Local Government Fiscal Burden in Nonmetropolitan America

Abstract

Rising fiscal pressure on local governments in rural areas of the United States is documented in this study. The level of fiscal burden on taxpayers to support local governments in nonmetropolitan areas is found to be higher than that in metropolitan areas between 1977 and 1987. Using a model from the urban fiscal literature, the level of fiscal burden in nonmetropolitan areas is found to be influenced by a combination of demographic, socioeconomic, intergovernmental, and historical factors. Intergovernmental revenue transfers from the state and federal government play a critical role in determining the level of fiscal burden rural taxpayers bear. These findings have implications for rural economic development and for understanding how rural areas are influenced by the larger society.

Department

Sociology

Publication Date

9-1995

Journal Title

Rural Sociology

Publisher

Wiley

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1111/j.1549-0831.1995.tb00579.x

Document Type

Article

Rights

1995 Rural Sociological Society

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