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

Lincoln, NE vs Grand Island, NE

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

Summary

Grand Island spends 6.7% more per capita than Lincoln ($796/person difference). Grand Island, NE has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 84/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Lincoln, NE
Pop. 290,531
C
52/100
Budget Balance5
Debt Burden78
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
Grand Island, NE
Pop. 52,822
A
84/100
Budget Balance75
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Lincoln
Grand Island
Total Spending
$3.2B
$629.7M
Spending / Capita
$11,125
$11,921
Total Revenue
$234.3M
$1.1B
Revenue / Capita
$806
$20,825
Total Debt
$229.0M
$0
Debt / Capita
$788
$0
Population
290,531
52,822
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Lincoln$499
Grand Island$472
Highways & Roads
Lincoln$209
Grand Island$53
Parks & Recreation
Lincoln$950
Grand Island$1,442
Health
Lincoln$317
Grand Island$0

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

LincolnGrand Island
Sales Tax
$635
$0
Income Tax
$244
$648
Intergovernmental
$2,685
$26
Charges & Fees
$1,249
$1,495
Other
$1,773
$2,844

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

LincolnGrand Island
Fire Protection
$499
$472
Highways & Roads
$209
$53
Public Welfare
$1,239
$1,645
Health
$317
$0
Hospitals
$233
$77
Parks & Recreation
$950
$1,442
Housing
$1,926
$2,141
Sewerage
$528
$195
Utilities
$1,632
$1,608
Interest on Debt
$521
$226
Other
$3,071
$4,062
C
Lincoln, NE
Fiscal Health Score: 52/100
Average fiscal health
A
Grand Island, NE
Fiscal Health Score: 84/100
Excellent fiscal health

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