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Rusk 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:

5,590.54

The expenses per resident at the local level is:

4,952.43

The outstanding debt per resident at the local level is:

5,206.75

 
RuskWisconsinNational



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

Revenue80,3925,590.54100.00179,0905,755.19100.000.971.0034,463,3795,778.56100.000.971.001.001.00

  General revenue78,7585,476.9197.97159,3605,121.1588.981.071.1032,393,6105,431.5293.991.011.040.940.95

    Intergovernmental revenue42,3382,944.2352.66108,3183,480.8860.480.850.8715,357,2382,574.9944.561.141.181.351.36
      From Federal government1,554108.071.932,70586.931.511.241.281,254,537210.353.640.510.530.410.41
      From State government40,7842,836.1650.73105,6133,393.9558.970.840.8614,102,7012,364.6340.921.201.241.441.44
      From local government00.000.0000.030.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

    General revenue from own sources36,4202,532.6845.3051,0421,640.2728.501.541.5917,036,3722,856.5349.430.890.920.570.58
      Taxes20,8321,448.6825.9140,7301,308.8922.741.111.1411,710,9621,963.6133.980.740.760.670.67
        Property19,1731,333.3123.8540,5751,303.9122.661.021.0510,699,9011,794.0831.050.740.770.730.73
        Sales & gross receipts1,22985.471.53581.860.0345.8547.20692,006116.032.010.740.760.020.02
          General sales1,19082.751.4800.030.002,575.132,650.97567,17495.101.650.870.900.000.00
          Selective sales392.710.05581.860.031.461.50124,83220.930.360.130.130.090.09
            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 sales392.710.05250.800.013.383.48124,72320.910.360.130.130.040.04
        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 taxes43029.900.53973.120.059.599.88271,84045.580.790.660.680.070.07

      Charges & misc general revenue15,5881,084.0119.3910,312331.385.763.273.375,325,410892.9215.451.211.250.370.37
        Current charges7,551525.109.397,197231.284.022.272.343,994,792669.8211.590.780.810.350.35
          Education29820.720.371183.790.075.465.63448,65075.231.300.280.280.050.05
            Institution of higher education00.000.0000.030.000.000.00241,01640.410.700.000.000.000.00
            School lunch sales (gross)1178.140.15511.640.034.965.1147,0547.890.141.031.070.210.21
          Hospitals00.000.0000.030.000.000.0094,84815.900.280.000.000.000.00
          Highways1429.870.181,07734.610.600.290.29201,46933.780.580.290.301.021.03
          Air transportation (airports)292.020.0400.030.0062.7664.60138,36423.200.400.090.090.000.00
          Parking facilities00.000.00431.380.020.000.0050,8528.530.150.000.000.160.16
          Sea and inland port facilities00.000.0000.030.000.000.0010,8981.830.030.000.000.000.00
          Natural resources1,971137.072.4580.260.00533.15548.8551,2468.590.1515.9516.490.030.03
          Parks and recreation16911.750.21240.770.0115.2415.69227,95638.220.660.310.320.020.02
          Housing and comm development46332.200.5800.030.001,001.921,031.4376,14312.770.222.522.610.000.00
          Sewerage1,925133.872.393,936126.492.201.061.091,199,546201.133.480.670.690.630.63
          Solid waste management74952.090.9395230.590.531.701.75325,48254.570.940.950.990.560.56
          Other charges1,805125.522.251,03933.390.583.763.871,169,338196.073.390.640.660.170.17

        Miscellaneous general revenue8,037558.9010.003,115100.101.745.585.751,330,618223.113.862.512.590.450.45
          Interest earnings1,09075.801.3686927.930.492.712.79106,13717.800.314.264.401.571.58
          Special assessments1298.970.1650.160.0055.8357.4772,86112.220.210.730.760.010.01
          Sale of property2,471171.843.0730.100.001,782.401,834.89107,05817.950.319.579.890.010.01
          Other general revenue4,347302.295.412,23871.921.254.204.331,044,562175.143.031.731.780.410.41

  Utility revenue1,634113.632.0319,730634.0411.020.180.182,069,769347.046.010.330.341.831.83
    Water supply1,634113.632.033,113100.041.741.141.17767,667128.722.230.880.910.780.78
    Electric power00.000.0016,617534.009.280.000.001,255,497210.513.640.000.002.542.55
    Gas supply00.000.0000.030.000.000.001,7200.290.000.000.000.000.00
    Transit00.000.0000.030.000.000.0044,8857.530.130.000.000.000.00

  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

Expenditure71,2164,952.43100.00157,5235,062.12100.000.981.0033,895,8785,683.40100.000.871.000.891.00

  Intergovernmental expenditure00.000.0000.030.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
  Direct expenditure71,2164,952.43100.00157,5235,062.12100.000.981.0033,895,8785,683.40100.000.871.000.891.00
    Current operation64,7934,505.7790.98149,0764,790.6794.640.940.9629,067,7744,873.8685.760.921.060.981.10
    Capital outlay4,351302.576.117,322235.304.651.291.313,834,331642.9111.310.470.540.370.41
      Construction4,351302.576.117,322235.304.651.291.313,834,331642.9111.310.470.540.370.41
    Assistance and subsidies00.000.0000.030.000.000.0026,1854.390.080.000.000.000.00
    Interest on debt2,072144.092.911,12536.150.713.994.07967,588162.242.850.891.020.220.25
    Insurance benefits and repayments00.000.0000.030.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
    Exhibit: salaries & wages22,9351,594.9232.2045,1881,452.1528.691.101.127,699,5691,291.0122.721.241.421.121.26

