Augusta-Richmond County consolidated government (balance), GA vs Athens-Clarke County unified 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: Augusta-Richmond County consolidated government (balance), GA leads with police at $1,167 per resident, while Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance), GA leads with parks and recreation at $2,332.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Augusta-Richmond County consolidated government (balance), GA at 100% of total revenue, whereas Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance), GA relies most on other revenue at 20%.
Summary
Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance) spends 7.3% 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 | $2 | $35 |
| Sales Tax | $309 | $1,045 |
| Income Tax | $1,856 | $715 |
| Intergovernmental | $27,728 | $2,956 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,561 | $1,578 |
| Other | $5,118 | $6,437 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $1,167 | $1,372 |
| Fire Protection | $940 | $771 |
| Highways & Roads | $265 | $459 |
| Education | $35 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $1,012 | $508 |
| Health | $130 | $722 |
| Hospitals | $878 | $0 |
| Parks & Recreation | $911 | $2,332 |
| Housing | $2,672 | $2,708 |
| Sewerage | $131 | $183 |
| Utilities | $4,264 | $2,250 |
| Other | $6,738 | $9,338 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.