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

Council Bluffs, IA vs Waterloo, IA

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

Summary

Waterloo spends 0.8% more per capita than Council Bluffs ($140/person difference). Waterloo, IA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 71/100).

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
Waterloo, IA
Pop. 67,256
B
71/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden28
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency65
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Council Bluffs
Waterloo
Total Spending
$1.1B
$1.2B
Spending / Capita
$17,662
$17,802
Total Revenue
$883.7M
$1.6B
Revenue / Capita
$14,100
$23,537
Total Debt
$62.3M
$40.7M
Debt / Capita
$994
$605
Population
62,670
67,256
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Council Bluffs$850
Waterloo$223
Highways & Roads
Council Bluffs$373
Waterloo$108
Parks & Recreation
Council Bluffs$1,587
Waterloo$1,325
Education
Council Bluffs$0
Waterloo$10
Health
Council Bluffs$562
Waterloo$431

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Council BluffsWaterloo
Property Tax
$0
$59
Sales Tax
$234
$677
Income Tax
$1,036
$920
Intergovernmental
$383
$2,021
Charges & Fees
$2,374
$1,614
Other
$3,427
$3,969

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

Council BluffsWaterloo
Fire Protection
$850
$223
Highways & Roads
$373
$108
Education
$0
$10
Public Welfare
$1,494
$2,637
Health
$562
$431
Hospitals
$138
$1,864
Parks & Recreation
$1,587
$1,325
Housing
$3,385
$3,169
Sewerage
$181
$205
Utilities
$3,119
$1,874
Interest on Debt
$278
$0
Other
$5,695
$5,957
D
Council Bluffs, IA
Fiscal Health Score: 43/100
Below average fiscal health
B
Waterloo, IA
Fiscal Health Score: 71/100
Good fiscal health

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