  Direct expenditure by function71,2164,952.43100.00157,5235,062.12100.000.981.0033,895,8785,683.40100.000.871.000.891.00
    Direct general expenditure68,3414,752.5095.96138,3104,444.6987.801.071.0931,551,7115,290.3593.080.901.030.840.94
      Capital outlay4,345302.166.106,337203.644.021.481.523,687,375618.2710.880.490.560.330.37


Education services:
      Other direct general expenditure63,9964,450.3589.86131,9734,241.0583.781.051.0727,864,3364,672.0882.210.951.090.911.02
      Education29,1532,027.3340.94100,1363,217.9463.570.630.6414,857,8232,491.2543.830.810.931.291.45
          Capital outlay1,24886.791.753,218103.412.040.840.861,429,542239.694.220.360.420.430.48
        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 education29,1532,027.3340.94100,1363,217.9463.570.630.6413,416,6822,249.6139.580.901.031.431.61
          Capital outlay1,24886.791.753,218103.412.040.840.861,209,484202.803.570.430.490.510.57
        Other education00.000.0000.030.000.000.0026,1854.390.080.000.000.000.00
      Libraries96867.321.3653517.190.343.924.00342,22257.381.011.171.350.300.34


Social services and income maintenance:
      Public welfare2,938204.314.13682.190.0493.5095.572,139,558358.746.310.570.650.010.01
        Other public welfare2,938204.314.13682.190.0493.5095.572,139,558358.746.310.570.650.010.01
      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
      Health2,819196.043.963029.700.1920.2020.651,270,538213.033.750.921.060.050.05
      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:
      Highways8,615599.1012.1015,570500.359.881.201.222,093,353351.006.181.711.961.431.60
        Capital outlay89061.891.252,53881.561.610.760.78818,322137.212.410.450.520.590.67
      Air transportation (airports)674.660.0900.030.00144.99148.20202,96934.030.600.140.160.000.00
      Parking facilities00.000.00632.020.040.000.0055,4399.300.160.000.000.220.24
      Sea and inland port facilities00.000.0000.030.000.000.0016,2222.720.050.000.000.000.00

Public safety:
      Police protection3,828266.205.382,81890.561.792.943.002,058,925345.226.070.770.880.260.29
      Fire protection1,03471.911.452,65785.381.690.840.86833,098139.692.460.510.590.610.69
      Correction1,651114.812.3200.030.003,572.733,651.85575,09696.431.701.191.370.000.00
        Capital outlay00.000.0000.030.000.000.0018,5083.100.050.000.000.000.00
      Protective inspection & regulation332.290.0500.030.0071.4172.9981,63613.690.240.170.190.000.00

Environment and housing:
      Natural resources463.200.0692029.560.580.110.1121,9673.680.060.871.008.039.01
        Capital outlay00.000.00832.670.050.000.002,9670.500.010.000.005.366.02
      Parks and recreation1,04072.321.461805.780.1112.5012.78747,149125.282.200.580.660.050.05
        Capital outlay594.100.0860.190.0021.2821.75200,42133.610.590.120.140.010.01
      Housing and comm development79054.941.112638.450.176.506.64310,10752.000.911.061.210.160.18
      Sewerage2,399166.833.373,545113.922.251.461.501,295,822217.273.820.770.880.520.59
        Capital outlay16311.340.232197.040.141.611.65254,88742.740.750.270.300.160.18
      Solid waste management1,42298.892.001,17637.790.752.622.67488,12781.851.441.211.390.460.52
        Capital outlay64945.130.911003.210.0614.0414.3636,6096.140.117.358.440.520.59

Governmental administration:
      Financial administration1,542107.232.171,67553.831.061.992.04270,37645.330.802.372.711.191.33
      Judicial and legal1,10977.121.561695.430.1114.2014.51392,67665.841.161.171.340.080.09
      General public buildings90763.071.2795230.590.602.062.11322,71454.110.951.171.340.570.63
      Other governmental administration1,597111.062.242,87092.231.821.201.23629,437105.541.861.051.210.870.98
      Interest on general debt2,033141.382.8556018.000.367.868.03943,542158.212.780.891.030.110.13

General expenditures, n.e.c.:
      Misc commercial activities16111.200.231023.280.063.423.4911,5721.940.035.776.621.691.90
      Other and unallocable4,189291.315.883,749120.482.382.422.471,494,118250.524.411.161.330.480.54

Utility expenditures:
    Utility expenditure2,875199.934.0419,213617.4212.200.320.332,344,167393.056.920.510.581.571.76
        Capital outlay60.420.0198531.650.630.010.01146,95624.640.430.020.021.281.44
      Water supply1,887131.222.653,07098.661.951.331.36783,883131.442.311.001.150.750.84
      Electric power00.000.0016,143518.7710.250.000.001,239,153207.773.660.000.002.502.80
      Gas supply00.000.0000.030.000.000.001,8150.300.010.000.000.000.00
      Transit98868.711.3900.030.002,138.012,185.36319,31653.540.941.281.470.000.00

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 outstanding74,8735,206.75100.0032,3281,038.88100.005.011.0030,812,8175,166.46100.001.011.000.201.00

  Short-term debt outstanding1278.830.17722.310.223.820.76245,30141.130.800.210.210.060.28
  Long-term debt outstanding74,7465,197.9199.8332,2561,036.5799.785.011.0030,567,5165,125.3399.201.011.010.201.01

Long-term debt issued39,436NANA926NANANANA7,807,013NANANANANANA
Long-term debt retired17,735NANA3,633NANANANA6,125,198NANANANANANA


Sources: STI: PopStats and STI: Colossus