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Bexar 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:

7,391.48

The expenses per resident at the local level is:

7,230.25

The outstanding debt per resident at the local level is:

10,950.6

 
BexarTexasNational



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

Revenue15,372,4377,391.48100.00189,136,4146,243.92100.001.181.002,344,548,4806,947.35100.001.061.000.901.00

  General revenue12,065,2755,801.3178.49171,676,1125,667.5190.771.020.862,168,968,4006,427.0792.510.900.850.880.98

    Intergovernmental revenue3,859,2661,855.6425.1154,635,0101,803.6628.891.030.87808,559,1482,395.9234.490.770.730.750.84
      From Federal government713,321342.984.649,977,359329.385.281.040.88146,274,793433.446.240.790.740.760.85
      From State government3,145,9451,512.6520.4644,657,6511,474.2723.611.030.87662,284,3551,962.4828.250.770.720.750.84
      From local government00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

    General revenue from own sources8,206,0093,945.6753.38117,041,1023,863.8661.881.020.861,360,409,2524,031.1558.020.980.920.961.07
      Taxes5,172,0002,486.8433.6481,428,4142,688.1843.050.930.78894,124,7052,649.4638.140.940.881.011.13
        Property4,183,2612,011.4227.2167,076,5902,214.3935.460.910.77627,434,2421,859.2126.761.081.021.191.33
        Sales & gross receipts878,241422.285.7112,934,886427.026.840.990.84165,801,503491.307.070.860.810.870.97
          General sales731,209351.584.7610,358,485341.965.481.030.87125,994,306373.355.370.940.890.921.02
          Selective sales147,03270.700.962,576,40185.051.360.830.7039,807,197117.961.700.600.560.720.80
            Motor fuel sales00.000.0000.000.000.000.001,892,6875.610.080.000.000.000.00
            Alcoholic beverage sales00.000.0000.000.000.000.00845,0352.500.040.000.000.000.00
            Tobacco product sales00.000.0000.000.000.000.00318,8170.940.010.000.000.000.00
            Public utilities39,09118.800.251,259,10941.570.670.450.3815,744,64746.650.670.400.380.890.99
            Other selective sales107,94151.900.701,317,29243.490.701.191.0121,006,01162.240.900.830.780.700.78
        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 license21,63510.400.14358,06711.820.190.880.742,263,6136.710.101.551.461.761.96
        Other taxes88,86342.730.581,058,87134.960.561.221.0342,885,228127.081.830.340.320.280.31

      Charges & misc general revenue3,034,0091,458.8319.7435,612,6881,175.6718.831.241.05466,284,5471,381.6919.891.060.990.850.95
        Current charges2,468,4201,186.8816.0629,102,963960.7715.391.241.04365,048,3361,081.7115.571.101.030.890.99
          Education107,59051.730.701,899,10262.691.000.830.7019,143,89456.730.820.910.861.111.23
            Institution of higher education51,18824.610.33972,03832.090.510.770.657,681,25722.760.331.081.021.411.57
            School lunch sales (gross)6,8833.310.04242,7988.020.130.410.351,566,4414.640.070.710.671.731.92
          Hospitals1,477,921710.629.6110,667,487352.165.642.021.70124,953,811370.265.331.921.800.951.06
          Highways1,3080.630.012,280,71175.291.210.010.0110,287,28930.480.440.020.022.472.75
          Air transportation (airports)102,07849.080.662,183,99672.101.150.680.5822,414,40266.420.960.740.691.091.21
          Parking facilities7,1513.440.0539,0131.290.022.672.262,924,3498.670.120.400.370.150.17
          Sea and inland port facilities1,0180.490.01842,59027.820.450.020.014,760,82614.110.200.030.031.972.19
          Natural resources37,49518.030.24269,1268.880.142.031.712,531,1967.500.112.402.261.181.32
          Parks and recreation23,58811.340.15558,38618.430.300.620.529,708,20828.770.410.390.370.640.71
          Housing and comm development44,61721.450.29410,89413.560.221.581.347,308,73521.660.310.990.930.630.70
          Sewerage308,643148.402.014,940,055163.092.610.910.7768,695,647203.562.930.730.690.800.89
          Solid waste management145,91470.160.951,807,26459.660.961.180.9921,694,93864.290.931.091.030.931.03
          Other charges211,097101.501.373,204,339105.781.690.960.8170,625,041209.283.010.490.460.510.56

