Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance), GA vs Augusta-Richmond County consolidated government (balance), GA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance), GA and Augusta-Richmond County consolidated government (balance), GA spend within 7.8% of each other per resident — $20,643 versus $19,144 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance), GA edges Augusta-Richmond County consolidated government (balance), GA on the Fiscal Health Score by 6 points — 78/100 (grade B) to 72/100 (grade B). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
Neither city reports outstanding debt per resident in its current Census filing, which removes debt service as a point of difference between them. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance), GA leads with parks and recreation at $2,332 per resident, while Augusta-Richmond County consolidated government (balance), GA leads with police at $1,167.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance), GA at 20% of total revenue, whereas Augusta-Richmond County consolidated government (balance), GA relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 100%.
Summary
Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance) spends 7.8% more per capita than Augusta-Richmond County consolidated government (balance) ($1,499/person difference). Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance), GA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 78/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $35 | $2 |
| Sales Tax | $1,045 | $309 |
| Income Tax | $715 | $1,856 |
| Intergovernmental | $2,956 | $27,728 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,578 | $1,561 |
| Other | $6,437 | $5,118 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $1,372 | $1,167 |
| Fire Protection | $771 | $940 |
| Highways & Roads | $459 | $265 |
| Education | $0 | $35 |
| Public Welfare | $508 | $1,012 |
| Health | $722 | $130 |
| Hospitals | $0 | $878 |
| Parks & Recreation | $2,332 | $911 |
| Housing | $2,708 | $2,672 |
| Sewerage | $183 | $131 |
| Utilities | $2,250 | $4,264 |
| Other | $9,338 | $6,738 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.