Cents & Sensibility Chapter 5: Why Budgets Grow Over Time
Press release from Alachua County
ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. — With all the discussion happening across Florida about local government budgets, Alachua County is joining the conversation through this series: Cents & Sensibility: Alachua County’s Budget in Eight Chapters.
Ch. 5: Why Budgets Grow Over Time
When people hear that the County’s budget has grown, it’s easy to assume government is expanding. Most of that growth, however, stems from increasing costs — not necessarily from new programs. Budget growth means keeping pace with inflation, population growth, and the rising costs of providing the same services to more people.
Census data from the past five years shows Alachua County’s population has grown by about 8%, while regional inflation has increased by roughly 21%. In some cases, costs for goods and services far exceed that. Paired together, that means the same level of service now costs more than it did five years ago, even without any new additions.
Catch up on previous chapters:
Ch. 3: Understanding Property Taxes
Ch. 2: What is the General Fund?
Ch. 1: Public Influence & the Budget
“Why Budgets Grow Over Time”
Because leftist enjoy spending other peoples $$$!
The taxpayer funded prose from Chapter 4 was curious because it didn’t mention any of the unfunded mandates flowing to the County budget from the city of Gainesville’s welcome mat to out-of-county criminal hobo’s.