Columbus, GA vs Augusta-Richmond County consolidated government (balance), 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 Columbus, GA at $1,611 per resident and in Augusta-Richmond County consolidated government (balance), GA at $1,167.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Columbus, GA at 15% of total revenue, whereas Augusta-Richmond County consolidated government (balance), GA relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 100%.
Summary
Augusta-Richmond County consolidated government (balance) spends 18.9% 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 | $64 | $2 |
| Sales Tax | $315 | $309 |
| Income Tax | $688 | $1,856 |
| Intergovernmental | $792 | $27,728 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,259 | $1,561 |
| Other | $3,202 | $5,118 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $1,611 | $1,167 |
| Fire Protection | $699 | $940 |
| Highways & Roads | $443 | $265 |
| Education | $21 | $35 |
| Public Welfare | $1,247 | $1,012 |
| Health | $0 | $130 |
| Hospitals | $170 | $878 |
| Parks & Recreation | $669 | $911 |
| Housing | $2,701 | $2,672 |
| Sewerage | $66 | $131 |
| Utilities | $1,989 | $4,264 |
| Other | $5,907 | $6,738 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.