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

Los Angeles, CA vs Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance), KY

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

Reviewed by CitySpend Editorial Team · Updated

Los Angeles, CA outspends Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance), KY by a wide margin per resident — $85,432 versus $20,200, a 323% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.

Los Angeles, CA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 47/100 (grade D) against 35/100 (grade D) for Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance), KY — a 12-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.

Los Angeles, CA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance), KY carries $3,553 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Los Angeles, CA leads with police at $4,111 per resident, while Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance), KY leads with fire protection at $1,132.

On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 51% of total revenue in Los Angeles, CA and 103% in Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance), KY.

Summary

Los Angeles spends 322.9% more per capita than Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance) ($65,232/person difference). Los Angeles, CA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (D, 47/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Los Angeles, CA
Pop. 3,881,041
D
47/100
Budget Balance0
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity65
Trend Direction50
Budget Balance8
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency88
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Los Angeles
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance)
Total Spending
$331.6B
$12.7B
Spending / Capita
$85,432
$20,200
Total Revenue
$68.3B
$5.4B
Revenue / Capita
$17,595
$8,618
Total Debt
$0
$2.2B
Debt / Capita
$0
$3,553
Population
3,881,041
629,176
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Los Angeles$4,111
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance)$701
Fire Protection
Los Angeles$1,057
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance)$1,132
Highways & Roads
Los Angeles$503
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance)$0
Parks & Recreation
Los Angeles$1,347
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance)$1,070
Education
Los Angeles$829
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance)$956
Health
Los Angeles$409
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance)$379

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Los AngelesLouisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance)
Property Tax
$64
$0
Sales Tax
$77
$1,138
Income Tax
$307
$24
Intergovernmental
$134
$412
Charges & Fees
$459
$3,823
Other
$9,048
$8,878

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

Los AngelesLouisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance)
Police
$4,111
$701
Fire Protection
$1,057
$1,132
Highways & Roads
$503
$0
Education
$829
$956
Public Welfare
$1,286
$1,849
Health
$409
$379
Hospitals
$2,135
$779
Parks & Recreation
$1,347
$1,070
Housing
$6,325
$2,382
Sewerage
$34
$249
Utilities
$21,992
$3,844
Interest on Debt
$630
$1,517
General Admin
$11,586
$0
Other
$33,189
$5,344
D
Los Angeles, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 47/100
Below average fiscal health
D
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance), KY
Fiscal Health Score: 35/100
Below average fiscal health

Compare More Cities

Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.