Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance), KY vs Kansas City, MO
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Kansas City, MO and Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance), KY spend within 13.0% of each other per resident — $22,820 versus $20,200 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Kansas City, MO holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 52/100 (grade C) against 35/100 (grade D) for Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance), KY — a 17-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Kansas City, MO 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: Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance), KY leads with fire protection at $1,132 per resident, while Kansas City, MO leads with parks and recreation at $1,309.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 103% of total revenue in Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance), KY and 835% in Kansas City, MO.
Summary
Kansas City spends 11.5% more per capita than Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance) ($2,619/person difference). Kansas City, MO has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 52/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $1,138 | $623 |
| Income Tax | $24 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $412 | $7 |
| Charges & Fees | $3,823 | $3,794 |
| Other | $8,878 | $11,150 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $701 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $1,132 | $119 |
| Education | $956 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $1,849 | $3,018 |
| Health | $379 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $779 | $1,849 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,070 | $1,309 |
| Housing | $2,382 | $4,681 |
| Sewerage | $249 | $0 |
| Utilities | $3,844 | $3,123 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,517 | $0 |
| Other | $5,344 | $8,721 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.