,944,7743,698.8563.120.801.160.710.91
      Taxes238,1052,468.9260.8123,0492,082.6845.491.191.3430,196,4932,541.6543.370.971.400.821.05
        Property193,0842,002.0949.3121,8821,977.2343.181.011.1419,004,8061,599.6427.301.251.811.241.58
        Sales & gross receipts21,868226.755.5895786.471.892.622.963,465,159291.664.980.781.120.300.38
          General sales19,804205.355.0600.090.002,272.592,562.693,032,324255.234.360.801.160.000.00
          Selective sales2,06421.400.5395786.471.890.250.28432,83536.430.620.590.852.373.04
            Motor fuel sales1,98920.620.5100.090.00228.25257.38181,05415.240.261.351.950.000.00
            Alcoholic beverage sales140.150.0000.090.001.611.8123,7772.000.030.070.100.000.00
            Tobacco product sales00.000.0000.090.000.000.00860.010.000.000.000.000.00
            Public utilities120.120.0000.090.001.381.5549,1274.140.070.030.040.000.00
            Other selective sales490.510.0195786.471.890.010.01178,79115.050.260.030.055.757.35
        Individual income tax13,222137.103.3800.090.001,517.281,710.966,542,877550.729.400.250.360.000.00
        Corporate income tax4,84450.231.2400.090.00555.87626.83400,42033.700.581.492.150.000.00
        Motor vehicle license2,43825.280.62322.890.068.749.86126,35710.640.182.383.430.270.35
        Other taxes2,64927.470.6817816.080.351.711.93656,87455.290.940.500.720.290.37

      Charges & misc general revenue47,459492.1012.125,929535.7411.700.921.0413,748,2811,157.2019.750.430.610.460.59
        Current charges29,164302.407.454,213380.688.310.790.909,520,809801.3713.680.380.540.480.61
          Education3,61837.520.9262256.201.230.670.751,182,65899.541.700.380.540.560.72
            Institution of higher education00.000.0000.090.000.000.00154,06312.970.220.000.000.000.00
            School lunch sales (gross)5866.080.15121.080.025.606.3269,2185.830.101.041.510.190.24
          Hospitals00.000.0000.090.000.000.002,207,849185.843.170.000.000.000.00
          Highways2142.220.0580.720.023.073.4626,7292.250.040.991.420.320.41
          Air transportation (airports)2092.170.05151.360.031.601.80297,14325.010.430.090.130.050.07
          Parking facilities00.000.0000.090.000.000.0050,2834.230.070.000.000.000.00
          Sea and inland port facilities00.000.0000.090.000.000.0030,0652.530.040.000.000.000.00
          Natural resources991.030.0320.180.005.686.4117,5131.470.030.701.010.120.16
          Parks and recreation1,67317.350.43232.080.058.359.41306,69025.810.440.670.970.080.10
          Housing and comm development9139.470.2300.090.00104.77118.14159,83313.450.230.701.020.000.00
          Sewerage10,595109.862.711,955176.653.860.620.702,701,814227.413.880.480.700.780.99
          Solid waste management2452.540.0678470.841.550.040.04385,36032.440.550.080.112.182.80
          Other charges11,598120.262.9680472.651.591.661.872,154,872181.383.100.660.960.400.51

        Miscellaneous general revenue18,295189.704.671,716155.063.391.221.384,227,472355.836.070.530.770.440.56
          Interest earnings1,67117.330.4319917.980.390.961.09638,87953.770.920.320.470.330.43
          Special assessments3303.420.0811210.120.220.340.38423,07235.610.610.100.140.280.36
          Sale of property3353.470.09262.350.051.481.67106,4198.960.150.390.560.260.34
          Other general revenue15,959165.484.081,379124.602.721.331.503,059,102257.494.390.640.930.480.62

  Utility revenue3,55836.890.911,892170.963.730.220.243,381,131284.594.860.130.190.600.77
    Water supply3,55336.840.911,892170.963.730.220.242,153,662181.273.090.200.290.941.21
    Electric power50.050.0000.090.000.570.651,109,75993.411.590.000.000.000.00
    Gas supply00.000.0000.090.000.000.0040,0523.370.060.000.000.000.00
    Transit00.000.0000.090.000.000.0077,6586.540.110.000.000.000.00

