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Walworth 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:

5,351.43

The expenses per resident at the local level is:

5,141.53

The outstanding debt per resident at the local level is:

4,600.78

 
WalworthWisconsinNational



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

Revenue578,7795,351.43100.00179,0905,755.19100.000.931.0034,463,3795,778.56100.000.931.001.001.00

  General revenue550,5395,090.3295.12159,3605,121.1588.980.991.0732,393,6105,431.5293.990.941.010.940.95

    Intergovernmental revenue201,9991,867.7034.90108,3183,480.8860.480.540.5815,357,2382,574.9944.560.730.781.351.36
      From Federal government19,935184.323.442,70586.931.512.122.281,254,537210.353.640.880.950.410.41
      From State government182,0641,683.3831.46105,6133,393.9558.970.500.5314,102,7012,364.6340.920.710.771.441.44
      From local government00.000.0000.030.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

    General revenue from own sources348,5403,222.6360.2251,0421,640.2728.501.962.1117,036,3722,856.5349.431.131.220.570.58
      Taxes265,0132,450.3345.7940,7301,308.8922.741.872.0111,710,9621,963.6133.981.251.350.670.67
        Property238,6682,206.7441.2440,5751,303.9122.661.691.8210,699,9011,794.0831.051.231.330.730.73
        Sales & gross receipts19,082176.433.30581.860.0394.66101.80692,006116.032.011.521.640.020.02
          General sales13,408123.972.3200.030.003,857.744,148.80567,17495.101.651.301.410.000.00
          Selective sales5,67452.460.98581.860.0328.1530.27124,83220.930.362.512.710.090.09
            Motor fuel sales00.000.0000.030.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
            Alcoholic beverage sales00.000.0000.030.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
            Tobacco product sales00.000.0000.030.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
            Public utilities00.000.00331.060.020.000.001090.020.000.000.0058.0258.26
            Other selective sales5,67452.460.98250.800.0165.3070.23124,72320.910.362.512.710.040.04
        Individual income tax00.000.0000.030.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
        Corporate income tax00.000.0000.030.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
        Motor vehicle license00.000.0000.030.000.000.0047,2157.920.140.000.000.000.00
        Other taxes7,26367.151.25973.120.0521.5423.17271,84045.580.791.471.590.070.07

      Charges & misc general revenue83,527772.3014.4310,312331.385.762.332.515,325,410892.9215.450.860.930.370.37
        Current charges66,287612.8911.457,197231.284.022.652.853,994,792669.8211.590.920.990.350.35
          Education4,45141.150.771183.790.0710.8511.67448,65075.231.300.550.590.050.05
            Institution of higher education00.000.0000.030.000.000.00241,01640.410.700.000.000.000.00
            School lunch sales (gross)8327.690.14511.640.034.695.0547,0547.890.140.981.050.210.21
          Hospitals00.000.0000.030.000.000.0094,84815.900.280.000.000.000.00
          Highways7526.950.131,07734.610.600.200.22201,46933.780.580.210.221.021.03
          Air transportation (airports)890.820.0200.030.0025.6127.54138,36423.200.400.040.040.000.00
          Parking facilities2,80725.950.48431.380.0218.7820.2050,8528.530.153.043.290.160.16
          Sea and inland port facilities2332.150.0400.030.0067.0472.1010,8981.830.031.181.270.000.00
          Natural resources5775.330.1080.260.0020.7522.3251,2468.590.150.620.670.030.03
          Parks and recreation3,91736.220.68240.770.0146.9650.50227,95638.220.660.951.020.020.02
          Housing and comm development3803.510.0700.030.00109.33117.5876,14312.770.220.280.300.000.00
          Sewerage27,687256.004.783,936126.492.202.022.181,199,546201.133.481.271.370.630.63
          Solid waste management4,63942.890.8095230.590.531.401.51325,48254.570.940.790.850.560.56
          Other charges20,755191.903.591,03933.390.585.756.181,169,338196.073.390.981.060.170.17

        Miscellaneous general revenue17,240159.402.983,115100.101.741.591.711,330,618223.113.860.710.770.450.45
          Interest earnings1,80916.730.3186927.930.490.600.64106,13717.800.310.941.011.571.58
          Special assessments2472.280.0450.160.0014.2115.2972,86112.220.210.190.200.010.01
          Sale of property8067.450.1430.100.0077.3083.13107,05817.950.310.420.450.010.01
          Other general revenue14,378132.942.482,23871.921.251.851.991,044,562175.143.030.760.820.410.41

