America’s annual tax bill is $5.2 trillion, $14,998 for every person in the country, according to the latest USAFacts report.
While a huge number, and 54% higher than in 1980, it isn’t enough to feed the treasuries in Washington, state capitals, county seats, and cities.
That’s because the annual report found that governments in the United States spent $18,486 per person.
And the total government debt has reached $16.9 trillion, or $52,086 per person, said the report from USAFacts founded and funded by Steve Ballmer, the former CEO of Microsoft.
The report is a nonpartisan review of annual national statistics. “Red or blue, left or right, or anywhere in between, it doesn’t matter. We believe understanding the numbers is the cornerstone to a healthy and productive democracy,” said the report.
Finances and spending are a key element of the report, complied by three colleges and universities.
The bottom line from the report is that tax revenues are actually declining, but spending is increasing, a recipe for even bigger deficits and the current “all-time high” national deficit.
It looked at which programs governments spend most on and which states are the biggest spenders.
The new 2019 USAFacts Annual Report is out! A detailed summary of the most recent data on population trends, government finances & outcomes: https://t.co/r01JZiS4C0 Start exploring today ?#opendata #opengov #annualreport pic.twitter.com/ZHqgtCjZU1
— USAFacts (@USAFacts) April 30, 2019
For example, it found that Washington, D.C., spends more per person than any state, and it also takes in more in taxes than any state. The city spends $21,085 per person, and collects an average of $18,140 in taxes per person.
Making up 86% of federal spending are defense and social programs. From the report:
- 16% programs for the disadvantaged (including Medicaid, SNAP, etc.)
- 16% Social Security
- 15% education
- 13% national defense and veterans
- 10% Medicare
- 6% retirement for government employees
- 5% crime and disaster
- 5% debt service
