Debt, capital and the workforce
Borrowing per resident, debt service and capital outlay as shares of spending, and headcount per thousand residents by function.
Debt, capital and the workforce
Borrowing and headcount are where spending discipline shows up later: today's bonds are tomorrow's debt service, and positions are the hardest cost to unwind.
Debt per resident is up a quarter after inflation in ten years, with a new peak in FY2025
All primary-government bonds, notes and loans outstanding at year end (governmental plus Water and other enterprises), per Davidson County resident, in FY2025 dollars.
Debt service takes about a ninth of core spending; capital's share has climbed since 2020
Debt service (principal + interest) as a share of core spending, and capital outlay as a share of total spending.
Employees per 1,000 residents fell for a decade, then rose back since 2020
Full-time-equivalent positions in governmental activities, including Metro Nashville Public Schools, divided by population. Internal-service units were folded into general government in 2009 and 2014, which lifts the count slightly.
Headcount by area
Full-time equivalents by function, grouped as on the Where-the-money-goes tab.
Headcount by function, FY2015 → FY2025
Population grew about 9% over these ten years; a function whose headcount grew less than that now has fewer staff per resident.
| Function | Area | Positions FY2015 | Positions FY2025 | Change | Per 1,000 FY15 | Per 1,000 FY25 |
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