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Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Council Bluffs, IA vs Cedar Rapids, IA

Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)

Summary

Cedar Rapids spends 26.3% more per capita than Council Bluffs ($6,311/person difference). Cedar Rapids, IA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 53/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Council Bluffs, IA
Pop. 62,670
D
43/100
Budget Balance13
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency66
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pop. 136,929
C
53/100
Budget Balance67
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency38
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Council Bluffs
Cedar Rapids
Total Spending
$1.1B
$3.3B
Spending / Capita
$17,662
$23,973
Total Revenue
$883.7M
$5.1B
Revenue / Capita
$14,100
$37,389
Total Debt
$62.3M
$190.4M
Debt / Capita
$994
$1,391
Population
62,670
136,929
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Council Bluffs$850
Cedar Rapids$466
Highways & Roads
Council Bluffs$373
Cedar Rapids$102
Parks & Recreation
Council Bluffs$1,587
Cedar Rapids$1,165
Health
Council Bluffs$562
Cedar Rapids$567

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Council BluffsCedar Rapids
Property Tax
$0
$8
Sales Tax
$234
$2,450
Income Tax
$1,036
$1,513
Intergovernmental
$383
$5,898
Charges & Fees
$2,374
$3,261
Other
$3,427
$4,807

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

Council BluffsCedar Rapids
Fire Protection
$850
$466
Highways & Roads
$373
$102
Public Welfare
$1,494
$1,987
Health
$562
$567
Hospitals
$138
$612
Parks & Recreation
$1,587
$1,165
Housing
$3,385
$4,126
Sewerage
$181
$314
Utilities
$3,119
$4,004
Interest on Debt
$278
$737
Other
$5,695
$9,894
D
Council Bluffs, IA
Fiscal Health Score: 43/100
Below average fiscal health
C
Cedar Rapids, IA
Fiscal Health Score: 53/100
Average fiscal health

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