Taking a Look at the City of Atlanta

Booker T. Washington is one of the most respected and influential African American figures in American history, Mr. Washington was born into slavery and was freed by the Emancipation Proclamation. His peaceful personality along with his exceptional education in many different studies turned him into a well-rounded individual. Washington wanted blacks and whites to become partners and strive for both races to succeed. He delivered his most famous speech in 1895 known as the “Atlanta Compromise”. In Atlanta Georgia, Mr. Washington expresses himself with exceptional rhetoric and tone throughout his speech. He states that African Americans should take benefit of what they know and endeavor

I grew up and spent most of my life living up north in Waldorf, Maryland, as my mother and step father are employed by the U.S Military. They were stationed on Andrews Air Force Base for eight years, but in 2006 they were both moved to Robins Air Force Base, in Warner Robins, Georgia. During this time I moved to Atlanta to live with my dad for a year, before moving to Warner Robins to live with my mom again. Upon arriving in the small city of Warner Robins, I noticed a big difference in the population, social life, and education.

"In 2004, property tax collections in the U.S. exceeded $300 billion. Property taxes are responsible for approximately 72% of all local tax revenues, representing the most important tax revenue source for local governments" (as cited in Shan, 2010, p.195).

This memo is to serve as description of how the economy can impact projections related to revenues and expenditures in regards to the city budget. Several examples will be provided including explanations on why these items can have a tumultuous effect on the city budget. These examples include the effect property taxes and income taxes had on our fiscal stability as well as how even with proper accounting and financial reporting, the budget still fell victim to the economy.

Property tax is a charge on property that the owner is responsible for paying. The tax is constructed on the value of the property one owns and is often estimated by local or municipal governments. When paying a property tax bill, the money goes to a number of important programs, city employees, police officers, firefighters, and public works departments also receive pay. The property tax money is used to pay for parks, traffic construction, street lights, sidewalks, and public transportation. Imposing a cap on property taxes would not only impact communities but it will also create several major problems. Cities would be affected and unable to hire employees in the public safety, since salaries and other benefits would be increased. A cap would reduce job establishment and damage the state's economic growth. The cap would also create more traffic problems by limiting

Facing tough budget decisions in advance, various cities, and county have two options: raise taxes or reduce services. Furthermore, there has not been a tax increase in a long period, county officials have alleged. They recognized this day would come. The administrator distressed and diagnosed the circumstances where they provide the primary inspection and repairs.

The city of Long Beach has an abundance of culture, resources, diversity and means. This reflection is what attracts many people to visit downtown, attend school and other surrounding vicinities. At the close of Fiscal Year 2015, “the City’s assets increased $118.9 million, or 3.5 percent from the prior fiscal year. Citywide, assets increased $282.3 million or 5.0 percent” (Finance, 2016). The report also states, “sales tax revenues increased 8.6 percent or $5.1 million. Other taxes, inclusive of transient occupancy and business taxes increased 937 percent or $4.0 million (Finance, 2016). Residents and visitors vast amount of travel and contributions to the city, allows those funds to be allocated to other public services in the community.

As mentioned by Thompson (2010), in the Associated Press, “Lawmakers bridged a $19 billion shortfall, more than 20 percent of the $87.5 billion general fund spending plan”. This shows that the state was heading towards a financial crisis and more deficit creation. Moreover, Thompson (2010), in the Associated Press also points out that “It includes no tax or fee increases but uses a combination of cuts, funding shifts, delayed corporate tax breaks and assumptions about money the state hopes to receive”. The budget gave rise to other dependent costs such as delayed tax refunds. It was uncertain that the State will receive the required funds from the federal government to ensure that the important programs will function the way it used to be until the funds are received.

Bibb County Revenue Sources mainly include property tax, local option sales Tax, Insurance Premium Tax, intergovernmental Revenues, Fund Balance Applications, Fines and forfeits revenues. All these revenues are as discussed below:

Due to the popular advantages of living in suburban areas, the appropriate acknowledgement of the environmental issues correlated to urban sprawl are often neglected. Although urban sprawl accommodates many economic and financial benefits, the decrease in air quality caused by the increasing development of urban sprawl in Georgia said to be some of the most widespread in the nation. Located just 15 minutes outside the thriving city of Atlanta, Kennesaw Georgia is the fastest growing city in Cobb County. Home to Kennesaw State University, there are obvious concerns regarding the medical effects air pollution has on the student athletes of Kennesaw State who regularly practice outdoors. The colleges main sports stadium, the Fifth Third Bank Stadium,

Taxes are the dollars that we pay to government to supply the services that are not or can not be provided through the free enterprise system. Taxes have been around since the beginning of organized societies. They come in various forms. Most common are income taxes both federal and local government. These taxes are assessed on the amount of income a person earns. Other taxes come in the form of user taxes; these taxes are imposed on the people that are using the goods being taxed, such as gas tax, alcohol tax, sales tax, and luxury taxes. Property taxes make up the major revenues for local and city governments. Furthering the burden of taxation are taxes that are attached to such bills as utility

In Duluth, which is on the outskirts of metro-Atlanta, about twenty-five miles from downtown, there is a cluster of Asian supermarkets filled with exotic spices and food. Located among a large population of Asians, Assi Plaza is a well-known Korean grocery store that caters many palates. An hour after the store opens the morning rush comes jamming in. By 10:30 in the morning, sampling stalls are set and the foods are ready to be served. Along with the smell of vegetables, fruits, and fishes, the store has an abandon of aroma from freshly cooked food at the food court and the sampling stalls that can be used to differentiate parts of the store. The store attracts different type of people depending on the time of day. The morning to noon Assi community consists of senior and middle-aged minorities that are non-native English speakers with roots from Asia and Latin America.

The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) budget criteria framework covers 27 budgeting categories and was launched in 1984 to encourage the preparation of high quality budgets (Bland, 211). The following memo evaluates the budget of the City of Lake Oswego using GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Awards Criteria, and also compares it to the budget of the City of Detroit.

Sales and tax rates are stable in some states, but tend to be unpredictable in others. Counties, cities, school districts, and townships are continually expanded, becoming established and given effect in the United States. In some locations, sales and use tax rates are even more susceptible to change because of political influence, this can cause rates to even change as recurrently as a monthly

Revenue that comes from state income tax is said to be progressive, that is because state taxes fall differently on different taxpayers depending on the taxpayer’s income level. Typically, the percentage of income tax paid rises as the taxpayer’s income does, thus the reason they are progressive. The opposite is true for sales tax revenue. These taxes are regressive because regardless the taxpayer’s income, tax rates remain constant. This is sometimes a disadvantage for poorer taxpayers because they have to spend more of their income on what they need (Sims, 2004). The allocation of these funds for elementary and