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:: Athens-Clarke County ::

Government

Quick Facts
2004 Population
103,951
2006 Job Tax Credit Tier
0
2005 Tax Millage Rate
33.05
Legal Organ
Athens Banner Herald
Form of Government
Manager
Service Delivery Region
Region 5
Congressional and Legislative Districts





  • Athens-Clarke County collected $116.5 million in total revenues in 2000. In 2004, the county received $130.1 million, an increase of 11.7%. Total revenue in 2004 equaled $1,262 per capita. The statewide revenue per capita for this same year was $736.
  • From 2000 to 2004, own source revenues for Athens-Clarke County rose from $97.9 million to $112.0 million, an increase of 14.4%. Own source revenues include revenues from property taxes, sales taxes, and excise and special use taxes. Per capita own source revenues amounted to $1,086 in 2004. This compares to a statewide per capita amount of $631.
  • The county collected an average of $293 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 30.0% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 2000 to 2004.
  • General operating expenditures for Athens-Clarke County in 2000 equaled $78.8 million, or $776 per capita. By 2004, general operating expenditures increased by 16.4% to $91.7 million, or $904 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, Athens-Clarke County spent $37.1 million or 30.2% of total county spending on public safety which includes law enforcement, fire services and jails. Expenditures for administration totaled $17.4 million, amounting to 14.2% of total expenditures. The county expended $8.4 million or 6.8% of total expenditures on health and human services.
  • From 2000 to 2004, Athens-Clarke County had an average of $58.7 million in long-term debt outstanding, resulting in an average per capita debt of $571. This amount was less than the $718 per capita average of counties with similarly-sized populations.
      

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