Ever wonder how much citizens pay for our local government’s debt? That means bonds, lease-purchase agreements, and all other forms of debt local governments use to build courthouses, roads, parks, water systems, etc.
Per capita debt service payments have risen in counties from $113 in 2005 to $147 in 2012 and in municipalities from $180 to $226. A family of four spent an average $320 more per year on debt payments for local government in fiscal year 2012 than in fiscal year 2005. In some jurisdictions, this may not include diverted revenue used to pay debt. In Watauga County, debt service payments have grown to reach $1,321 per person.