  Utility revenue28,240261.114.8819,730634.0411.020.410.442,069,769347.046.010.750.811.831.83
    Water supply15,619144.412.703,113100.041.741.441.55767,667128.722.231.121.210.780.78
    Electric power12,534115.892.1716,617534.009.280.220.231,255,497210.513.640.550.592.542.55
    Gas supply00.000.0000.030.000.000.001,7200.290.000.000.000.000.00
    Transit870.800.0200.030.0025.0326.9244,8857.530.130.110.120.000.00

  Liquor store revenue00.000.0000.030.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

  Insurance trust revenue00.000.0000.030.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
    Unemployment compensation00.000.0000.030.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
    Employee retirement00.000.0000.030.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
    Workers' compensation00.000.0000.030.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
    Other insurance trust revenue00.000.0000.030.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

Expenditure556,0775,141.53100.00157,5235,062.12100.001.021.0033,895,8785,683.40100.000.901.000.891.00

  Intergovernmental expenditure00.000.0000.030.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
  Direct expenditure556,0775,141.53100.00157,5235,062.12100.001.021.0033,895,8785,683.40100.000.901.000.891.00
    Current operation465,9454,308.1683.79149,0764,790.6794.640.900.8929,067,7744,873.8685.760.880.980.981.10
    Capital outlay75,796700.8213.637,322235.304.652.982.933,834,331642.9111.311.091.200.370.41
      Construction75,796700.8213.637,322235.304.652.982.933,834,331642.9111.311.091.200.370.41
    Assistance and subsidies00.000.0000.030.000.000.0026,1854.390.080.000.000.000.00
    Interest on debt14,336132.552.581,12536.150.713.673.61967,588162.242.850.820.900.220.25
    Insurance benefits and repayments00.000.0000.030.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
    Exhibit: salaries & wages178,6641,651.9432.1345,1881,452.1528.691.141.127,699,5691,291.0122.721.281.411.121.26

  Direct expenditure by function556,0775,141.53100.00157,5235,062.12100.001.021.0033,895,8785,683.40100.000.901.000.891.00
    Direct general expenditure527,1774,874.3294.80138,3104,444.6987.801.101.0831,551,7115,290.3593.080.921.020.840.94
      Capital outlay75,796700.8213.636,337203.644.023.443.393,687,375618.2710.881.131.250.330.37


Education services:
      Other direct general expenditure451,3814,173.5081.17131,9734,241.0583.780.980.9727,864,3364,672.0882.210.890.990.911.02
      Education245,4112,269.0944.13100,1363,217.9463.570.710.6914,857,8232,491.2543.830.911.011.291.45
          Capital outlay17,125158.343.083,218103.412.041.531.511,429,542239.694.220.660.730.430.48
        Higher education00.000.0000.030.000.000.001,414,956237.254.170.000.000.000.00
          Capital outlay00.000.0000.030.000.000.00220,05836.900.650.000.000.000.00
        Elementary & Secondary education245,4112,269.0944.13100,1363,217.9463.570.710.6913,416,6822,249.6139.581.011.111.431.61
          Capital outlay17,125158.343.083,218103.412.041.531.511,209,484202.803.570.780.860.510.57
        Other education00.000.0000.030.000.000.0026,1854.390.080.000.000.000.00
      Libraries7,06765.341.2753517.190.343.803.74342,22257.381.011.141.260.300.34


Social services and income maintenance:
      Public welfare24,178223.554.35682.190.04102.30100.722,139,558358.746.310.620.690.010.01
        Other public welfare24,178223.554.35682.190.04102.30100.722,139,558358.746.310.620.690.010.01
      Hospitals00.000.0000.030.000.000.0097,22516.300.290.000.000.000.00
        Capital outlay00.000.0000.030.000.000.007,4611.250.020.000.000.000.00
      Health15,679144.972.823029.700.1914.9414.711,270,538213.033.750.680.750.050.05
      Social insurance administration00.000.0000.030.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
      Veterans' services00.000.0000.030.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

