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

Iowa City, IA vs Council Bluffs, IA

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

Summary

Council Bluffs spends 6.9% more per capita than Iowa City ($1,213/person difference). Iowa City, IA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 62/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Iowa City, IA
Pop. 74,878
C
62/100
Budget Balance2
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency73
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Council Bluffs, IA
Pop. 62,670
D
43/100
Budget Balance13
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency66
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Iowa City
Council Bluffs
Total Spending
$1.2B
$1.1B
Spending / Capita
$16,449
$17,662
Total Revenue
$751.1M
$883.7M
Revenue / Capita
$10,031
$14,100
Total Debt
$13.7M
$62.3M
Debt / Capita
$183
$994
Population
74,878
62,670
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Iowa City$461
Council Bluffs$850
Highways & Roads
Iowa City$112
Council Bluffs$373
Parks & Recreation
Iowa City$1,165
Council Bluffs$1,587
Education
Iowa City$57
Council Bluffs$0
Health
Iowa City$965
Council Bluffs$562

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Iowa CityCouncil Bluffs
Property Tax
$14
$0
Sales Tax
$833
$234
Income Tax
$1,549
$1,036
Intergovernmental
$1,216
$383
Charges & Fees
$1,499
$2,374
Other
$2,188
$3,427

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

Iowa CityCouncil Bluffs
Fire Protection
$461
$850
Highways & Roads
$112
$373
Education
$57
$0
Public Welfare
$1,285
$1,494
Health
$965
$562
Hospitals
$2,408
$138
Parks & Recreation
$1,165
$1,587
Housing
$1,963
$3,385
Sewerage
$270
$181
Utilities
$2,351
$3,119
Interest on Debt
$1,144
$278
Other
$4,268
$5,695
C
Iowa City, IA
Fiscal Health Score: 62/100
Average fiscal health
D
Council Bluffs, IA
Fiscal Health Score: 43/100
Below average fiscal health

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