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Covington 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:

6,931.91

The expenses per resident at the local level is:

6,865.14

The outstanding debt per resident at the local level is:

3,778.59

 
CovingtonAlabamaNational



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

Revenue263,1776,931.91100.0029,760,7085,797.75100.001.201.002,344,548,4806,947.35100.001.001.000.831.00

  General revenue143,1853,771.4054.4126,246,1355,113.0788.190.740.622,168,968,4006,427.0792.510.590.590.800.95

    Intergovernmental revenue82,4292,171.1331.3210,299,9062,006.5534.611.080.90808,559,1482,395.9234.490.910.910.841.00
      From Federal government3,13782.631.191,498,086291.855.030.280.24146,274,793433.446.240.190.190.670.81
      From State government79,2922,088.5030.138,801,8201,714.7029.581.221.02662,284,3551,962.4828.251.061.070.871.05
      From local government00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

    General revenue from own sources60,7561,600.2723.0915,946,2293,106.5253.580.520.431,360,409,2524,031.1558.020.400.400.770.92
      Taxes43,5221,146.3416.547,579,5241,476.5825.470.780.65894,124,7052,649.4638.140.430.430.560.67
        Property13,954367.545.303,040,037592.2410.210.620.52627,434,2421,859.2126.760.200.200.320.38
        Sales & gross receipts21,764573.258.273,645,916710.2712.250.810.68165,801,503491.307.071.171.171.451.73
          General sales18,961499.427.203,105,580605.0110.440.830.69125,994,306373.355.371.341.341.621.94
          Selective sales2,80373.831.07540,336105.261.820.700.5939,807,197117.961.700.630.630.891.07
            Motor fuel sales65717.300.25127,94624.930.430.690.581,892,6875.610.083.093.094.445.33
            Alcoholic beverage sales52913.930.2051,99310.130.171.381.15845,0352.500.045.565.584.054.85
            Tobacco product sales2396.300.0928,1485.480.091.150.96318,8170.940.016.666.685.806.96
            Public utilities2586.800.10132,84025.880.450.260.2215,744,64746.650.670.150.150.550.66
            Other selective sales1,12029.500.43199,40938.850.670.760.6421,006,01162.240.900.470.470.620.75
        Individual income tax00.000.00137,08326.710.460.000.0044,730,192132.541.910.000.000.200.24
        Corporate income tax00.000.0000.000.000.000.0011,009,92732.620.470.000.000.000.00
        Motor vehicle license1223.210.0519,3643.770.070.850.712,263,6136.710.100.480.480.560.67
        Other taxes7,682202.342.92737,124143.602.481.411.1842,885,228127.081.831.591.601.131.35

      Charges & misc general revenue17,234453.936.558,366,7051,629.9428.110.280.23466,284,5471,381.6919.890.330.331.181.41
        Current charges10,089265.743.837,271,1961,416.5224.430.190.16365,048,3361,081.7115.570.250.251.311.57
          Education3,45290.921.31290,48556.590.981.611.3419,143,89456.730.821.601.611.001.20
            Institution of higher education00.000.0000.000.000.000.007,681,25722.760.330.000.000.000.00
            School lunch sales (gross)3689.690.1447,5069.250.161.050.881,566,4414.640.072.092.091.992.39
          Hospitals00.000.005,301,2821,032.7517.810.000.00124,953,811370.265.330.000.002.793.34
          Highways00.000.0011,8342.310.040.000.0010,287,28930.480.440.000.000.080.09
          Air transportation (airports)882.320.03129,69125.270.440.090.0822,414,40266.420.960.030.030.380.46
          Parking facilities00.000.0011,9712.330.040.000.002,924,3498.670.120.000.000.270.32
          Sea and inland port facilities00.000.0000.000.000.000.004,760,82614.110.200.000.000.000.00
          Natural resources00.000.003230.060.000.000.002,531,1967.500.110.000.000.010.01
          Parks and recreation55214.540.2180,15015.610.270.930.789,708,20828.770.410.510.510.540.65
          Housing and comm development69218.230.2677,42215.080.261.211.017,308,73521.660.310.840.840.700.83
          Sewerage2,93077.171.11669,316130.392.250.590.5068,695,647203.562.930.380.380.640.77
          Solid waste management89623.600.34261,47250.940.880.460.3921,694,93864.290.930.370.370.790.95
          Other charges1,47938.960.56437,25085.181.470.460.3870,625,041209.283.010.190.190.410.49