        Miscellaneous general revenue565,589271.953.686,509,725214.903.441.271.07101,236,211299.984.320.910.850.720.80
          Interest earnings60,08328.890.39892,05129.450.470.980.8310,227,01630.300.440.950.900.971.08
          Special assessments13,0466.270.08676,53222.330.360.280.2415,026,42544.530.640.140.130.500.56
          Sale of property100,27448.210.65373,64412.340.203.913.303,784,73711.210.164.304.041.101.22
          Other general revenue392,186188.572.554,567,498150.792.411.251.0672,198,033213.943.080.880.830.700.78

  Utility revenue3,307,1621,590.1721.5117,460,302576.419.232.762.33173,592,043514.397.403.092.911.121.25
    Water supply531,247255.443.468,565,539282.774.530.900.7680,167,107237.553.421.081.011.191.32
    Electric power2,544,4771,223.4516.558,398,220277.254.444.413.7378,135,733231.533.335.284.971.201.33
    Gas supply218,071104.851.42348,05411.490.189.137.717,630,12322.610.334.644.360.510.57
    Transit13,3676.430.09148,4894.900.081.311.117,659,08022.700.330.280.270.220.24

  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

Expenditure15,037,1177,230.25100.00183,600,5956,061.17100.001.191.002,254,418,5176,680.28100.001.081.000.911.00

  Intergovernmental expenditure00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
  Direct expenditure15,037,1177,230.25100.00183,600,5956,061.17100.001.191.002,254,418,5176,680.28100.001.081.000.911.00
    Current operation11,647,6345,600.4977.46142,788,0894,713.8477.771.191.001,887,390,8875,592.7083.721.000.930.840.93
    Capital outlay2,566,5171,234.0517.0730,683,1671,012.9416.711.221.02284,581,195843.2712.621.461.351.201.32
      Construction2,566,5171,234.0517.0730,683,1671,012.9416.711.221.02284,581,195843.2712.621.461.351.201.32
    Assistance and subsidies19,6879.470.13254,0058.390.141.130.952,376,9447.040.111.341.241.191.31
    Interest on debt803,279386.245.349,875,334326.015.381.180.9980,069,491237.263.551.631.501.371.51
    Insurance benefits and repayments00.000.0000.000.000.000.0039,9940.120.000.000.000.000.00
    Exhibit: salaries & wages2,637,2581,268.0617.5449,047,2761,619.1926.710.780.66525,546,0041,557.2923.310.810.751.041.15

  Direct expenditure by function15,037,1177,230.25100.00183,600,5956,061.17100.001.191.002,254,418,5176,680.28100.001.081.000.911.00
    Direct general expenditure11,461,3875,510.9476.22162,103,8395,351.5088.291.030.862,024,660,7925,999.4689.810.920.850.890.98
      Capital outlay1,527,869734.6410.1625,177,810831.1913.710.880.74233,677,777692.4310.371.060.981.201.32


Education services:
      Other direct general expenditure9,933,5184,776.3066.06136,926,0294,520.3174.581.060.891,790,983,0155,307.0379.440.900.830.850.94
      Education4,638,0052,230.0830.8475,805,0492,502.5441.290.890.75862,837,2522,556.7538.270.870.810.981.08
          Capital outlay623,186299.644.1412,425,471410.206.770.730.6189,314,081264.653.961.131.051.551.71
        Higher education561,068269.783.735,791,987191.213.151.411.1846,067,730136.512.041.981.831.401.54
          Capital outlay195,70694.101.30928,60030.660.513.072.575,394,84215.990.245.895.441.922.11
        Elementary & Secondary education4,057,2501,950.8326.9869,759,0572,302.9438.000.850.71814,392,5782,413.2036.120.810.750.951.05
          Capital outlay427,480205.542.8411,496,871379.546.260.540.4583,919,239248.673.720.830.761.531.68
        Other education19,6879.470.13254,0058.390.141.130.952,376,9447.040.111.341.241.191.31
      Libraries46,11522.170.31642,85221.220.351.040.8813,625,82240.380.600.550.510.530.58


Social services and income maintenance:
      Public welfare187,23090.031.25938,57230.980.512.912.4467,699,317200.613.000.450.410.150.17
        Other public welfare187,23090.031.25938,57230.980.512.912.4467,699,317200.613.000.450.410.150.17
      Hospitals2,297,3691,104.6415.2817,161,996566.579.351.951.63141,312,054418.736.272.642.441.351.49
        Capital outlay226,221108.771.50814,39826.890.444.053.396,546,84619.400.295.615.181.391.53
      Health192,40192.511.284,160,032137.332.270.670.5677,108,561228.493.420.400.370.600.66
      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:
      Highways262,181126.061.746,203,312204.793.380.620.5282,616,882244.813.660.510.480.840.92
        Capital outlay59,44928.580.402,779,05591.741.510.310.2630,060,50189.081.330.320.301.031.14
      Air transportation (airports)85,18040.960.572,420,10879.891.320.510.4328,556,24984.621.270.480.450.941.04
      Parking facilities7,9203.810.0534,4161.140.023.352.812,108,1706.250.090.610.560.180.20
      Sea and inland port facilities4430.210.00863,56328.510.470.010.014,034,90811.960.180.020.022.382.63

