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

Council Bluffs, IA vs Des Moines, IA

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

Summary

Council Bluffs spends 1257.0% more per capita than Des Moines ($16,361/person difference). Des Moines, IA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 55/100).

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
Des Moines, IA
Pop. 213,164
C
55/100
Budget Balance0
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Council Bluffs
Des Moines
Total Spending
$1.1B
$277.4M
Spending / Capita
$17,662
$1,302
Total Revenue
$883.7M
$0
Revenue / Capita
$14,100
$0
Total Debt
$62.3M
$0
Debt / Capita
$994
$0
Population
62,670
213,164
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Council Bluffs$0
Des Moines$134
Fire Protection
Council Bluffs$850
Des Moines$55
Highways & Roads
Council Bluffs$373
Des Moines$3
Parks & Recreation
Council Bluffs$1,587
Des Moines$0
Education
Council Bluffs$0
Des Moines$1
Health
Council Bluffs$562
Des Moines$8

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Council BluffsDes Moines
Sales Tax
$234
$8
Income Tax
$1,036
$0
Intergovernmental
$383
$0
Charges & Fees
$2,374
$0
Other
$3,427
$38

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

Council BluffsDes Moines
Police
$0
$134
Fire Protection
$850
$55
Highways & Roads
$373
$3
Education
$0
$1
Public Welfare
$1,494
$388
Health
$562
$8
Hospitals
$138
$0
Parks & Recreation
$1,587
$0
Housing
$3,385
$164
Sewerage
$181
$0
Utilities
$3,119
$0
Interest on Debt
$278
$1
Other
$5,695
$547
D
Council Bluffs, IA
Fiscal Health Score: 43/100
Below average fiscal health
C
Des Moines, IA
Fiscal Health Score: 55/100
Average fiscal health

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