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Waukesha 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:

4,701.17

The expenses per resident at the local level is:

4,702.52

The outstanding debt per resident at the local level is:

4,532.41

 
WaukeshaWisconsinNational



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

Revenue1,948,0114,701.17100.00179,0905,755.19100.000.821.0034,463,3795,778.56100.000.811.001.001.00

  General revenue1,874,1884,523.0196.21159,3605,121.1588.980.881.0832,393,6105,431.5293.990.831.020.940.95

    Intergovernmental revenue708,2461,709.2236.36108,3183,480.8860.480.490.6015,357,2382,574.9944.560.660.821.351.36
      From Federal government45,183109.042.322,70586.931.511.251.541,254,537210.353.640.520.640.410.41
      From State government663,0631,600.1834.04105,6133,393.9558.970.470.5814,102,7012,364.6340.920.680.831.441.44
      From local government00.000.0000.030.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00

    General revenue from own sources1,165,9422,813.7959.8551,0421,640.2728.501.722.1017,036,3722,856.5349.430.991.210.570.58
      Taxes872,9342,106.6744.8140,7301,308.8922.741.611.9711,710,9621,963.6133.981.071.320.670.67
        Property836,9852,019.9142.9740,5751,303.9122.661.551.9010,699,9011,794.0831.051.131.380.730.73
        Sales & gross receipts6,60915.950.34581.860.038.5610.48692,006116.032.010.140.170.020.02
          General sales-1-0.00-0.0000.030.00-0.08-0.09567,17495.101.65-0.00-0.000.000.00
          Selective sales6,61015.950.34581.860.038.5610.48124,83220.930.360.760.940.090.09
            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 sales6,61015.950.34250.800.0119.8624.31124,72320.910.360.760.940.040.04
        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 taxes29,34070.811.51973.120.0522.7227.81271,84045.580.791.551.910.070.07

      Charges & misc general revenue293,008707.1215.0410,312331.385.762.132.615,325,410892.9215.450.790.970.370.37
        Current charges211,910511.4110.887,197231.284.022.212.713,994,792669.8211.590.760.940.350.35
          Education41,40299.922.131183.790.0726.3532.26448,65075.231.301.331.630.050.05
            Institution of higher education15,08936.410.7700.030.001,133.151,387.20241,01640.410.700.901.110.000.00
            School lunch sales (gross)7,17117.310.37511.640.0310.5612.9347,0547.890.142.192.700.210.21
          Hospitals00.000.0000.030.000.000.0094,84815.900.280.000.000.000.00
          Highways4,74211.440.241,07734.610.600.330.40201,46933.780.580.340.421.021.03
          Air transportation (airports)1,1532.780.0600.030.0086.59106.00138,36423.200.400.120.150.000.00
          Parking facilities7531.820.04431.380.021.321.6150,8528.530.150.210.260.160.16
          Sea and inland port facilities1900.460.0100.030.0014.2717.4710,8981.830.030.250.310.000.00
          Natural resources9972.410.0580.260.009.3611.4651,2468.590.150.280.340.030.03
          Parks and recreation13,77033.230.71240.770.0143.0952.75227,95638.220.660.871.070.020.02
          Housing and comm development1,3713.310.0700.030.00102.96126.0476,14312.770.220.260.320.000.00
          Sewerage93,723226.184.813,936126.492.201.792.191,199,546201.133.481.121.380.630.63
          Solid waste management18,26144.070.9495230.590.531.441.76325,48254.570.940.810.990.560.56
          Other charges35,54885.791.821,03933.390.582.573.151,169,338196.073.390.440.540.170.17

        Miscellaneous general revenue81,098195.724.163,115100.101.741.962.391,330,618223.113.860.881.080.450.45
          Interest earnings4,70011.340.2486927.930.490.410.50106,13717.800.310.640.781.571.58
          Special assessments4,54910.980.2350.160.0068.3283.6472,86112.220.210.901.100.010.01
          Sale of property10,14224.480.5230.100.00253.88310.80107,05817.950.311.361.680.010.01
          Other general revenue61,707148.923.172,23871.921.252.072.531,044,562175.143.030.851.050.410.41

