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Kenai Peninsula Borough – 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:

12,451.74

The expenses per resident at the local level is:

11,084.74

The outstanding debt per resident at the local level is:

2,214.21

 
Kenai PeninsulaAlaskaNational



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

Revenue762,64412,451.74100.005,845,9397,988.92100.001.561.002,344,548,4806,947.35100.001.791.001.151.00

  General revenue744,03412,147.8997.565,559,3397,597.2695.101.601.032,168,968,4006,427.0792.511.891.051.181.03

    Intergovernmental revenue140,6292,296.0618.442,029,9792,774.1234.720.830.53808,559,1482,395.9234.490.960.531.161.01
      From Federal government17,854291.502.34436,541596.577.470.490.31146,274,793433.446.240.670.381.381.20
      From State government122,7752,004.5616.101,593,4382,177.5527.260.920.59662,284,3551,962.4828.251.020.571.110.96
      From local government00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

    General revenue from own sources603,4059,851.8379.123,529,3604,823.1460.372.041.311,360,409,2524,031.1558.022.441.361.201.04
      Taxes172,7782,820.9622.662,137,5342,921.1036.560.970.62894,124,7052,649.4638.141.060.591.100.96
        Property85,5661,397.0411.221,626,8972,223.2827.830.630.40627,434,2421,859.2126.760.750.421.201.04
        Sales & gross receipts86,3371,409.6311.32471,734644.668.072.191.40165,801,503491.307.072.871.601.311.14
          General sales81,7311,334.4310.72287,343392.684.923.402.18125,994,306373.355.373.571.991.050.91
          Selective sales4,60675.200.60184,391251.983.150.300.1939,807,197117.961.700.640.362.141.86
            Motor fuel sales00.000.0012,25016.740.210.000.001,892,6875.610.080.000.002.982.60
            Alcoholic beverage sales00.000.0020,43527.930.350.000.00845,0352.500.040.000.0011.159.70
            Tobacco product sales00.000.0042,81558.510.730.000.00318,8170.940.010.000.0061.9353.86
            Public utilities3,72160.750.4916,82022.990.292.641.7015,744,64746.650.671.300.730.490.43
            Other selective sales88514.450.1292,071125.821.570.110.0721,006,01162.240.900.230.132.021.76
        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 license3806.200.0521,07828.800.360.220.142,263,6136.710.100.920.524.293.73
        Other taxes4958.080.0617,82524.360.300.330.2142,885,228127.081.830.060.040.190.17

      Charges & misc general revenue430,6277,030.8756.471,391,8261,902.0423.813.702.37466,284,5471,381.6919.895.092.841.381.20
        Current charges413,3776,749.2354.201,040,8931,422.4617.814.743.04365,048,3361,081.7115.576.243.481.321.14
          Education2,43239.710.3224,73633.800.421.170.7519,143,89456.730.820.700.390.600.52
            Institution of higher education00.000.001,3601.860.020.000.007,681,25722.760.330.000.000.080.07
            School lunch sales (gross)220.360.001,2021.640.020.220.141,566,4414.640.070.080.040.350.31
          Hospitals378,5386,180.4149.63534,730730.759.158.465.43124,953,811370.265.3316.699.311.971.72
          Highways80.130.004,0365.520.070.020.0210,287,28930.480.440.000.000.180.16
          Air transportation (airports)2,24036.570.2917,02223.260.291.571.0122,414,40266.420.960.550.310.350.30
          Parking facilities4317.040.067,71110.540.130.670.432,924,3498.670.120.810.451.221.06
          Sea and inland port facilities10,182166.241.3470,74896.681.211.721.104,760,82614.110.2011.786.576.855.96
          Natural resources691.130.017591.040.011.090.702,531,1967.500.110.150.080.140.12
          Parks and recreation3,15151.450.4114,45619.760.252.601.679,708,20828.770.411.791.000.690.60
          Housing and comm development00.000.0041,56556.800.710.000.007,308,73521.660.310.000.002.622.28
          Sewerage6,642108.440.87124,411170.022.130.640.4168,695,647203.562.930.530.300.840.73
          Solid waste management63810.420.0895,030129.871.630.080.0521,694,93864.290.930.160.092.021.76
          Other charges9,046147.691.19105,689144.431.811.020.6670,625,041209.283.010.710.390.690.60

