Augusta-Richmond County consolidated government (balance), GA vs Columbus, GA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Augusta-Richmond County consolidated government (balance), GA spends 23% more per resident than Columbus, GA: $19,144 against $15,522. That gap is large enough to show up across most functional budget categories below.
Columbus, GA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 82/100 (grade A) against 72/100 (grade B) for Augusta-Richmond County consolidated government (balance), GA — a 10-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Augusta-Richmond County consolidated government (balance), GA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Columbus, GA carries $37 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: police leads in Augusta-Richmond County consolidated government (balance), GA at $1,167 per resident and in Columbus, GA at $1,611.
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 Columbus, GA relies most on other revenue at 15%.
Summary
Augusta-Richmond County consolidated government (balance) spends 23.3% more per capita than Columbus ($3,621/person difference). Columbus, GA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 82/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $2 | $64 |
| Sales Tax | $309 | $315 |
| Income Tax | $1,856 | $688 |
| Intergovernmental | $27,728 | $792 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,561 | $2,259 |
| Other | $5,118 | $3,202 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $1,167 | $1,611 |
| Fire Protection | $940 | $699 |
| Highways & Roads | $265 | $443 |
| Education | $35 | $21 |
| Public Welfare | $1,012 | $1,247 |
| Health | $130 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $878 | $170 |
| Parks & Recreation | $911 | $669 |
| Housing | $2,672 | $2,701 |
| Sewerage | $131 | $66 |
| Utilities | $4,264 | $1,989 |
| Other | $6,738 | $5,907 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.