  Utility revenue73,823178.163.7919,730634.0411.020.280.342,069,769347.046.010.510.631.831.83
    Water supply48,095116.072.473,113100.041.741.161.42767,667128.722.230.901.110.780.78
    Electric power24,78059.801.2716,617534.009.280.110.141,255,497210.513.640.280.352.542.55
    Gas supply00.000.0000.030.000.000.001,7200.290.000.000.000.000.00
    Transit9482.290.0500.030.0071.1987.1544,8857.530.130.300.370.000.00

  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

Expenditure1,948,5694,702.52100.00157,5235,062.12100.000.931.0033,895,8785,683.40100.000.831.000.891.00

  Intergovernmental expenditure00.000.0000.030.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
  Direct expenditure1,948,5694,702.52100.00157,5235,062.12100.000.931.0033,895,8785,683.40100.000.831.000.891.00
    Current operation1,656,8393,998.4885.03149,0764,790.6794.640.830.9029,067,7744,873.8685.760.820.990.981.10
    Capital outlay239,874578.8912.317,322235.304.652.462.653,834,331642.9111.310.901.090.370.41
      Construction239,874578.8912.317,322235.304.652.462.653,834,331642.9111.310.901.090.370.41
    Assistance and subsidies3,4508.330.1800.030.00259.09278.9026,1854.390.081.902.290.000.00
    Interest on debt48,406116.822.481,12536.150.713.233.48967,588162.242.850.720.870.220.25
    Insurance benefits and repayments00.000.0000.030.000.000.0000.000.000.000.000.000.00
    Exhibit: salaries & wages525,1601,267.3826.9545,1881,452.1528.690.870.947,699,5691,291.0122.720.981.191.121.26

  Direct expenditure by function1,948,5694,702.52100.00157,5235,062.12100.000.931.0033,895,8785,683.40100.000.831.000.891.00
    Direct general expenditure1,841,4124,443.9294.50138,3104,444.6987.801.001.0831,551,7115,290.3593.080.841.020.840.94
      Capital outlay214,369517.3411.006,337203.644.022.542.733,687,375618.2710.880.841.010.330.37


Education services:
      Other direct general expenditure1,627,0433,926.5783.50131,9734,241.0583.780.931.0027,864,3364,672.0882.210.841.020.911.02
      Education934,9842,256.4247.98100,1363,217.9463.570.700.7514,857,8232,491.2543.830.911.091.291.45
          Capital outlay46,211111.522.373,218103.412.041.081.161,429,542239.694.220.470.560.430.48
        Higher education84,307203.464.3300.030.006,331.266,815.411,414,956237.254.170.861.040.000.00
          Capital outlay12,54030.260.6400.030.00941.721,013.74220,05836.900.650.820.990.000.00
        Elementary & Secondary education847,2272,044.6343.48100,1363,217.9463.570.640.6813,416,6822,249.6139.580.911.101.431.61
          Capital outlay33,67181.261.733,218103.412.040.790.851,209,484202.803.570.400.480.510.57
        Other education3,4508.330.1800.030.00259.09278.9026,1854.390.081.902.290.000.00
      Libraries25,76062.171.3253517.190.343.623.89342,22257.381.011.081.310.300.34


Social services and income maintenance:
      Public welfare38,93893.972.00682.190.0443.0046.292,139,558358.746.310.260.320.010.01
        Other public welfare38,93893.972.00682.190.0443.0046.292,139,558358.746.310.260.320.010.01
      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
      Health55,843134.772.873029.700.1913.8914.951,270,538213.033.750.630.760.050.05
      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:
      Highways135,363326.676.9515,570500.359.880.650.702,093,353351.006.180.931.121.431.60
        Capital outlay72,469174.893.722,53881.561.612.142.31818,322137.212.411.271.540.590.67
      Air transportation (airports)2,1165.110.1100.030.00158.91171.06202,96934.030.600.150.180.000.00
      Parking facilities1,2402.990.06632.020.041.481.5955,4399.300.160.320.390.220.24
      Sea and inland port facilities1180.280.0100.030.008.869.5416,2222.720.050.100.130.000.00