        Miscellaneous general revenue17,250281.642.26350,933479.586.000.590.38101,236,211299.984.320.940.521.601.39
          Interest earnings88514.450.12118,227161.572.020.090.0610,227,01630.300.440.480.275.334.64
          Special assessments2,31537.800.305,9398.120.104.662.9915,026,42544.530.640.850.470.180.16
          Sale of property5,74493.780.7523,55332.190.402.911.873,784,73711.210.168.364.672.872.50
          Other general revenue8,306135.611.09203,214277.713.480.490.3172,198,033213.943.080.630.351.301.13

  Utility revenue18,610303.852.44275,066375.904.710.810.52173,592,043514.397.400.590.330.730.64
    Water supply5,90196.350.77122,908167.962.100.570.3780,167,107237.553.420.410.230.710.61
    Electric power12,709207.501.67126,928173.462.171.200.7778,135,733231.533.330.900.500.750.65
    Gas supply00.000.0020,94628.620.360.000.007,630,12322.610.330.000.001.271.10
    Transit00.000.004,2845.850.070.000.007,659,08022.700.330.000.000.260.22

  Liquor store revenue00.000.0011,53415.760.200.000.001,988,0375.890.080.000.002.682.33

  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

Expenditure678,91811,084.74100.006,034,7778,246.98100.001.341.002,254,418,5176,680.28100.001.661.001.231.00

  Intergovernmental expenditure00.000.0000.000.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
  Direct expenditure678,91811,084.74100.006,034,7778,246.98100.001.341.002,254,418,5176,680.28100.001.661.001.231.00
    Current operation638,22710,420.3794.015,093,2796,960.3584.401.501.111,887,390,8875,592.7083.721.861.121.241.01
    Capital outlay34,920570.145.14835,8951,142.3113.850.500.37284,581,195843.2712.620.680.411.351.10
      Construction34,920570.145.14835,8951,142.3113.850.500.37284,581,195843.2712.620.680.411.351.10
    Assistance and subsidies00.000.00-121-0.17-0.00-0.00-0.002,376,9447.040.110.000.00-0.02-0.02
    Interest on debt5,77194.220.85105,724144.481.750.650.4980,069,491237.263.550.400.240.610.49
    Insurance benefits and repayments00.000.0000.000.000.000.0039,9940.120.000.000.000.000.00
    Exhibit: salaries & wages132,3952,161.6219.501,210,2621,653.9120.051.310.97525,546,0041,557.2923.311.390.841.060.86

  Direct expenditure by function678,91811,084.74100.006,034,7778,246.98100.001.341.002,254,418,5176,680.28100.001.661.001.231.00
    Direct general expenditure662,23310,812.3297.545,610,3477,666.9692.971.411.052,024,660,7925,999.4689.811.801.091.281.04
      Capital outlay34,050555.945.02736,9031,007.0312.210.550.41233,677,777692.4310.370.800.481.451.18


Education services:
      Other direct general expenditure628,18310,256.3892.534,873,4446,659.9380.761.541.151,790,983,0155,307.0379.441.931.161.251.02
      Education160,4752,620.0923.642,120,6962,898.0935.140.900.67862,837,2522,556.7538.271.020.621.130.92
          Capital outlay1,45023.670.21147,205201.172.440.120.0989,314,081264.653.960.090.050.760.62
        Higher education00.000.0018,89725.820.310.000.0046,067,730136.512.040.000.000.190.15
          Capital outlay00.000.009601.310.020.000.005,394,84215.990.240.000.000.080.07
        Elementary & Secondary education160,4752,620.0923.642,101,9202,872.4334.830.910.68814,392,5782,413.2036.121.090.651.190.96
          Capital outlay1,45023.670.21146,245199.852.420.120.0983,919,239248.673.720.100.060.800.65
        Other education00.000.00-121-0.17-0.00-0.00-0.002,376,9447.040.110.000.00-0.02-0.02
      Libraries3,05549.880.4535,72348.820.591.020.7613,625,82240.380.601.240.741.210.98


Social services and income maintenance:
      Public welfare2023.300.0310,56414.440.180.230.1767,699,317200.613.000.020.010.070.06
        Other public welfare2023.300.0310,56414.440.180.230.1767,699,317200.613.000.020.010.070.06
      Hospitals328,6155,365.3248.40519,306709.678.617.565.62141,312,054418.736.2712.817.721.691.37
        Capital outlay6,541106.800.9625,12734.340.423.112.316,546,84619.400.295.513.321.771.43
      Health12,203199.241.80208,266284.613.450.700.5277,108,561228.493.420.870.531.251.01
      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:
      Highways15,422251.802.27254,470347.754.220.720.5482,616,882244.813.661.030.621.421.15
        Capital outlay4,26169.570.63101,131138.201.680.500.3730,060,50189.081.330.780.471.551.26
      Air transportation (airports)4,49973.460.6640,01854.690.661.341.0028,556,24984.621.270.870.520.650.52
      Parking facilities811.320.015,7527.860.100.170.132,108,1706.250.090.210.131.261.02
      Sea and inland port facilities6,793110.911.00145,761199.192.420.560.414,034,90811.960.189.285.5916.6613.50

