Ames, IA vs Council Bluffs, IA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Summary
Ames spends 154.3% more per capita than Council Bluffs ($27,253/person difference). Council Bluffs, IA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (D, 43/100).
Fiscal Health Score
F
34/100
Budget Balance6
Debt Burden13
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
D
43/100
Budget Balance13
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency66
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
Key Metrics
Metric
Ames
Council Bluffs
Total Spending
$3.0B
$1.1B
Spending / Capita
$44,915
$17,662
Total Revenue
$2.1B
$883.7M
Revenue / Capita
$32,201
$14,100
Total Debt
$45.1M
$62.3M
Debt / Capita
$680
$994
Population
66,265
62,670
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0
Per Capita Spending by Department
Fire Protection
Ames$155
Council Bluffs$850
Highways & Roads
Ames$61
Council Bluffs$373
Parks & Recreation
Ames$648
Council Bluffs$1,587
Education
Ames$41
Council Bluffs$0
Health
Ames$765
Council Bluffs$562
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
AmesCouncil Bluffs
| Property Tax | $5 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $413 | $234 |
| Income Tax | $648 | $1,036 |
| Intergovernmental | $3,359 | $383 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,979 | $2,374 |
| Other | $2,187 | $3,427 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
AmesCouncil Bluffs
| Fire Protection | $155 | $850 |
| Highways & Roads | $61 | $373 |
| Education | $41 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $3,950 | $1,494 |
| Health | $765 | $562 |
| Hospitals | $83 | $138 |
| Parks & Recreation | $648 | $1,587 |
| Housing | $1,535 | $3,385 |
| Sewerage | $268 | $181 |
| Utilities | $2,103 | $3,119 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,924 | $278 |
| General Admin | $30,834 | $0 |
| Other | $2,548 | $5,695 |
F
Ames, IA
Fiscal Health Score: 34/100
Critical fiscal distress
D
Council Bluffs, IA
Fiscal Health Score: 43/100
Below average fiscal health