Public safety:
      Police protection140,413338.867.212,81890.561.793.744.032,058,925345.226.070.981.190.260.29
      Fire protection59,844144.423.072,65785.381.691.691.82833,098139.692.461.031.250.610.69
      Correction20,50049.471.0500.030.001,539.501,657.23575,09696.431.700.510.620.000.00
        Capital outlay1740.420.0100.030.0013.0714.0718,5083.100.050.140.160.000.00
      Protective inspection & regulation8,09819.540.4200.030.00608.14654.6581,63613.690.241.431.730.000.00

Environment and housing:
      Natural resources3,0287.310.1692029.560.580.250.2721,9673.680.061.982.408.039.01
        Capital outlay480.120.00832.670.050.040.052,9670.500.010.230.285.366.02
      Parks and recreation51,362123.952.641805.780.1121.4323.07747,149125.282.200.991.200.050.05
        Capital outlay19,41846.861.0060.190.00243.04261.63200,42133.610.591.391.690.010.01
      Housing and comm development13,67433.000.702638.450.173.904.20310,10752.000.910.630.770.160.18
      Sewerage98,412237.505.053,545113.922.252.082.241,295,822217.273.821.091.320.520.59
        Capital outlay13,46432.490.692197.040.144.624.97254,88742.740.750.760.920.160.18
      Solid waste management27,94967.451.431,17637.790.751.781.92488,12781.851.440.821.000.460.52
        Capital outlay7651.850.041003.210.060.570.6236,6096.140.110.300.360.520.59

Governmental administration:
      Financial administration15,85238.260.811,67553.831.060.710.77270,37645.330.800.841.021.191.33
      Judicial and legal22,53954.391.161695.430.1110.0210.78392,67665.841.160.831.000.080.09
      General public buildings33,74381.431.7395230.590.602.662.87322,71454.110.951.501.820.570.63
      Other governmental administration28,38668.501.462,87092.231.820.740.80629,437105.541.860.650.780.870.98
      Interest on general debt46,754112.832.4056018.000.366.276.75943,542158.212.780.710.860.110.13

General expenditures, n.e.c.:
      Misc commercial activities1,0332.490.051023.280.060.760.8211,5721.940.031.281.551.691.90
      Other and unallocable75,463182.123.873,749120.482.381.511.631,494,118250.524.410.730.880.480.54

Utility expenditures:
    Utility expenditure107,157258.605.5019,213617.4212.200.420.452,344,167393.056.920.660.801.571.76
        Capital outlay25,50561.551.3198531.650.631.942.09146,95624.640.432.503.021.281.44
      Water supply73,510177.403.773,07098.661.951.801.94783,883131.442.311.351.630.750.84
      Electric power24,02857.991.2316,143518.7710.250.110.121,239,153207.773.660.280.342.502.80
      Gas supply00.000.0000.030.000.000.001,8150.300.010.000.000.000.00
      Transit9,61923.210.4900.030.00722.36777.60319,31653.540.940.430.520.000.00

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 outstanding1,878,0834,532.41100.0032,3281,038.88100.004.361.0030,812,8175,166.46100.000.881.000.201.00

  Short-term debt outstanding4,1069.910.22722.310.224.280.98245,30141.130.800.240.270.060.28
  Long-term debt outstanding1,873,9774,522.5199.7832,2561,036.5799.784.361.0030,567,5165,125.3399.200.881.010.201.01

Long-term debt issued583,133NANA926NANANANA7,807,013NANANANANANA
Long-term debt retired373,142NANA3,633NANANANA6,125,198NANANANANANA


Sources: STI: PopStats and STI: Colossus