  Liquor store revenue00.000.0000.090.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

  Insurance trust revenue00.000.0000.090.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
    Unemployment compensation00.000.0000.090.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
    Employee retirement00.000.0000.090.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
    Workers' compensation00.000.0000.090.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
    Other insurance trust revenue00.000.0000.090.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

Expenditure397,0794,117.33100.0054,7074,943.25100.000.831.0065,665,7965,527.11100.000.741.000.891.00

  Intergovernmental expenditure00.000.0000.090.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
  Direct expenditure397,0794,117.33100.0054,7074,943.25100.000.831.0065,665,7965,527.11100.000.741.000.891.00
    Current operation323,2603,351.8981.4139,3783,558.1571.980.941.1356,808,9134,781.6386.510.700.940.740.83
    Capital outlay67,836703.3917.0814,2751,289.8726.090.550.656,831,721575.0310.401.221.642.242.51
      Construction67,836703.3917.0814,2751,289.8726.090.550.656,831,721575.0310.401.221.642.242.51
    Assistance and subsidies00.000.0000.090.000.000.0027,0862.280.040.000.000.000.00
    Interest on debt5,98362.041.511,05495.241.930.650.781,998,076168.183.040.370.500.570.63
    Insurance benefits and repayments00.000.0000.090.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
    Exhibit: salaries & wages97,8811,014.9324.6512,6731,145.1223.170.891.0618,856,0281,587.1228.720.640.860.720.81

  Direct expenditure by function397,0794,117.33100.0054,7074,943.25100.000.831.0065,665,7965,527.11100.000.741.000.891.00
    Direct general expenditure393,6174,081.4399.1353,4034,825.4397.620.851.0261,880,2675,208.4994.240.781.050.931.04
      Capital outlay67,600700.9517.0214,2361,286.3526.020.540.656,198,554521.739.441.341.802.472.76


Education services:
      Other direct general expenditure326,0173,380.4882.1039,1673,539.0871.590.961.1555,681,7134,686.7584.800.720.970.760.84
      Education174,8171,812.6844.0334,9413,157.2263.870.570.6929,428,0372,476.9744.810.730.981.271.43
          Capital outlay31,866330.428.0312,6641,144.3023.150.290.352,629,434221.324.001.492.005.175.78
        Higher education00.000.0000.090.000.000.00621,41352.300.950.000.000.000.00
          Capital outlay00.000.0000.090.000.000.0039,1993.300.060.000.000.000.00
        Elementary & Secondary education174,8171,812.6844.0334,9413,157.2263.870.570.6928,779,5382,422.3843.830.751.001.301.46
          Capital outlay31,866330.428.0312,6641,144.3023.150.290.352,590,235218.023.941.522.035.255.87
        Other education00.000.0000.090.000.000.0027,0862.280.040.000.000.000.00
      Libraries11,141115.522.8150445.540.922.543.05549,99546.290.842.503.350.981.10


Social services and income maintenance:
      Public welfare34,435357.068.6750.450.01790.31948.852,542,104213.973.871.672.240.000.00
        Other public welfare34,435357.068.6750.450.01790.31948.852,542,104213.973.871.672.240.000.00
      Hospitals00.000.0000.090.000.000.001,949,640164.102.970.000.000.000.00
        Capital outlay00.000.0000.090.000.000.0045,7773.850.070.000.000.000.00
      Health7,45177.261.881,292116.742.360.660.791,910,430160.802.910.480.640.730.81
      Social insurance administration00.000.0000.090.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
      Veterans' services00.000.0000.090.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

Transportaion:
      Highways28,258293.017.123,372304.696.160.961.152,548,171214.483.881.371.831.421.59
        Capital outlay5,54957.541.4062856.751.151.011.22812,86268.421.240.841.130.830.93
      Air transportation (airports)1,11911.600.28232.080.045.586.70351,02329.550.530.390.530.070.08
      Parking facilities00.000.0000.090.000.000.0069,0325.810.110.000.000.000.00
      Sea and inland port facilities00.000.0000.090.000.000.0046,3403.900.070.000.000.000.00

