Tax revenues allow people to work together to accomplish objectives too big for a few to do by themselves. Working often through government, we are able to build and maintain schools, parks, utilities, roads, and many other services that benefit everyone. So, wealth is really the primary element for us to understand and appreciate as we discuss the benefits of growth. The main statistical indicator of an area s wealth is total personal income. Compared with the rest of the country this has resulted in Washington moving from 18 th nationally in PCPI to 12 th in just five years.
Retail sales illustrate the upward trend of our wealth in Washington.
This represents inflation-adjusted growth of about 35 percent. In King County growth in retail sales tax revenues was similar. Wealth Supports Community Development and Shared Resources Income and taxes, together with a large enough population, make it possible for communities to support a variety of recreational and social activities and facilities. With a population upward of 520,000, in a metropolitan area of 2.3 million, residents and visitors support art museums, an aquarium, a zoo, several professional team sports and two new stadiums, the opera, numerous theaters, several universities, world-class hospitals and health care resources, to say nothing of a wide variety of shopping, restaurant, and nightlife venues. More People Population increase and business growth feed each other.