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:: Newton County ::

Government

Quick Facts
2004 Population
81,524
2006 Job Tax Credit Tier
3
2005 Tax Millage Rate
31.7
Legal Organ
The Covington News
Form of Government
Traditional Commission
Service Delivery Region
Region 5
Congressional and Legislative Districts





  • Newton County collected $32.9 million in total revenues in 2000. In 2004, the county received $45.8 million, an increase of 39.3%. Total revenue in 2004 equaled $599 per capita. The statewide revenue per capita for this same year was $736.
  • From 2000 to 2004, own source revenues for Newton County rose from $31.3 million to $43.6 million, an increase of 39.3%. Own source revenues include revenues from property taxes, sales taxes, and excise and special use taxes. Per capita own source revenues amounted to $570 in 2004. This compares to a statewide per capita amount of $631.
  • The county collected an average of $241 per capita in property taxes during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $213 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 45.0% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 2000 to 2004.
  • General operating expenditures for Newton County in 2000 equaled $21.3 million, or $344 per capita. By 2004, general operating expenditures increased by 49.7% to $31.9 million, or $515 per capita. General operating expenditures per capita for counties with similarly-sized populations was $568 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, Newton County spent $12.4 million or 30.8% of total county spending on public safety which includes law enforcement, fire services and jails. Expenditures for administration totaled $5.8 million, amounting to 14.4% of total expenditures. The county expended $1.7 million or 4.3% of total expenditures on health and human services.
  • From 2000 to 2004, Newton County had an average of $57.2 million in long-term debt outstanding, resulting in an average per capita debt of $798. This amount was greater than the $497 per capita average of counties with similarly-sized populations.
      

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