Public safety:
      Police protection14,433235.652.13257,470351.854.270.670.50119,298,947353.515.290.670.401.000.81
      Fire protection27,200444.104.01269,830368.744.471.200.9064,033,823189.742.842.341.411.941.57
      Correction1,32721.670.208,49711.610.141.871.3932,595,24396.591.450.220.140.120.10
        Capital outlay00.000.00930.130.000.000.00915,2972.710.040.000.000.050.04
      Protective inspection & regulation3024.930.0416,68022.790.280.220.167,062,87020.930.310.240.141.090.88

Environment and housing:
      Natural resources1,22620.020.189,24612.640.151.581.1813,342,66139.540.590.510.310.320.26
        Capital outlay84013.710.121,6822.300.035.974.444,485,96313.290.201.030.620.170.14
      Parks and recreation8,105132.331.19124,401170.002.060.780.5843,717,263129.541.941.020.621.311.06
        Capital outlay94615.450.1417,23923.560.290.660.4910,096,60129.920.450.520.310.790.64
      Housing and comm development3565.810.05284,337388.574.710.010.0158,336,344172.862.590.030.022.251.82
      Sewerage5,55490.680.82130,033177.702.150.510.3868,504,527202.993.040.450.270.880.71
        Capital outlay5609.140.0845,99662.860.760.150.1123,319,98269.101.030.130.080.910.74
      Solid waste management8,936145.901.32145,354198.642.410.730.5528,653,83084.911.271.721.042.341.90
        Capital outlay1,80829.520.2760,08782.111.000.360.271,863,1165.520.085.353.2214.8712.05

Governmental administration:
      Financial administration10,402169.831.53133,506182.452.210.930.6923,707,42470.251.052.421.462.602.10
      Judicial and legal1,39522.780.2121,77829.760.360.770.5727,887,73782.641.240.280.170.360.29
      General public buildings1,01216.520.1524,19233.060.400.500.3713,643,40540.430.610.410.250.820.66
      Other governmental administration10,967179.061.62140,779192.392.330.930.6937,267,357110.431.651.620.981.741.41
      Interest on general debt5,43088.660.8091,259124.711.510.710.5366,807,524197.962.960.450.270.630.51

General expenditures, n.e.c.:
      Misc commercial activities100.160.0025,70635.130.430.000.002,707,8798.020.120.020.014.383.55
      Other and unallocable34,233558.925.04586,723801.809.720.700.52137,158,796406.436.081.380.831.971.60

Utility expenditures:
    Utility expenditure16,685272.422.46416,811569.606.910.480.36228,078,201675.8410.120.400.240.840.68
        Capital outlay87014.200.1398,992135.281.640.110.0850,897,505150.822.260.090.060.900.73
      Water supply5,12183.610.75141,398193.232.340.430.3282,479,587244.403.660.340.210.790.64
      Electric power11,462187.141.69155,095211.952.570.880.6673,696,368218.383.270.860.520.970.79
      Gas supply1021.670.0261,71784.341.020.020.017,182,24421.280.320.080.053.963.21
      Transit00.000.0058,60180.080.970.000.0064,720,002191.782.870.000.000.420.34

Liquor store expenditures:
    Liquor store expenditure00.000.007,61910.410.130.000.001,679,5244.980.070.000.002.091.69

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 outstanding135,6162,214.21100.003,015,7984,121.32100.000.541.002,042,775,1706,053.14100.000.371.000.681.00

  Short-term debt outstanding00.000.008,75511.960.290.000.0028,356,92884.031.390.000.000.140.21
  Long-term debt outstanding135,6162,214.21100.003,007,0434,109.3599.710.541.002,014,418,2425,969.1198.610.371.010.691.01

Long-term debt issued3,080NANA420,380NANANANA264,717,314NANANANANANA
Long-term debt retired20,829NANA397,786NANANANA218,916,559NANANANANANA


Sources: STI: PopStats and STI: Colossus