Over the last few months, Bruce Stahl and I have been compiling data from the Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED) to determine how economic development tax dollars the Department manages are distributed geographically in the state. A full case study is forthcoming on the topic, including regional, city, and city class breakdowns, as well as relevant tax data.

Until then, below is a preview of the county-by-county breakdown of DED tax credit issuances since 1999. The chart encompasses more than $2.3 billion in taxpayer money. Population numbers are taken from the 2010 U.S. Census.

Had tax credits been distributed in line with population, each resident would have received the equivalent of $392.53 in tax credit issuances over that time. Six of Missouri’s 115 counties (114 plus St. Louis city) received at or above this amount. The greatest number of these tax credit dollars were issued to St. Louis city projects, with a total of $1,075,720,353.70. Several counties received none of these tax credits.

More to come.

(To find your county, hold CTRL-F, then type the name into the dialog box.)