Understanding Local Government Revenues

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Understanding Local Government Revenues
Expenditures
Tim Kelsey
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Two Main Questions

• Where do local governments get their money?
• Where do local governments spend their money?

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Where Do Local Governments Get Their Money?

• Local taxes
• Intergovernmental grants
• Fees for services

Many options are limited by law
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Available Taxes, by Jurisdiction
Can levy one or the other, but not both
simultaneously
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Sources of County Revenues in PA, 1999
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Sources of Municipal Revenues in PA, 1999
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Where Do Local Governments Spend Their Money?

• Mandatory programs
• those _at_! unfunded mandates!!!
• Discretionary programs

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County Spending in PA, 1999
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Municipal Spending in PA, 1999
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Where Does YOUR Local Government Get and Spend
Its Money?
Hands-on Exercise
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Where They Get their Money
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Where They Spend their Money
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Discussion Questions

• What surprised you about your findings?
• Where does most of the money come from? Why?
• Where does most of the money go? Why?
• So what does this mean about local government and
  leadership? What control do local leaders have?

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Where They Get their Money
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Where They Spend their Money