Question 1

New Jersey was the first state to enact spending limits that applied to both state and local governments.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 2

In 2007, _______ alone made up 43 percent of all federal grants to state and local governments.

Accepted Answer

A) Social Security 
B) Medicare 
C) Medicaid 
D) state-level pensions 
E) welfare 
A) Social Security 
B) Medicare 
C) Medicaid 
D) state-level pensions 
E) welfare C

Question 3

The most drastic personnel reforms have been pushed by liberal governors in states in which public employee unions are strong.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 4

Lotteries helped establish Harvard, Yale, and Princeton.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Excise tax is a consumer tax that applies to all goods.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

The per capita incomes for Mississippi, Utah, and West Virginia were less than

Accepted Answer

A) $44,000. 
B) $28,000. 
C) $31,000. 
D) $20,000. 
E) $35,000. 
A) $44,000. 
B) $28,000. 
C) $31,000. 
D) $20,000. 
E) $35,000.

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT a special-purpose government or a special district?

Accepted Answer

A) Bridge authorities 
B) Airport authorities 
C) Water districts 
D) Police departments 
E) Public transit authorities 
A) Bridge authorities 
B) Airport authorities 
C) Water districts 
D) Police departments 
E) Public transit authorities

Question 8

Which of the following statements about property taxes is true?

Accepted Answer

A) They are fairly flexible. 
B) They are easy to compare from community to community. 
C) They are often used to finance public schools. 
D) They are imposed only on land and houses. 
E) All of the above 
A) They are fairly flexible. 
B) They are easy to compare from community to community. 
C) They are often used to finance public schools. 
D) They are imposed only on land and houses. 
E) All of the above

Question 9

Under a 1976 Supreme Court decision, states can and do dismiss civil servants for political reasons.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

State and local governments spend 16% of their budget on which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A) Education 
B) Health 
C) Public safety and administration 
D) Cash assistance 
E) Environment/housing and transportation 
A) Education 
B) Health 
C) Public safety and administration 
D) Cash assistance 
E) Environment/housing and transportation

Question 11

The general property tax is a stable, predictable source of funding, especially important characteristics for local governments, because many of their functions (such as police and fire protection, record keeping, and the provision of prisons, jails, schools, and libraries), are fairly constant from year to year.This stability can be critical during and after ________.

Accepted Answer

A) inflation. 
B) recessions. 
C) natural disasters. 
D) changes in administrations. 
E) economic booms. 
A) inflation. 
B) recessions. 
C) natural disasters. 
D) changes in administrations. 
E) economic booms.

Question 12

Approximately one-fifth of the cost of state and local government is employees' salaries.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

The text mentions "other sources" of state and local revenue which include all of the following EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

A) building inspections. 
B) parking meters. 
C) operating courts. 
D) excise taxes. 
E) disposing of garbage. 
A) building inspections. 
B) parking meters. 
C) operating courts. 
D) excise taxes. 
E) disposing of garbage.

Question 14

Unlike the federal workforce, which actually has relatively few employees who work directly with citizens, almost all state and local employees have contact with the public.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Merit systems often are overly centralized and regulated; which can lead to difficulties when trying to retain and recruit valuable employees.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

All of the following are text-listed criticisms of merit-based systems within the states EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

A) agency managers were prevented from adapting their workforces to changing needs. 
B) vacancies were filled too quickly, without time for managerial consideration. 
C) state job descriptions were minutely detailed and difficult to change once posted. 
D) state personnel systems were overly centralized and regulated. 
E) state personnel systems used job descriptions and testing that failed to sync up with the demands of particular agencies. 
A) agency managers were prevented from adapting their workforces to changing needs. 
B) vacancies were filled too quickly, without time for managerial consideration. 
C) state job descriptions were minutely detailed and difficult to change once posted. 
D) state personnel systems were overly centralized and regulated. 
E) state personnel systems used job descriptions and testing that failed to sync up with the demands of particular agencies.

Question 17

Revenue bonds do NOT require

Accepted Answer

A) large sums of money. 
B) a restrictive spending clause. 
C) voter approval. 
D) legislative oversight 
E) All of the above 
A) large sums of money. 
B) a restrictive spending clause. 
C) voter approval. 
D) legislative oversight 
E) All of the above

Question 18

Taxes that are graduated so that the rate goes up with the size of income are called

Accepted Answer

A) progressive income taxes. 
B) regressive income taxes. 
C) flat rate taxes. 
D) socialist taxation. 
E) graduated taxation. 
A) progressive income taxes. 
B) regressive income taxes. 
C) flat rate taxes. 
D) socialist taxation. 
E) graduated taxation.

Question 19

This tax only counts for a little more that 1 percent of all taxes nationwide.

Accepted Answer

A) severance 
B) excise 
C) value-added 
D) graduated 
E) flat rate 
A) severance 
B) excise 
C) value-added 
D) graduated 
E) flat rate

Question 20

Some cities have started using a payroll tax to bolster revenue.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 29: Staffing and Financing State and Local Governments

New Jersey was the first state to enact spending limits that applied to both state and local governments.

In 2007, _______ alone made up 43 percent of all federal grants to state and local governments.

The most drastic personnel reforms have been pushed by liberal governors in states in which public employee unions are strong.

Lotteries helped establish Harvard, Yale, and Princeton.

Excise tax is a consumer tax that applies to all goods.

The per capita incomes for Mississippi, Utah, and West Virginia were less than

Which of the following is NOT a special-purpose government or a special district?

Which of the following statements about property taxes is true?

Under a 1976 Supreme Court decision, states can and do dismiss civil servants for political reasons.

State and local governments spend 16% of their budget on which of the following?

Approximately one-fifth of the cost of state and local government is employees' salaries.

The text mentions "other sources" of state and local revenue which include all of the following EXCEPT

Unlike the federal workforce, which actually has relatively few employees who work directly with citizens, almost all state and local employees have contact with the public.

Merit systems often are overly centralized and regulated; which can lead to difficulties when trying to retain and recruit valuable employees.

All of the following are text-listed criticisms of merit-based systems within the states EXCEPT

Revenue bonds do NOT require

Taxes that are graduated so that the rate goes up with the size of income are called

This tax only counts for a little more that 1 percent of all taxes nationwide.

Some cities have started using a payroll tax to bolster revenue.

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