Data Description.
Source: Figures are from the local government's annual
budget form 4-B for each fund, also known as the "16-line form." These figures are
appropriations and revenue estimates, that is, the amounts the
governments expect to receive and expect to spend during the budget year. Budgets are keyed
into the Indiana Local Government Data Base ("logodaba"), which was the source of these
figures.
Variable names and descriptions:
Unit. The list of local governments with property taxing power in the county.
Included are
county governments, townships, cities and towns, school corporations, library districts, and
"special districts," which include solid waste management districts, transportation districts, fire
protection districts, and so forth.
Total Appropriations. Appropriations are
the total expected spending from all funds by the local
government for the
budget year. This is the sum of figures on line 1 on form 4-B for all funds. Zero appropriations
appear for some units. This usually means that the budget data is missing from the local
government data base, not that the local unit has not appropriated funds.
General Fund Appropriations. Expected spending from the general fund by the
local government
for the budget year. This is line 1 on form 4-B for the general fund. The general fund has a fund
number of 101. Zero appropriations appear for some units. This usually means either that the
budget
data is missing from the local government data base, or that the unit is in more than one county,
and its appropriations are listed in another county.
Capital Fund Appropriations. Expected spending on cumulative and debt
service
funds by the
local government for the budget year. This is the sum of the figures on line 1 on form 4-B for
cumulative and debt service funds. These funds have fund numbers ending in 80 or 90. Zero
appropriations usually mean that the unit does not have capital appropriations.
Other Appropriations. Expected spending for all funds which are not general,
cumulative or debt
services funds, by the local government for the budget year. This is the sum of figures on line 1
of
form 4-B for these other funds. Zero appropriations appear for some units. This usually means
either that the budget
data is missing from the local government data base, or that the unit is in more than one county,
and its appropriations are listed in another county.
Total Revenues. Total expected revenues from all sources, for all funds, by the
local government
for the budget year. This is the sum of figures on lines 8-B and 16 on form 4-B for all funds.
Property Taxes. The net property tax
levy for all funds, by the local government for the budget year. This is the
sum of figures on line 16 on form 4-B for all funds, less state property tax replacement credits
(PTRC). PTRC
are revenues paid by the state to
local governments to reduce property taxes. The gross levy appears on
form 4-B, the net levy is this figure minus PTRC.
Other Revenues. The sum of all expected non-property tax revenues for all
funds, plus changes in balances, by the local
government for the budget year. Non-property tax revenues are also known as miscellaneous revenues. This is the
sum of figures on line 8-B on form 4-B for all funds, plus the change in
balances from the beginning of the budget year to the end of the budget year.
Jurisdictions that decrease their balances during the year add to revenues (that
is, they use some savings to support current spending); jurisdictions that
increase their balances during the year subtract from revenues. Other
revenues are equal to appropriations less the property tax levy. Since the
tax levy is the net levy after property tax replacement credits (PTRC), other
revenues include PTRC payments.
Assessed Value. The net assessed valuation of
property taxable by the property
tax, after deductions and exemptions, for the local government for the
budget year. This figure is from the
heading of form 4-B, and is usually the same for all funds. Prior to 2001
pay 2002, assessed values equaled true tax value divided by three. Since
then assessed values have equaled true tax values. For the sake of
comparison, these tables multiply assessed value by three for all years.
Property Tax Rate. The net rate
expressed in dollars per $100 of Assessed
Value which
owners of property in the government's jurisdiction must pay. This net rate includes
state Property Tax Replacement Credits (see Property Taxes, above). The rate is calculated by
dividing Property Taxes by Assessed Value, and multiplying by 100. Since
assessed values are no longer divided by three, rates are now one-third what
they were prior to 2001 pay 2002. For the sake of comparison, these tables
divide the net rate by three for all years.
Notes:
What do zeros mean? Since the data are not perfect, a zero in an appropriation or revenue entry may mean one of three things:
1. The jurisdiction had no appropriation or revenue of that type. A large number of jurisdictions had no capital appropriations, for example. Many solid waste management districts do not collect property taxes.
2. The data are missing. Some jurisdictions do not report on time; some reports are not entered into the data base on time. When zeros appear in the total appropriations or total revenues columns, it may be because the data are missing, not because the jurisdiction did not appropriate funds or raise revenues.
3. Multi-county jurisdictions.
Some cities, towns and school corporations are located in more than one county.
Property tax assessment and levy data can be divided among the jurisdiction's
counties, but appropriations data cannot. All of a jurisdiction's
appropriations will appear in its primary county. Appropriations in a
jurisdiction's secondary county will be listed as zero.