        Miscellaneous general revenue7,145188.192.711,095,509213.423.680.880.74101,236,211299.984.320.630.630.710.85
          Interest earnings1,77046.620.67134,86026.270.451.771.4810,227,01630.300.441.541.540.871.04
          Special assessments00.000.0040,7767.940.140.000.0015,026,42544.530.640.000.000.180.21
          Sale of property60916.040.23104,27420.310.350.790.663,784,73711.210.161.431.431.812.17
          Other general revenue4,766125.531.81815,599158.892.740.790.6672,198,033213.943.080.590.590.740.89

  Utility revenue119,9923,160.5145.593,514,573684.6811.814.623.86173,592,043514.397.406.146.161.331.59
    Water supply5,915155.802.251,101,532214.593.700.730.6180,167,107237.553.420.660.660.901.08
    Electric power40,8841,076.8615.531,950,181379.926.552.832.3778,135,733231.533.334.654.661.641.97
    Gas supply73,1931,927.8627.81459,46289.511.5421.5418.017,630,12322.610.3385.2785.463.964.74
    Transit00.000.003,3980.660.010.000.007,659,08022.700.330.000.000.030.03

  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

Expenditure260,6426,865.14100.0028,336,6685,520.33100.001.241.002,254,418,5176,680.28100.001.031.000.831.00

  Intergovernmental expenditure00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
  Direct expenditure260,6426,865.14100.0028,336,6685,520.33100.001.241.002,254,418,5176,680.28100.001.031.000.831.00
    Current operation234,0156,163.8089.7824,291,3084,732.2485.721.301.051,887,390,8875,592.7083.721.101.070.851.02
    Capital outlay21,458565.198.233,373,377657.1811.900.860.69284,581,195843.2712.620.670.650.780.94
      Construction21,458565.198.233,373,377657.1811.900.860.69284,581,195843.2712.620.670.650.780.94
    Assistance and subsidies00.000.0000.000.000.000.002,376,9447.040.110.000.000.000.00
    Interest on debt5,169136.151.98671,983130.912.371.040.8480,069,491237.263.550.570.560.550.67
    Insurance benefits and repayments00.000.0000.000.000.000.0039,9940.120.000.000.000.000.00
    Exhibit: salaries & wages41,7601,099.9316.027,927,2071,544.3227.980.710.57525,546,0041,557.2923.310.710.690.991.20

  Direct expenditure by function260,6426,865.14100.0028,336,6685,520.33100.001.241.002,254,418,5176,680.28100.001.031.000.831.00
    Direct general expenditure154,6044,072.1759.3225,033,9214,876.9188.340.830.672,024,660,7925,999.4689.810.680.660.810.98
      Capital outlay15,031395.915.772,950,363574.7710.410.690.55233,677,777692.4310.370.570.560.831.00


Education services:
      Other direct general expenditure139,5733,676.2653.5522,083,5584,302.1577.930.850.691,790,983,0155,307.0379.440.690.670.810.98
      Education82,2082,165.3131.549,947,3331,937.8635.101.120.90862,837,2522,556.7538.270.850.820.760.92
          Capital outlay7,676202.182.95957,663186.563.381.080.8789,314,081264.653.960.760.740.700.85
        Higher education00.000.0000.000.000.000.0046,067,730136.512.040.000.000.000.00
          Capital outlay00.000.0000.000.000.000.005,394,84215.990.240.000.000.000.00
        Elementary & Secondary education82,2082,165.3131.549,947,3331,937.8635.101.120.90814,392,5782,413.2036.120.900.870.800.97
          Capital outlay7,676202.182.95957,663186.563.381.080.8783,919,239248.673.720.810.790.750.91
        Other education00.000.0000.000.000.000.002,376,9447.040.110.000.000.000.00
      Libraries451.190.02100,70719.620.360.060.0513,625,82240.380.600.030.030.490.59