Public safety:
      Police protection557,904268.263.718,551,490282.314.660.950.80119,298,947353.515.290.760.700.800.88
      Fire protection378,013181.762.514,560,674150.562.481.211.0164,033,823189.742.840.960.890.790.87
      Correction109,96552.870.732,909,59996.051.580.550.4632,595,24396.591.450.550.510.991.10
        Capital outlay3,8201.840.0396,8913.200.050.570.48915,2972.710.040.680.631.181.30
      Protective inspection & regulation14,8857.160.10396,38213.090.220.550.467,062,87020.930.310.340.320.630.69

Environment and housing:
      Natural resources128,76461.910.861,592,29252.570.871.180.9913,342,66139.540.591.571.451.331.47
        Capital outlay53,19025.580.35811,45526.790.440.950.804,485,96313.290.201.921.782.022.22
      Parks and recreation201,20896.751.342,695,77789.001.471.090.9143,717,263129.541.940.750.690.690.76
        Capital outlay44,78721.530.30625,88020.660.341.040.8710,096,60129.920.450.720.670.690.76
      Housing and comm development436,839210.042.913,502,524115.631.911.821.5258,336,344172.862.591.221.120.670.74
      Sewerage333,656160.432.225,245,364173.162.860.930.7868,504,527202.993.040.790.730.850.94
        Capital outlay170,89482.171.142,328,83276.881.271.070.9023,319,98269.101.031.191.101.111.23
      Solid waste management149,79272.021.001,872,54661.821.021.170.9828,653,83084.911.270.850.780.730.80
        Capital outlay5,4392.620.04136,1894.500.070.580.491,863,1165.520.080.470.440.810.90

Governmental administration:
      Financial administration132,58063.750.881,487,78049.120.811.301.0923,707,42470.251.050.910.840.700.77
      Judicial and legal202,02597.141.342,970,22898.061.620.990.8327,887,73782.641.241.181.091.191.31
      General public buildings32,81115.780.221,088,56535.940.590.440.3713,643,40540.430.610.390.360.890.98
      Other governmental administration64,12630.830.432,877,33494.991.570.320.2737,267,357110.431.650.280.260.860.95
      Interest on general debt513,397246.863.417,935,595261.984.320.940.7966,807,524197.962.961.251.151.321.46

General expenditures, n.e.c.:
      Misc commercial activities5870.280.0042,6031.410.020.200.172,707,8798.020.120.040.030.180.19
      Other and unallocable487,991234.643.256,145,186202.873.351.160.97137,158,796406.436.080.580.530.500.55

Utility expenditures:
    Utility expenditure3,575,7301,719.3123.7821,496,756709.6711.712.422.03228,078,201675.8410.122.542.351.051.16
        Capital outlay1,038,648499.416.915,505,357181.753.002.752.3050,897,505150.822.263.313.061.211.33
      Water supply593,301285.283.959,941,038328.185.410.870.7382,479,587244.403.661.171.081.341.48
      Electric power2,157,6951,037.4814.358,047,311265.664.383.913.2773,696,368218.383.274.754.391.221.34
      Gas supply547,445263.233.64681,55322.500.3711.709.817,182,24421.280.3212.3711.431.061.17
      Transit277,289133.331.842,826,85493.321.541.431.2064,720,002191.782.870.700.640.490.54

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 outstanding22,774,53110,950.60100.00263,146,5928,687.21100.001.261.002,042,775,1706,053.14100.001.811.001.441.00

  Short-term debt outstanding981,494471.934.318,582,496283.333.261.671.3228,356,92884.031.395.623.103.372.35
  Long-term debt outstanding21,793,03710,478.6895.69254,564,0968,403.8896.741.250.992,014,418,2425,969.1198.611.760.971.410.98

Long-term debt issued1,939,617NANA34,560,525NANANANA264,717,314NANANANANANA
Long-term debt retired2,212,879NANA25,495,098NANANANA218,916,559NANANANANANA


Sources: STI: PopStats and STI: Colossus