Cost of Government

Posted Tuesday, July 15, 2008

We all value services like public education, snow removal and trash pick-up. It’s no secret that these services come at a price. A new study says the price tag in 16 northeast Ohio counties is $16-billion, or more than $3,700 per person. Cuyahoga County topped the list at $5,079 per person; Carroll County was the lowest at $1,765. It’s a cost that’s rising much faster than inflation, even in areas where the population is shrinking. Join us as we examine the study and talk to experts about what changes will occur as local governments attempt to balance public need with often dwindling resources.

Guests

Kevin O'Brien, Director, Center for Public Management and Executive Director, Great Lakes Environmental Finance Center, Cleveland State University
Robert Jaquay, Vice President, Fund for our Economic Future
David Kaminski, Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, 21st Century Government Initiative
Tony Paglia, Vice President for Governmental Affairs, Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber

Additional Information

Advance Northeast Ohio
Big Variations Found in How Much Local Governments Spend, report by ideastream's Dan Bobkoff
Spending Study Shows Need for Reform, Government Critics Say, The Plain Dealer
Region's Governments Cost $3,750 Per Person and Rising, The Plain Dealer
Check out a report from four years ago about the costs of government in Cuyahoga County.

NEO Expenditures by County (per capita, in descending order, followed by population in 000s)

County	Expenditure	Population
Cuyahoga	5079	1,379
Lake	3802	229
Summit	3581	546
Portage	3490	154
Medina	3391	158
Lorain	3238	288
Richland	3169	128
Mahoning	2914	253
Wayne	2853	112
Stark	2795	377
Ashtabula	2773	103
Trumbull	2712	224
Columbiana	2442	111
Geauga	2429	92
Ashland	2374	53
Carroll	1765	29