Fiscal Capacity of Counties in Georgia - Brief

There are substantial differences in the relative size of tax bases across counties in Georgia. These differences mean that the ability or capacity to raise revenue differs across the State. For example, counties with large property tax bases per capita, i.e., those with large manufacturing facilities or power plants, have greater revenue raising potential than purely agricultural counties. This Policy Brief presents a measure of the fiscal capacity, Fiscal Capacity Index, for each Georgia county. The analysis focuses on the county as a geographic entity, not the county as a political entity.