Columbus, GA vs Macon-Bibb County, GA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Columbus, GA and Macon-Bibb County, GA spend within 5.8% of each other per resident — $15,522 versus $14,678 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Columbus, GA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 82/100 (grade A) against 63/100 (grade C) for Macon-Bibb County, GA — a 19-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Macon-Bibb County, 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 Macon-Bibb County, GA at $1,334.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Columbus, GA at 15% of total revenue, whereas Macon-Bibb County, GA relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 100%.
Summary
Columbus spends 5.8% more per capita than Macon-Bibb County ($844/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 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $315 | $63 |
| Income Tax | $688 | $828 |
| Intergovernmental | $792 | $8,434 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,259 | $0 |
| Other | $3,202 | $1,139 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $1,611 | $1,334 |
| Fire Protection | $699 | $918 |
| Highways & Roads | $443 | $646 |
| Education | $21 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $1,247 | $552 |
| Health | $0 | $252 |
| Hospitals | $170 | $559 |
| Parks & Recreation | $669 | $659 |
| Housing | $2,701 | $1,875 |
| Sewerage | $66 | $141 |
| Utilities | $1,989 | $1,074 |
| Other | $5,907 | $6,669 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.