Final answer:
Government spending encompasses the costs of providing police and fire protection as it involves public expenditure on services that benefit the community.
Step-by-step explanation:
Money spent to provide police and fire protection falls into the category of government spending. This falls under the broader umbrella of public expenditure, where the government allocates funds to various departments and services that benefit the public. Such expenditures include hiring workers to staff various departments and agencies, purchasing equipment, and maintaining infrastructure which helps in the management of services like police and fire departments.