Transportaion:
      Highways50,606467.919.1015,570500.359.880.940.922,093,353351.006.181.331.471.431.60
        Capital outlay34,672320.586.242,53881.561.613.933.87818,322137.212.412.342.580.590.67
      Air transportation (airports)3793.500.0700.030.00109.05107.36202,96934.030.600.100.110.000.00
      Parking facilities6506.010.12632.020.042.972.9255,4399.300.160.650.710.220.24
      Sea and inland port facilities790.730.0100.030.0022.7322.3816,2222.720.050.270.300.000.00

Public safety:
      Police protection43,421401.477.812,81890.561.794.434.362,058,925345.226.071.161.290.260.29
      Fire protection12,024111.172.162,65785.381.691.301.28833,098139.692.460.800.880.610.69
      Correction10,19694.271.8300.030.002,933.592,888.28575,09696.431.700.981.080.000.00
        Capital outlay320.300.0100.030.009.219.0618,5083.100.050.100.110.000.00
      Protective inspection & regulation2,11119.520.3800.030.00607.38597.9981,63613.690.241.431.580.000.00

Environment and housing:
      Natural resources1,30412.060.2392029.560.580.410.4021,9673.680.063.273.628.039.01
        Capital outlay1561.440.03832.670.050.540.532,9670.500.012.903.205.366.02
      Parks and recreation16,076148.642.891805.780.1125.7025.30747,149125.282.201.191.310.050.05
        Capital outlay8,71780.601.5760.190.00418.01411.55200,42133.610.592.402.650.010.01
      Housing and comm development2,44722.630.442638.450.172.682.64310,10752.000.910.440.480.160.18
      Sewerage24,267224.374.363,545113.922.251.971.941,295,822217.273.821.031.140.520.59
        Capital outlay1,53014.150.282197.040.142.011.98254,88742.740.750.330.370.160.18
      Solid waste management7,71771.351.391,17637.790.751.891.86488,12781.851.440.870.960.460.52
        Capital outlay7426.860.131003.210.062.132.1036,6096.140.111.121.240.520.59

Governmental administration:
      Financial administration6,40959.261.151,67553.831.061.101.08270,37645.330.801.311.441.191.33
      Judicial and legal7,30867.571.311695.430.1112.4412.25392,67665.841.161.031.130.080.09
      General public buildings5,21048.170.9495230.590.601.571.55322,71454.110.950.890.980.570.63
      Other governmental administration10,28595.101.852,87092.231.821.031.02629,437105.541.860.901.000.870.98
      Interest on general debt14,271131.952.5756018.000.367.337.22943,542158.212.780.830.920.110.13

General expenditures, n.e.c.:
      Misc commercial activities2492.300.041023.280.060.700.6911,5721.940.031.191.311.691.90
      Other and unallocable19,833183.383.573,749120.482.381.521.501,494,118250.524.410.730.810.480.54

Utility expenditures:
    Utility expenditure28,900267.215.2019,213617.4212.200.430.432,344,167393.056.920.680.751.571.76
        Capital outlay00.000.0098531.650.630.000.00146,95624.640.430.000.001.281.44
      Water supply15,256141.062.743,07098.661.951.431.41783,883131.442.311.071.190.750.84
      Electric power12,588116.392.2616,143518.7710.250.220.221,239,153207.773.660.560.622.502.80
      Gas supply00.000.0000.030.000.000.001,8150.300.010.000.000.000.00
      Transit1,0569.760.1900.030.00303.83299.14319,31653.540.940.180.200.000.00

Liquor store expenditures:
    Liquor store expenditure00.000.0000.030.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

Insurance trust expenditures:
    Insurance trust expenditure00.000.0000.030.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
      Unemployment compensation00.000.0000.030.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
      Employee retirement00.000.0000.030.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
      Workers' compensation00.000.0000.030.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
      Other insurance trust00.000.0000.030.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

Debt outstanding497,5934,600.78100.0032,3281,038.88100.004.431.0030,812,8175,166.46100.000.891.000.201.00

  Short-term debt outstanding4,80244.400.97722.310.2219.194.33245,30141.130.801.081.210.060.28
  Long-term debt outstanding492,7914,556.3899.0332,2561,036.5799.784.400.9930,567,5165,125.3399.200.891.000.201.01

Long-term debt issued88,028NANA926NANANANA7,807,013NANANANANANA
Long-term debt retired66,701NANA3,633NANANANA6,125,198NANANANANANA


Sources: STI: PopStats and STI: Colossus