Public safety:
      Police protection27,208282.126.853,739337.856.830.841.003,799,347319.795.790.881.181.061.18
      Fire protection12,220126.713.0876268.851.391.842.212,296,880193.333.500.660.880.360.40
      Correction00.000.00443.980.080.000.00471,17239.660.720.000.000.100.11
        Capital outlay00.000.0000.090.000.000.0027,3542.300.040.000.000.000.00
      Protective inspection & regulation1431.480.04443.980.080.370.4584,0627.080.130.210.280.560.63

Environment and housing:
      Natural resources99110.280.2533830.540.620.340.40122,54610.310.191.001.342.963.31
        Capital outlay3513.640.0990.810.024.485.3728,5822.410.041.512.030.340.38
      Parks and recreation13,858143.693.4918816.990.348.4610.161,525,021128.362.321.121.500.130.15
        Capital outlay3,80239.420.9600.090.00436.30523.82346,82529.190.531.351.810.000.00
      Housing and comm development2,38024.680.6000.090.00273.11327.902,157,729181.623.290.140.180.000.00
      Sewerage10,887112.892.741,01391.531.851.231.482,493,380209.873.800.540.720.440.49
        Capital outlay4204.350.1120818.790.380.230.28750,00663.131.140.070.090.300.33
      Solid waste management1141.180.0366460.001.210.020.02604,59850.890.920.020.031.181.32
        Capital outlay00.000.0000.090.000.000.0043,8453.690.070.000.000.000.00

Governmental administration:
      Financial administration1,30213.500.3355049.701.010.270.33886,61174.631.350.180.240.670.74
      Judicial and legal24,053249.416.061,572142.042.871.762.111,573,958132.482.401.882.531.071.20
      General public buildings1,46315.170.3750445.540.920.330.40309,50626.050.470.580.781.751.95
      Other governmental administration5,33955.361.341,04294.151.900.590.711,243,137104.641.890.530.710.901.01
      Interest on general debt5,84460.601.4781373.461.490.820.991,825,563153.662.780.390.530.480.53

General expenditures, n.e.c.:
      Misc commercial activities2172.250.0561855.841.130.040.0596,2538.100.150.280.376.897.71
      Other and unallocable30,377314.987.651,375124.242.512.543.042,995,732252.154.561.251.680.490.55

Utility expenditures:
    Utility expenditure3,46235.900.871,304117.832.380.300.373,785,529318.635.760.110.150.370.41
        Capital outlay2362.450.06393.520.070.690.83633,16753.290.960.050.060.070.07
      Water supply3,46235.900.871,304117.832.380.300.371,913,337161.052.910.220.300.730.82
      Electric power00.000.0000.090.000.000.001,039,12587.461.580.000.000.000.00
      Gas supply00.000.0000.090.000.000.0038,5483.240.060.000.000.000.00
      Transit00.000.0000.090.000.000.00794,51966.871.210.000.000.000.00

Liquor store expenditures:
    Liquor store expenditure00.000.0000.090.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

Insurance trust expenditures:
    Insurance trust expenditure00.000.0000.090.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
      Unemployment compensation00.000.0000.090.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
      Employee retirement00.000.0000.090.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
      Workers' compensation00.000.0000.090.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
      Other insurance trust00.000.0000.090.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

Debt outstanding156,7991,625.85100.0031,9932,890.85100.000.561.0038,878,6943,272.43100.000.501.000.881.00

  Short-term debt outstanding1721.780.1100.090.0019.7435.09287,00424.160.740.070.150.000.00
  Long-term debt outstanding156,6271,624.0799.8931,9932,890.85100.000.561.0038,591,6903,248.2899.260.501.010.891.01

Long-term debt issued15,115NANA0NANANANA2,925,328NANANANANANA
Long-term debt retired7,478NANA1,205NANANANA3,781,560NANANANANANA


Sources: STI: PopStats and STI: Colossus