RubinBrown Public Sector Stats 2011

Expenses Per Capita

An additional cost pressure for municipalities is capital maintenance. While certain types of maintenance can be deferred in times of economic hardship, repairs to streets and infrastructure and to major buildings must continue. Thus, for St. Louis municipalities, capital outlay as a percentage of total expenditures was 21.1% in 2010, the same percentage as in 2009. Since much of the capital outlay for municipalities is funded by debt issuances, debt per capita for St. Louis municipalities has remained fairly level. As indicated by the chart below, debt per capita for St. Louis municipalities increased from $1,048 in 2009 to $1,070 in 2010. Fortunately, in spite of the economic environment, St. Louis municipalities have managed to maintain sufficient liquidity to meet their ongoing financial needs. The average liquidity ratio for St. Louis municipalities in 2010 was 2.25. Although this represents a decrease from the 2009 average of 2.85, it is a positive sign that liquid assets for area municipalities are more than double their current liabilities. Indeed, 28 of the 34 participating St. Louis municipalities had a liquidity ratio of 2.0 or greater. Kansas City

$980

$952

$964

$924

$917

$896

$895

$868

$885

$840

2007

2008

2009

2010

Average Debt Per Capita

$1300

$1,100

$1,070

$1140

$1,048

$1,041

$980

$820

$660

$500

$885

2007

2008

2009

2010

The 2010 results for the Kansas City area also reflect the consequences of the current economic climate. The average increase in net assets for Kansas City municipalities was 1.2% in 2010, as compared with 2.3% in 2009 and 3.5% in 2008. Of the 24 municipalities surveyed, nine (or 38%) reported a decrease in net assets in 2010, as compared with 30% in 2009. Additionally, in both 2009 and 2010, seven of the Kansas City municipalities surveyed reported negative unrestricted net assets.

As illustrated in the tax revenue per capita chart, tax revenue for Kansas City municipalities actually increased from $660 per capita in 2009 to $668 per capita in 2010. However, this result is still less than the 2008 peak of $688 per capita. Additionally, as illustrated by the expenses per capita chart above, Kansas City area municipalities are subject to the same upward cost pressures that municipalities elsewhere are facing. Expenses per capita for Kansas City municipalities increased from $982 in 2008, to $999 in 2009, to $1,002 in 2010.

Tax Revenues Per Capita

$760

$728

$696

$688

$664

$668

$660

$632

$649

$600

2010

2007

2008

2009

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