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:: Cherokee County ::

Government

Quick Facts
2004 Population
174,680
2006 Job Tax Credit Tier
4
2005 Tax Millage Rate
26.84
Legal Organ
The Cherokee County Tribune
Form of Government
Manager
Service Delivery Region
Region 3
Congressional and Legislative Districts





  • Cherokee County collected $68.1 million in total revenues in 2000. In 2004, the county received $102.3 million, an increase of 50.2%. Total revenue in 2004 equaled $586 per capita. The statewide revenue per capita for this same year was $736.
  • From 2000 to 2004, own source revenues for Cherokee County rose from $63.1 million to $98.4 million, an increase of 55.9%. Own source revenues include revenues from property taxes, sales taxes, and excise and special use taxes. Per capita own source revenues amounted to $563 in 2004. This compares to a statewide per capita amount of $631.
  • The county collected an average of $222 per capita in property taxes during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $333 per capita collected by counties with similarly-sized populations. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $288. On average, property taxes accounted for 44.0% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 2000 to 2004.
  • General operating expenditures for Cherokee County in 2000 equaled $48.6 million, or $342 per capita. By 2004, general operating expenditures increased by 58.9% to $77.2 million, or $544 per capita. General operating expenditures per capita for counties with similarly-sized populations was $692 in 2004. The statewide average was $626 per capita during the same period.
  • Historically, the top three expenditure categories for counties are public safety, administration, and health and human services. In 2004, Cherokee County spent $34.3 million or 34.6% of total county spending on public safety which includes law enforcement, fire services and jails. Expenditures for administration totaled $9.8 million, amounting to 9.9% of total expenditures. The county expended $9.0 million or 9.1% of total expenditures on health and human services.
  • From 2000 to 2004, Cherokee County had an average of $22.3 million in long-term debt outstanding, resulting in an average per capita debt of $140. This amount was less than the $718 per capita average of counties with similarly-sized populations.
      

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