Social services and income maintenance:
      Public welfare00.000.0052,94610.310.190.000.0067,699,317200.613.000.000.000.050.06
        Other public welfare00.000.0052,94610.310.190.000.0067,699,317200.613.000.000.000.050.06
      Hospitals00.000.006,014,3141,171.6621.220.000.00141,312,054418.736.270.000.002.803.39
        Capital outlay00.000.00694,991135.392.450.000.006,546,84619.400.290.000.006.988.45
      Health2,93677.331.13584,908113.952.060.680.5577,108,561228.493.420.340.330.500.60
      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:
      Highways16,500434.606.33978,810190.683.452.281.8382,616,882244.813.661.781.730.780.94
        Capital outlay80.210.00196,67438.310.690.010.0030,060,50189.081.330.000.000.430.52
      Air transportation (airports)66317.460.25142,73027.810.500.630.5128,556,24984.621.270.210.200.330.40
      Parking facilities00.000.0016,8223.280.060.000.002,108,1706.250.090.000.000.520.63
      Sea and inland port facilities00.000.0000.000.000.000.004,034,90811.960.180.000.000.000.00

Public safety:
      Police protection14,006368.915.371,320,870257.324.661.431.15119,298,947353.515.291.041.020.730.88
      Fire protection57315.090.22602,373117.352.130.130.1064,033,823189.742.840.080.080.620.75
      Correction120.320.00195,79338.140.690.010.0132,595,24396.591.450.000.000.390.48
        Capital outlay00.000.001,5860.310.010.000.00915,2972.710.040.000.000.110.14
      Protective inspection & regulation20.050.0052,71210.270.190.010.007,062,87020.930.310.000.000.490.59

Environment and housing:
      Natural resources100.260.0017,4443.400.060.080.0613,342,66139.540.590.010.010.090.10
        Capital outlay00.000.008,9951.750.030.000.004,485,96313.290.200.000.000.130.16
      Parks and recreation1,50339.590.58454,03788.451.600.450.3643,717,263129.541.940.310.300.680.83
        Capital outlay00.000.0040,2977.850.140.000.0010,096,60129.920.450.000.000.260.32
      Housing and comm development2,41963.710.93647,046126.052.280.510.4158,336,344172.862.590.370.360.730.88
      Sewerage8,346219.833.20513,590100.051.812.201.7768,504,527202.993.041.081.050.490.60
        Capital outlay3,45691.031.33154,17730.040.543.032.4423,319,98269.101.031.321.280.430.53
      Solid waste management3,825100.751.47358,72369.881.271.441.1628,653,83084.911.271.191.150.821.00
        Capital outlay00.000.0027,5755.370.100.000.001,863,1165.520.080.000.000.971.18

Governmental administration:
      Financial administration6,197163.222.38331,88964.661.172.522.0323,707,42470.251.052.322.260.921.11
      Judicial and legal53914.200.21187,40436.510.660.390.3127,887,73782.641.240.170.170.440.53
      General public buildings2135.610.08111,81021.780.390.260.2113,643,40540.430.610.140.140.540.65
      Other governmental administration5,879154.852.26548,299106.821.931.451.1737,267,357110.431.651.401.360.971.17
      Interest on general debt4,149109.281.59549,311107.011.941.020.8266,807,524197.962.960.550.540.540.65

General expenditures, n.e.c.:
      Misc commercial activities120.320.0015,0482.930.050.110.092,707,8798.020.120.040.040.370.44
      Other and unallocable4,567120.291.751,289,002251.114.550.480.39137,158,796406.436.080.300.290.620.75

Utility expenditures:
    Utility expenditure106,0382,792.9740.683,302,747643.4211.664.343.49228,078,201675.8410.124.134.020.951.15
        Capital outlay6,427169.282.47423,01482.411.492.051.6550,897,505150.822.261.121.090.550.66
      Water supply4,760125.381.831,061,343206.763.750.610.4982,479,587244.403.660.510.500.851.02
      Electric power34,941920.3213.411,752,771341.466.192.702.1773,696,368218.383.274.214.101.561.89
      Gas supply66,3361,747.2525.45409,69379.811.4521.8917.607,182,24421.280.3282.1079.893.754.54
      Transit10.030.0078,94015.380.280.000.0064,720,002191.782.870.000.000.080.10

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 outstanding143,4583,778.59100.0020,063,8883,908.69100.000.971.002,042,775,1706,053.14100.000.621.000.651.00

  Short-term debt outstanding6,454169.994.50343,97467.011.712.542.6228,356,92884.031.392.023.240.801.24
  Long-term debt outstanding137,0043,608.6095.5019,719,9143,841.6898.290.940.972,014,418,2425,969.1198.610.600.970.641.00

Long-term debt issued1,176NANA2,661,454NANANANA264,717,314NANANANANANA
Long-term debt retired10,417NANA2,514,404NANANANA218,916,559NANANANANANA


Sources: STI: PopStats and STI: Colossus