U5_Assessment 1
Completion requirements
Assessment 1
My Local Government Goods and Services
Local governments deliver both goods and services. Goods are a physical product that can be delivered to whoever buys them and can be sold to someone else. Water is an example of a good provided by local government. Services are things that have benefit for citizens but are not a physical item and cannot be owned. For example, snow plowing is a service provided by local government.
Local governments raise money through taxes, licenses, and fines to gain revenue. They must show the public how much money they have raised because they are accountable and transparent.
They must keep track of how they spend money and report this to the public using a budget.
- Operating Budget: Yearly budget that is used to pay for annual services, salaries, and operations of the city government.
- Capital Budget: Source of funds for large one-time projects, such as building new recreation centers or schools, upgrading the airport, or improving a city’s water treatment plant.
Most local governments try to have a “balanced budget”. This means that the amount of money spent by local government to provide goods and services to the community must equal the amount of revenue collected by local government in taxes and fines.
If the amount of money spent is more than what the government collects, the government goes into a spending deficit, or is "in the red". This might happen if there is a major disaster such as a wildfire or flood and the government must spend money on disaster relief.
If the amount of money spent is less than the government collects, it is a budget surplus. Budget surpluses can be used to increase government services, cut taxes, or they can be saved for a "rainy day" such as putting the money into a Trust Fund for the future. The government is "in the black".
If the amount of money spent is more than what the government collects, the government goes into a spending deficit, or is "in the red". This might happen if there is a major disaster such as a wildfire or flood and the government must spend money on disaster relief.
If the amount of money spent is less than the government collects, it is a budget surplus. Budget surpluses can be used to increase government services, cut taxes, or they can be saved for a "rainy day" such as putting the money into a Trust Fund for the future. The government is "in the black".
Instructions
Notebook
- Click here to download, save to your Unit 5 Notebook, and complete the 5-1 My Local Government Services Assessment.
- First you must consider the goods and services provided by your own local government.
- Think about why goods and services are important.
- Using the PDF, tell why each service is important to your community.
When you have completed your 5-1 assessment, use the "Add submission" button below to submit your assessment to your teacher.