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

Council Bluffs, IA vs West Des Moines, IA

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

Summary

Council Bluffs spends 19.5% more per capita than West Des Moines ($2,883/person difference). West Des Moines, 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
West Des Moines, IA
Pop. 68,744
C
53/100
Budget Balance51
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency84
Revenue Diversity71
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Council Bluffs
West Des Moines
Total Spending
$1.1B
$1.0B
Spending / Capita
$17,662
$14,779
Total Revenue
$883.7M
$2.4B
Revenue / Capita
$14,100
$35,361
Total Debt
$62.3M
$140.9M
Debt / Capita
$994
$2,050
Population
62,670
68,744
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Council Bluffs$850
West Des Moines$240
Highways & Roads
Council Bluffs$373
West Des Moines$49
Parks & Recreation
Council Bluffs$1,587
West Des Moines$1,257
Education
Council Bluffs$0
West Des Moines$3
Health
Council Bluffs$562
West Des Moines$615

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Council BluffsWest Des Moines
Property Tax
$0
$24
Sales Tax
$234
$677
Income Tax
$1,036
$355
Intergovernmental
$383
$16,920
Charges & Fees
$2,374
$2,669
Other
$3,427
$3,239

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

Council BluffsWest Des Moines
Fire Protection
$850
$240
Highways & Roads
$373
$49
Education
$0
$3
Public Welfare
$1,494
$1,500
Health
$562
$615
Hospitals
$138
$290
Parks & Recreation
$1,587
$1,257
Housing
$3,385
$2,213
Sewerage
$181
$194
Utilities
$3,119
$669
Interest on Debt
$278
$0
Other
$5,695
$7,750
D
Council Bluffs, IA
Fiscal Health Score: 43/100
Below average fiscal health
C
West Des Moines, IA
Fiscal Health Score: 53/100
Average fiscal health

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